When I first start the engine, there is a sound that comes from behind the dashboard that sounds like an automatic drip coffee maker pumping water…a gurgling sound.
The carpet on the passenger side of the vehicle is soaking wet.
I know nothing about cars, much less about where mysterious water comes from. I live in Portland, and I’m pretty sure this problem is worse after we get heavy rains (like last week).
This happened right before Thanksgiving when we had huge rain storms. It got dry after that, and the carpet seemed to dry out. And the noise was gone.
There’s one other thing that might be relevant. The other day while I was driving, I thought I saw the hood bouncing a little. It looked closed, but seemed to be bouncing. Later, when I checked it, it indeed was closed but not latched. It was about a half inch higher up than it should be. I obviously shut it. (But the main problem still persists…it hasn’t been dry long enough outside to test this theory.)
Any ideas?
Also, where would I take it to get it fixed? (Body shop vs. mechanic.)
Most likely causes of water on the passenger floor are either a plugged A/C drain, or extreme amounts of rain flooding the climate system intake.
Most likely causes of a gurgle in the dash is either the A/C system refrigerant circulating (normal condition) or water trapped in the case due to a plugged A/C drain.
With the combo of two I would first open the hood, and check the drains at the corners of the cowl are clear. Then the A/C drain needs to be checked for being plugged.
If all of that is good, have fun.
Your description makes it sound like a body leak. Just to be sure, however, I would suggest you check your radiator fluid level. If it is low, top it off, then monitor it closely for a while. Similar conditions to those you describe (minus the heavy rain situation) will occur if you have a bad heater core (located on the right side of the car, in the passenger compartment (not the engine side of the firewall) within the dashboard).
If your paassenger side window steams up when the engine heats up, you could be looking at a bad core.
Depending on the model, replacing a heater core (with the attendant removal of the dashboard) can cost as little as almost $200 to well over $1,200.
I don’t know anything about what you said, but it makes sense:
My a/c always drips condensation…someone told me that it runs all the time even if I’m not running the a/c.
I also park under two huge douglas fir trees…and they lost a ton of needles during our last three huge storms. Would they get in under the hood (up near the windshield)?
BTW, I have no idea what a cowl is. Or where any of this is. Well, I kinda know about the a/c drain 'cause every time I park (especially in the summer) it drips. Is this all obvious? I’m going at this from the top or bottom?
Two giant doug firs? We could be on to something.
OK in English.
Open your hood.
Stand by the one side of the car just in front of the door. Look at the windshield. Just below the windshield will be a large flatish piece of plastic. This is the cowl. On each side there will be a drain. that drains rain from the windshield. Usually in the corner, sometimes not. Clean all the needles and leaves from the drain. Hell go crazy and clean all the leaves and needles from the cowl. Repeat with the other side. Grab a hose and verify that the drains are clear. Get in the habit of cleaning these every month or so.
A/C drains are sometimes accessed from the bottom, and sometimes from the top. Based on your posts, if the problem still exists, take it to a shop.
Hope this helps.