Caution: An assistant should drive the vehicle while the technician checks for
the location of the reported condition. Otherwise, personal injury could result.
To analyze a reported windnoise condition, test drive
the vehicle to determine the origin of the noise.
Choose a regular route with smooth and straight streets that run in
all 4 directions, North, South, East, and West. The area should have little
traffic or little noise in order to eliminate interference with the test.
Important: Often there is 1 primary leak source and 1 or more secondary leaks that
contribute to the noise condition. Repairing only 1 of the contributing leak
sources may not completely repair the total condition but only reduce
the condition.
The vehicle should be driven at the speed in which the noise was noticed,
or until the noise is heard. Maintain safe and legal speeds.
Many of the waterleak diagnosis tests are also used for the windnoise
diagnosis.
Most of the windnoise is caused by either leaking seals or misaligned
body surfaces. The basic types of windnoises are:
When moving at highway speeds, air pressure inside the vehicle becomes
greater than the air pressure outside. When a leak occurs, the escaping air
causes a hiss or a whistle.
Wind roar occurs when air passes over or through an opening between
the 2 body surfaces. To correct the condition, adjust the alignment to the
body surfaces.
Wind rush occurs when air presses over the vehicle's body, and is related
to the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Wind whistle and wind roar are repairable.
Rule out wind whistle and wind roar before concluding that the wind noise
is due to wind rush.
Use the following to aid in diagnosing wind whistle or wind roar:
- Note the details for wind noise:
• | The location where the noise is loudest |
• | The position of the windows |
• | What the noise sounds like |
- Inspect the vehicle for the possible cause of the windnoise.
- Test drive the vehicle and determine if the windnoise is external
or internal.
- Perform a visual inspection of the following components:
• | Sealer and/or adhesive skips |