ancdmd

I have this awful gurgling sound emanating from the rear deck area or behind the rear seat, I can hear it from inside the car when the climate control system is on. Its not very loud, but loud enough that it is annoying. It goes away when I turn off the climate control. I have an '02 UL. Any ideas what it could be?

LS430inDE.

I think I speak for a lot of us by saying we'd need more info?

• "When the climate control is on."....what does that mean?

• Does that mean when it's in full auto?

• What about if the climate control is on, but you shut off the AC?

• What about if you're running the defrost?

• Have you ever tried sticking your head in the trunk and observing any noise there?

• Did the 02UL have separate climate control for the rear occupants?

• Your reference to climate control is in relation to the main cabin climate control or the rear climate control?

• Does it happen when you are in motion, not in motion, or both?

• Does it happen immediately when the "climate control is on" or after a couple minutes?

• Does it immediately go away when you shut the climate control off?

• When you shut off the climate control, are you shutting off the fan also or just AC off?

• Do you have the swiveling vents in the front and back or neither?

• Does the sound exist with or without the swiveling or both?

I'm sure with the brainpower on here we can figure it out...

BIGGZ

maybe th air purifier is malfunctioning?

DNC

Yes, and

What did you have for lunch that day?

What is your favorite song?

What do you think of this Swine Flu thing?

Do you know what the tire pressure is in each of your car's tires?

Have you ever seen the movie "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World?"

Do you think midevil cabinet building was all it's cracked up to be?

hoonunya

That was funny.
They were good questions however.
I have nothing to add as I have the simpleton's version of the UL, aka custom luxury.

LS430inDE.

Yea..that was ALMOST as funny as YOUR (DNC's) question for your Valentine1 radar detector placement. What a great thread THAT was.

Ironic how quick some people are to mock.

ancdmd

Okay I had a good laugh too. I checked it out a little more and determined that the noise is present only when the rear a/c is on. The noise starts within a few seconds of turning it on. It is not the fan. I also have the minor warbling/whistling sound emanating from the front when the front a/c is on, could they be related? The front sound seems to be coming from either inside the dash behind the steering wheel or right in front of the firewall. I listened in the engine compartment but couldnt hear any odd noises at all, its definitely not the compressor at the front of the engine. I also listened in the trunk and couldn't detect anything unusual.

ancdmd

The noises are present regardless of whether the car is in motion, or the vents swiveling!

hoonunya

question for others:
Can't that happen if an A/C drain is plugged and the unit is filling with condensation?

LS430inDE.

Ok. Let's try to diagnose one noise at a time, as we're just going to confuse ourselves. First noise first----the gurgle noise from the back. It happens when the REAR A/C is on. I'm not sure how/where the condensor drain line is routed, but if the drain line is clogged or partially clogged, it won't efficiently drain the water that forms on the condensor, true? If there's a partial clog, and the air is fighting the water, then I'm sure you can HEAR the tube trying to drain the condensated water, when it should just smoothly drip out. If you can find the end of that tube, if you have a semi-rigid piece of wire or something to snake up the drain line, that may just solve it.....I would imagine underneath the center area of the vehicle?

Be advised, if you've ever taken a peek UNDER the vehicle, Toyota made the underside very very wind/turbulance resistant, by using plates of plastic held in place with 1/4 turn plastic screws. It may be easiest to find the rear drain tube if you turn the rear A/C on high, and wait 5-10-15-20 minutes, or however long it takes to see drips of water on your driveway. When you see that, obviously, the rear drain line is somewhere close by!


As far as this other/new sound coming from the front, it may be related if it happens simultaneously with the gurgle noise. Does it, or is it a completely separate issue with different parameters?

LS430inDE.

EXACTLY. I just posted the same thoughts.

KILLERGS4

it's probably the cooling seats in the rear thats making the sound... just like the front seats.

ancdmd

There are no cooling seats in the rear, plus its DEFINITELY not a normal sound. I'm taking it to the dealer Wednesday, not looking forward to the inflated bullcrap estimate I'm going to get when they just decide to throw lots of expensive parts at the problem.

LS430inDE.

If you're not too mad after you visit the dealer, and can still afford your internet connection (lol), I'd love to know what the problem/resolution is! Please keep us informed!

KILLERGS4

why doesn't your UL having cooling seats in the back, my does...