Where is the water sloshing in my Mazda

Question

I have a Mazda MX3 (Miata). Every time I slow down, I hear a large amount of water slosh to the front of the car. When i accelerate, it sloshes to the back. It sounds like several pints of water.

The carpets are dry - there's no obvious wetness anywhere. Where is the water hiding?

Answer 1

check you engine temperature regularly from now and your coolant level. I have the same problem. After a few weeks the sloshing sounds stops at which time engine starts to overheating. On checking all the coolant has leaked away. It is like a very small leak and will NOT pool below car.

If this happens take to mechanic immediately.

Answer 2

Do happen to hear this sound constantly or just when your gas level drops to below half a tank of gas?  If this only happens when you have less than a half a tank of gas, then your hearing the gas moving as your breaking and taking off.  Mine does it, especially when I have to stop quickly and take off quickly.

Answer 3

In the trunk under the spare tire. A leak around a tail light or trunk lid , the water will gravitate there.  

Answer 4

Inside the trunk but hidden from view? Trapped inside a body panel? Those are the only two things that come to mind.

<added>

You might want to have a friend ride with you (in the back seat? Does an MX3 even have a back seat?) to see if it's possible to localize source of the sound.

Answer 5

raise the trunk carpet and look under the tail lights

the water could be traped there, with a drill make a small hole so the water can come out

usually that happens when people install cheap tail lights

Answer 6

Check the drains in the area where the windshield wipers rest. They could be plugged. Also make sure that the AC drain is working and not plugged.

If it was in the rear, I would suggest the drains on the rain rail.