How to Fix the Water Sloshing Sound in Toyota Fortuner Doors

An Introduction to an Annoying Problem

If you've ever heard a strange "sloshing" sound coming from your Toyota Fortuner's doors when you accelerate or brake, you're not alone. This common issue is the sound of water trapped inside your door panels. It's not just an annoying noise; if left unaddressed, this trapped water can lead to serious rust, mold growth, and even damage to the electronics inside your door, like window motors and speakers.

The good news is that this is an incredibly easy problem to fix yourself in just a few minutes. This guide will show you exactly why it happens and how to implement a permanent solution.

Why Does Water Get Trapped in Car Doors?

It might seem like a car door should be perfectly sealed, but they are designed to let a small amount of water in. When it rains or when you wash your car, water inevitably seeps past the rubber window seals at the top of the door. To handle this, all car doors are designed with small drain holes at the very bottom edge to allow this water to escape safely.

The problem occurs when these drain holes become blocked. This can happen from an accumulation of dirt and road debris, or, in the case of many Toyota models, the issue is caused by the factory-installed rubber drain plugs themselves, which can create a seal that unintentionally traps the water inside.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Draining Your Doors

This simple fix requires no special tools and will solve the problem for good.

Step 1: Confirm Which Door Has Water

First, identify which door is holding water. The easiest way to do this is to open each door, one at a time, and gently swing it back and forth. You will immediately hear and feel the weight of the water sloshing around inside the affected door.

Step 2: Locate and Remove the Drain Plug

Look at the bottom edge of the affected door. You will find one or two small, black rubber plugs. These cover the drain holes. Simply use your fingers or a small flathead screwdriver to gently pry and pull one of the plugs out. Be prepared—a surprising amount of water may gush out, so make sure you are parked in a suitable location.

Step 3: Modify the Plug for a Permanent Fix

Once the water has completely drained, you need to prevent it from getting trapped again. You could leave the plug out entirely, but this might allow more dirt and insects inside. A better solution is to modify the plug. Using a sharp utility knife or a pair of scissors, carefully cut a small slit or a "V" notch across the face of the plug. This simple modification allows water to drain out freely in the future while still blocking most debris.

Step 4: Reinstall the Plug and Verify

Push the newly modified rubber plug firmly back into the drain hole. Close the door and give it another shake. The sloshing sound should be completely gone! To be extra sure, you can pour a small amount of water on the outside of the window and check to see that it now drips out from the bottom of the door as intended.

Conclusion

That annoying water sloshing sound is a problem you don't have to live with. With a simple modification to the rubber drain plugs, you can solve this issue in less than five minutes. This quick fix not only restores your peace of mind but also protects your vehicle from the long-term damage that trapped water can cause.