Sloshing liquid behind steering wheel.
 

Whenever I drive my car in the morning, I hear quite a bit of liquid sloshing behind (and above) the steering wheel. I park slightly uphill, and it only happens once I start moving.

Does anyone know what causes this?

2011 370z touring

Your post isn't very clear...

You hear sloshing above the steering wheel? Like free-floating in the air above the steering wheel? :icon14:

You said it only happens once you start moving if parked on an uphill slope. Are you saying that you hear sloshing when you're not moving on level ground or a downhill slope?

The clutch and brake fluids are on the other side of the firewall from the steering wheel, and I guarantee you they slosh while driving. But you'll never 'hear' them sloshing.

Air bubble trapped in the heater core?

The sound is right in front of me when I'm in the driver's seat, and it sounds like it's just below the hood - so yeah, it kinda sounds like its floating above and behind the steering column. It sounDs like someone is pouring a glass of water - its loud. It only happens when the car has been sitting overnight - I haven't checked on a flat road or parking backwards.

There is a long spring in the steering wheel that may be making the noise.

Edit: If that's not it, I agree with Chuck33079 that it may be an air pocket in the HVAC system.

I'd think it's something like condensation buildup in the cowl area that drains out once you start moving. I'm not sure where the drain holes are (front or back side of that area) but try backing into you parking spot and see if it still happens.

Windshield washer fluid? Fill the reservoir and see if the sound goes away.

U left a 20 oz. under hood while working on it?:icon17:

The flopper in the toiler is hang up.

The reservoir is located on the right front, behind the bumper, below the headlight, in front of the tire.

I thought it might be condensation, but it happened today while driving. I was stopped at a light (after 45 mins on the freeway), while on mostly flat ground, as I started forward I heard it again - although quieter than in the morning.

Could there be a bottle of water or other something under/behind the seat?

I’ve heard of a loose nut behind the steering wheel; but sloshing liquid behind steering wheel is new to me! ;)

I'm aware of that, as well as where the other various reservoirs, etc are located. However, I think I've only ever heard 2 things "sloshing" in my vehicles while driving...gas and washer fluid. Air pocket/bubble in HVAC system? Has anyone actually heard sloshing from that? Start checking the simplest explanations first. I could also believe a water bottle in the car.

Yup. Many times. Loud and very noticeable. My father in law's car would routinely have this happen. Get the front of the car up in the air and burp the coolant system and it would go away for 10k miles or so.

I have.

It can be difficult to describe what something sounds like to someone else - a recording might help ID the cause.

It didn't happen today when the car was parked facing downhill. Could also have been because it was warmer this morning... sigh

Check your carpeting under the dash to see if it's damp. If it's damp. Your A/C drain under the hood could be blocked. Seen it happen with vehicles that have been undercoated.

It is not damp.

Ok, the carpet is dry. So we can rule that out. When that drain gets block. The condensation from the A/C has no place to go to. And it fills up the area around the evaporator. Then it leaks on the carpet in some vehicles. And it will sound like what you described.

This sound like a significant amount of liquid, it really bugs me that I don't know what it is....

You need to get someone to ride along and try to locate the source of the noise while you concentrate on driving. The tube from a roll of paper towel with one end placed by the ear will help zero in. Going by your descriptions, it may take a few tries.

It may be worth getting someone to bleed the air from the engine cooling system just to eliminate that possibility.

I haven't been able to reproduce it again when it's been parked since my initial post, but I have been able to reproduce it while driving. When I'm stopped at a light it makes the sound as I accelerate from the light. The one consistent variable is the air conditioning, it has always been set to auto. I'm going to drive it all weekend without the a.c. running top see if it stops...

Do you have a cai?

What is a cai?

IIRC, the A/C runs to dehumidify the cabin even when you turn it off at the control panel. You may have to pull a fuse to turn it off completely.

Edit: CAI = Cold Air Intake

No, I don't have a cold air intake.