02 Camry Water Noise

Hi guys,

First post. Have a question about my 02 Camry LE. Recently, it has started making sloshing noises when I turn. It sounds like it's coming from the engine area and it sounds like water being sloshed around. I have taken it to 2 dealships and they cannot find anything wrong or duplicate the problem. It is most apparent after the car has been sitting for a while.

One of the mechanics said it could be just the water collecting in the A/C condenser. I'm not sure if that's the problem b/c it did not happen last year. Also sometimes the noise occurs even when I have not used the A/C.

Any ideas here?

Anyone? I have heard of a Toyota 4 Runner having water in some heating part under the dash by the firewall. I have taken it to the dealer but they have no idea. It happens quite often. With the A/C, with the Heat, w/ nothing on. Most noticable at turns, sounds like water being sloshed around in the dash/firewall area.

Water condensation in the A/C will not slosh. Only the heater core (a small radiator) is in the area you describe. It's unusual for it to slosh loudly as you describe unless the fluid level is low or you have trapped some air in te system. Was the cooling system flushed or changed recently.

Cooling system was not flushed or changed recently. If it is the heater core, shouldn't the dealer be able to check it out without duplicating the noise?

Dealers can pressure check the system for leaks or try to purge the system of air. You can do both yourself. A simple check would be to leave the heater on for a while and listen for any changes in sound. You could drain the system with the heater on, into a clean container and then pour it back in. That may help purge the system

would the noise be there in any condition if it was the heater core? like i said, i have heard the noise in the summer when only the a/c was being used, when nothing was being used and when the heater was being used. today the noise sounded a little like gurgling. i am still hearing the sloshing noise too. usually the noise happens when i go from a stop or turn, i guess when the vehicle shifts the liquid moves.

I have never heard a heater core making sloshing noises as the coils are too small to make such a noise. You said that it is more apperant if the car has been sitting. Could ti be that you have a newley statred blowen head gasket and maybe and when you shut the car off cylinder pressure pushes coolant into the coolant resevoir. And it makes that noise till the car heats up and sucks the coolant back into the system? And when you bring it to the dealership the car is warm so it won't make that noise...........Just a thought

2k2camary, it's possible that the valve on the heater core is partially open (not closing completely). That might explain the gurgling and if air is trapped in the heater core it doesn't pressurize and you'll hear a sloshing sound. It's actually quite common in Mercedes believe it or not. It could be corrosion or a defective valve. Just keep cycling it on and off (open and closed)and maybe you'll clear it up. With the system running and the heater full on you can squeeze the heater hoses. They should feel firm, if the exit hose is easy to squeeze then that's your problem.

2k2camary, have you looked in the engine firewall area under the windscreen? You might have water trapped in there. Leaves, dirt, debris can clog up the drains.

i'll check the windscreen this weekend. i'll also check the heater. thanks for all the tips. will post an update later.

I have a 2002 Camry and I get the same noise. In addition the same thing is occuring on my father in-laws 2002 Camry. The noise is definitely water that appears to be trapped somewhere in the firewall on the driver's side. The noise sounds like water rushing through an opening when the car shifts due to a curve or acceleration. I have also noticed that the problem only occurs in the fall and spring when temperatures are more transitional. This leads me to believe that condensation is the culprit instead of a water leak. Don't know the answer yet, but if I find out I will return.

I first noticed the water sloshing in the dashboard sound when I almost missed a turn and applied heavy braking in a turn. It sounds like a LOT of water in there.

Could be plugged drains in one of your doors. Leaves can plug them up and cause alot of water to be trapped inside the door.

the dealer after 3 trips determined it was air trapped in the radiator. all they did was let the car run for about 5 hours w/ the heater on and it got rid of the air bubbles, no more noise. you guys might want to try that.

I also have the same noise.. wow.. this only started happening after I got into my accident and they did have to replace the radiator. so im not sure if they even checked the pressure or flushed it out completely. the slushy sound usually occus when i come to a stop and it sounds like its moving from side to side. lol i thought it was just me....

I have had the problem ever since I had the radiator replaced. The dealership "burps" the car and gets rid of the air trapped in the heater core. It is quiet for a while, but comes back 3-6 months later. I just took it in this morning burning antifreeze out of the tail pipe. I think the head gasket went. We'll see what they say. I did some research and Federal Mogul has a good article on their website about how air pockets in the cooling system can cause hot spots in the engine that cause the head gasket to prematurely go bad from overheating in the spot of the air pocket.

Here is the problem with the Camry that I have found out. The dealership says it is an open system. No heater core valve. Coolant constantly flows through the heater core, winter or summer. They tell me they are going to try to find where the air is coming from. How is it getting into the system? Your guess is as good as mine, but it keeps reoccuring. I think Toyota needs to look at this problem more closely before they start getting more cars like mine with larger problems caused by the air pockets. Maybe a TSB will come out soon.

My wife's '02 Camry is having the same problem and have been searching high and low to find a root cause. The dealership was clueless but just awhile ago believes there may be oil escaping into the cooling system or vise versa. If that were the case the engine would overheat, white smoke would be coming out the exhaust, etc. Any rate, it appears that the '02 Camry has some issues. Thanks for the input already posted and would welcom any additional thouhts.
Thanks
Darin

there is no fix from Toyota on this as of yet Sorry

How long should it take to "burp" the system and alleviate the noise?
Thanks

The dealer said they ran the car with the heater on for 4 or 5 hours. No way to tell since the problem is intermittent.

Strangest thing, my 1998 4Runner has started doing the EXACT same thing as you guys are describing. It sounds like water is sloshing around towards the engine compartment.

I can really only hear it when I stop at a stop sign, and press on the accelerator.....or when I make a tight turn. Sounds like there is a bucket of water under my hood.....and it's driving me crazy. Just started happening a few days ago, totally out of nowhere.

Anyone found a fix for this?

I've read some of the postings, and I think I'm gonna try the heater suggestion (running it for a while)

No water leakage anywhere, all the fluids look fine......but this sound is going to send me to the nuthouse.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Should I just trash the car and buy a new one?
*lol*

For now, I'm taking the JAG XJR

We took it to the dealer and they finally solved the problem by "burping" the car. What was explained to me is that the unit is an "open" system vs. the closed system normally used for cooling and that an air pocket had somehow got trapped. They angled the car (varying side to side) and ran the heater for almost a full day and that seemed to fix it - noise has not returned.
Good luck with it.

We took it to the dealer and they finally solved the problem by "burping" the car. What was explained to me is that the unit is an "open" system vs. the closed system normally used for cooling and that an air pocket had somehow got trapped. They angled the car (varying side to side) and ran the heater for almost a full day and that seemed to fix it - noise has not returned.
Good luck with it.


I just found this thread looking for help, my 2003 Camry is having the same issue. Several months after buying the car my wife started hearing a sloshing noise but now, almost two years, the noise is getting worse. When starting , stopping and turning the water sloshing is much worse. I will take it to the dealer for warranty, but now I am concerned since this seems to be a widespread problem.

I too have started hearing this "sloshing" noise in my 2002 Camry. I had the cooling system flushed today, but it only seemed to make the problem worse. The mechanic said the coolant level in my radiator was fine, but the coolant tank was empty. He also said there was some corrosion beginning. So has anyone found a cure for this problem. Should i try running the car for 4 or 5 hours with the heater on? He said everything else looked fine. It scares me to think it could be a head gasket.

Hello
I have a 2005 Camry and have the same water noise. I have looked but can't
find it. Just started hearing it about three weeks ago..?????????

Breadman:banghead:

In addition to the engine cooling system having air trapped, the drains in the doors can get plugged and trap water in the doors. They slosh also. Find the holes and stick a coat hanger through them.

Doors are clean...Under windshield clean....trunk clean
No water in the above..I took the radiator cap off and put 3oz.of water in
the radiator. The overflow tank was low so i put about 2 quarts in it.
NO water noise this morning on the way to work:grinyes: I pray it stays
that way...I have been working on cars for 40 years and have never seen
this before....................Breadman

My 2005 SE had that same problem when it rained. It has the Ground Kit pakage that made it hold water better I guess. I also took a long object and openned the front door and started digging in the hole at bottom on both sides of the car and plenty of leaves and mud started to come out. After that, I had no problem with that slosh sound. Everytime you wash your car, clean out that area with a water hose and you should be ok. Hope that helped.




http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee34/fastdupree/My2ndCamrySE.jpg

If any one is still having this problem.... My car also made the same noise a few years back. I was investigating the source of the noise when I noticed that my coolant appeared to be a little low.. so I filled it. The next day it was low again so I again filled it up but this time above the high line fearing that I had a leak. Again, the next day it was low. The third time I filled it was that last. It leveled off in its operating range and the noise was gone. I am guessing from turning, accelerating, etc allows the water to push the air out over time. Why the coolant needs to be filled above the high line is above me but the problem went away so I stopped caring about it.:naughty:

If any one is still having this problem.... My car also made the same noise a few years back. I was investigating the source of the noise when I noticed that my coolant appeared to be a little low.. so I filled it. The next day it was low again so I again filled it up but this time above the high line fearing that I had a leak. Again, the next day it was low. The third time I filled it was that last. It leveled off in its operating range and the noise was gone. I am guessing from turning, accelerating, etc allows the water to push the air out over time. Why the coolant needs to be filled above the high line is above me but the problem went away so I stopped caring about it.:naughty:


It sounds like someone changed your coolant or some part of the cooling system that required new/more coolant and never properly bled all the air out of the cooling system.

Mike