Woogie

So whenever it's raining and there are a few puddles out there on the highway, my engine begins to roar after I drive over one of those puddles. I try to avoid the big ones so as to avoid losing control. But big or small puddle, after I drive over one, my engine roars.

The roar becomes noticeably louder if I accelerate. After a bit of accelerating, the roar becomes less audible and goes away - until I drive over another puddle. If I drive through a puddle while out and about around town at slower speeds, no problem.

Can anybody offer any ideas as to why it does this? It has only started to do this recently, never before in the past.

1998 ES300 - no aftermarket intake or air filter, so water in the inlet of the intake system doesn't sound too reasonable, although that is the only thing I can think of thus far.

Thanks in advance.

Pheonix

The resonator in the fender is sucking in water & the ball-valve in it closes to prevent water injestion. At which point you have an aftermarket intake until the vacuum in the intake drops enough to lower the ball, and let the water drain back out.
Or you're getting the exhaust soaking wet & it could be loosing its seal.

Try stop driving through big puddles.

Woogie

haha thanks, pheonix. Leave it to pheonix to be the all-knowing resident doctor, yet again.

I can't avoid driving through the puddles because they're just everywhere. I live in seattle where it rains quite often. This year, the rain has been insane. Any reasons as to why it is happening now and not before?

Thanks again for the wisdom, pheonix.

Pheonix

No idea man, no idea. LoL! Make sure the plastic under trays haven't been messed up alot I guess. When it's loud does it sound like an intake, or does it sound like an exhaust sound?

Woogie

Sounds intake to me. I'll wait til finals are done with, then i'll open her up and take a look.

Ariyanna

I have a similiar problem, but it does it just right before the car shifts and it sound like exhaust, but I checked under the car and the exhaust looks fine, but definitly a roaring sound. Any ideas?