I have some terrible wind noise from the passenger side of my DD that I've spent months trying to track down with no success. Getting to the "berkeley it, seal it up mo'betta" point. I've taken the interior apart enough times to know that there is a decent amount of space behind the trim, high up on the B pillar (where the noise seems to be coming from). Any recommended materials to blunt some of the noise?
What car? is the door glass framed or freestanding?
IS-F, framed. Already replaced most of the gaskets, taped up various parts of the exterior, moved the side mirror around, etc, etc
Have you tried using the low stick blue tape to tape up the entire door and all seams around it (including the window of course)? Then start removing tape until the noise appears again.
As far as sound deadened, some sort of closed cell foam is likely your best bet (hardware stores will generally have a selection). You could use spray foam, but that can get messy, and a real pain to remove). Heavy rubber type insulation is not what you want.
aircooled wrote: Have you tried using the low stick blue tape to tape up the entire door and all seams around it (including the window of course)? Then start removing tape until the noise appears again. As far as sound deadened, some sort of closed cell foam is likely your best bet (hardware stores will generally have a selection). You could use spray foam, but that can get messy, and a real pain to remove). Heavy rubber type insulation is not what you want.
Yup, did this. Very marginal improvement. I suspect the issue is located near the front, and its causing turbulence just outside the window at that location.
I had wind noise in my LS400. Then it rained and I had water. Windshield was not sealed properly.
This will sound crazy, but.... put the window down, open door, put knee against top of door panel, grab upper corner of window frame, tweak it inward (just a nudge, don't go all Hulk Hogan on it). Close window, door, go for drive. Enjoy newfound quietness. It's worked for me on more than one vehicle.
RealMiniDriver wrote: This will sound crazy, but.... put the window down, open door, put knee against top of door panel, grab upper corner of window frame, tweak it inward (just a nudge, don't go all Hulk Hogan on it). Close window, door, go for drive. Enjoy newfound quietness. It's worked for me on more than one vehicle.
This is next on the agenda. Today I graphite lubed the seals, stuffed some 1/4" nylon rope inside them, then tore apart the B pillar (again) and stuffed it with as much fibreglass as I could find. We'll see how it goes
RealMiniDriver wrote: This will sound crazy, but.... put the window down, open door, put knee against top of door panel, grab upper corner of window frame, tweak it inward (just a nudge, don't go all Hulk Hogan on it). Close window, door, go for drive. Enjoy newfound quietness. It's worked for me on more than one vehicle.
I made my initial post to more or less lead up to this. They get tweaked out when tow truck drivers flex them open a bit too much in a lockout situation.
I have adjusted the latch plate and/or the lock mechanism in the door so that the door seal sees more clamping force with success on a couple cars.
calteg wrote: I have some terrible wind noise from the passenger side of my DD that I've spent months trying to track down with no success. Getting to the "berkeley it, seal it up mo'betta" point. I've taken the interior apart enough times to know that there is a decent amount of space behind the trim, high up on the B pillar (where the noise seems to be coming from). Any recommended materials to blunt some of the noise?
Yes.
Take a whole roll of duct tape, and wrap it tightly around your head, covering both ears completely.
I guarantee that the wind noise will be gone.
First thing you need to know: are you chasing wind RUSH or wind NOISE? In my bidness, wind RUSH is air going over something causing a noise but you don't feel it coming into the car. Wind NOISE is air coming INTO the car. Wind rush is not real easy to fix, sometimes it's inherent in aero styled cars although this is not as bad as it used to be. Wind noise is usually easy to fix but a bitch to find, usually it's a poorly sealed door or window or a misaligned body panel. Sometimes it's a result of accident damage.
Hess is right, windshields that are poorly installed are a huge source of wind noise. Make sure the windshield molding is properly seated. To check for a windshield leak: mix up soapy water. Start the engine, set the HVAC on outside air, turn the blower on wide open, be sure all the windows are closed. Then slop the soapy water around the windshield edges, look for bubbles. Bubbles = air leak, noisy. Do this around the side glasses and doors too, sometimes a poor seal of the weatherstrip can cause racket.
The rear of the front door window frame needs to be ~ 1/16" further out than the front of the rear door frame or the B pillar, that's the first place I'd look. If the front of the rear door frame or the B pillar is further out than the rear of the front door it'll hoot like hell.
Then open the door, look at the front edge where the hinges bolt up, see if a plug is missing. If it is, tape up the hole. Test drive. Also make sure the mirror is properly sealed to the door (I'm assuming this one mounts at the front of the door glass on the triangular 'patch' there), add foam tape as needed.
Look carefully at the firewall. A missing grommet for an HVAC line, heater hose, hood cable etc can make some gawdawful sounds. Seal as needed or reinstall grommets properly.
It's not common, but the air inlet for the A/C can get noisy. Cover with tape and test drive.
@Curmudgeon
Posts like that are why I love GRM. Alright, time to go hoon. I'll report back.
The side moldings on that generation of Lexus are finicky. Has the windshield been replaced ever? We always use new oem side moldings and clips because the teeth on them always break. I've seen the aftermath of other installers that were either too cheap or lazy to replace them just glue them down and they rarely sit where they should in those cases.
If it hasn't been replaced make sure the cowl and trim are all sitting propperly. The plastic will dry out and shrink/warp over time, and there is a lot of plastic on those.
Wind noise is much improved, but still noticable. I'm leaning more and more towards improper windshield install. I'll try the tricks mentioned here and see what I can discover
Lancer007 wrote: The side moldings on that generation of Lexus are finicky. Has the windshield been replaced ever? We always use new oem side moldings and clips because the teeth on them always break. I've seen the aftermath of other installers that were either too cheap or lazy to replace them just glue them down and they rarely sit where they should in those cases. If it hasn't been replaced make sure the cowl and trim are all sitting propperly. The plastic will dry out and shrink/warp over time, and there is a lot of plastic on those.
Well I thought it was better, but the wife (sitting on the passenger side) claims it is worse.
I tried the soapy water trick to no avail, but I noticed the vertical trim piece on the passenger's side of the windshield isn't entirely secured. The very top clip doesn't seem to be doing its job. Everything looks kosher at rest, but perhaps at speed it's creating turbulence.
Tape up the entire windshield to car interface and go for a ride?
Mad_Ratel wrote: Tape up the entire windshield to car interface and go for a ride?
^This
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