Driver side window wind noise - Page 2 - GreenHybrid

skata · #11 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamryMan

New owner of a Camry Hybrid, mag grey, fully loaded. I'm very happy with the vehicle, but I have to say that one of the things I'm most disappointed with is the wind noise. I commute 30 highway miles to work every day and I'm rather appalled at how loud the wind noise is. If I'm listening to music, it's not an issue as I tend to enjoy my music quite loud. But, if I'm listening to NPR or perhaps not listening to anything on the stereo, the wind noise at 50mph and higher is unusually loud. In fact, it's significantly louder than that of my '05 Camry LE! A visual inspection of the seals doesn't show anything out of order. Surely it's not just a handful of us who are experiencing this problem? It's especially disappointing because I think that Toyota has done a great job at reducing road noise with the thicker windshield, but what's the point of that if it sounds like you're in a wind tunnel when driving faster than 50?

I don't suppose there are any TSBs out there on this issue?

Thanks for resurrecting this thread, CamryMan.

This is still the only excessive noise I am experiencing in my vehicle. Maybe there will be more speaking up on this topic. And, better yet, I would like to see one of these whiz-kids come up with a quick fix.

skata · #12 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007, 04:54 AM

Since this was brought up again, I just looked at the two front doors. When driving, I thought the wind noise was coming from the window not closing all the way. I now see that it is the door itself. There is a bigger gap between the roof and the driver-side door than there is on the passenger side. This gap is towards the rear-side of the door.

The rubber strip gets squashed more on the passenger side, where it just touches on the drivers side. Looks like a little foam strip in the area should take care of the little gap.

nash · #13 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skata

Since this was brought up again, I just looked at the two front doors. When driving, I thought the wind noise was coming from the window not closing all the way. I now see that it is the door itself. There is a bigger gap between the roof and the driver-side door than there is on the passenger side. This gap is towards the rear-side of the door.

I would complain to the dealer and ask that the door be adjusted. I don't feel what you describe is "normal" fit and finish for Toyota.

My TCH has impressed me with the quiet ride, and lack of wind noise. Driving on the freeway, the road noise from other cars going by is louder than any wind or tire noise coming from the TCH.

Squint · #14 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007, 08:15 AM

Maybe your door needs to be repositioned?

rewby · #15 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squint

Maybe your door needs to be repositioned?

That's an interesting suggestion. As I've mentioned before, I also have the wind noise on the driver's side. My other complaint is that my door latch on the driver's side often isn't very smooth - by comparison to the other door, when I pull on the outside door handle, the motion of the handle as I pull on it isn't as smooth as it should be, as though the latch (or door) isn't positioned quite right.

thoots · #16 (**permalink**) 04-30-2007, 07:26 PM

Folks,

Another thing to try regarding wind noise is excellently documented on the ClubLexus ES350 forum. Check this out:

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260253

It involves stuffing something (I like the idea of 'air conditioner filter foam') into a gap that's built into the window weatherstripping. It's very easy to pull that out a bit and pop something in there, and then pop the weatherstripping back into place. By all means, give it a shot and see what happens!

skata · #17 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 03:19 PM

I loosened the 4 bolts holding the driver door on and lifted the door up as I tightened them back. It moved up just a little (~1/8 inch). I drove around 200 miles today on the highway where it is most noticable and it was much better.

Before, it sounded like air escaping out the window much like if you have the window down a crack while driving. Today, I could hear wind going by the door, but nothing like before.

The door is still not as close to the top as the passenger's side, but it is better than it was.

misbe · #18 (**permalink**) 05-02-2007, 06:07 PM

I've noticed the wind noise as well. Didn't have this much noise in my '03 Camry. In the sub-freezing weather of winter I could feel cold air coming in through the door/window area. The dealer said he'd need to take it out on the highway so I could show him the problem. I'm sure he won't hear what I hear.

Spoke with a VP from Toyota at the SAE show last month in Detroit. He said they knew there would be some wind noise above 60 miles per hour but not at 40 miles per hour (where it is already quite noticeable).

CamryMan · #19 (**permalink**) 05-04-2007, 11:54 PM

Let us know what the dealer said, Misbe. I've become so disheartened by the prominent wind noise that I leave my window down a crack for my first five minutes of freeway driving. That way, when I finally put the window up all the way the noise seems to be relatively lower than if I drove with my window up all the way. I guess if I can throw my perception off, I'll be able to stand it. It just seems like such a shame after all the apparent effort was placed on making the car itself so quiet that this wind noise can be so prominent. The car has a near Lexus quality feel, but that wind noise makes me feel like I'm driving an '84 Corolla.

I'm taking my Camry Hybrid in this weekend for the leather and paint treatment. I'll ask the service dept. about the wind noise, but I doubt anything will come of it.

nash · #20 (**permalink**) 05-05-2007, 08:38 PM

Try shutting the door while holding a sheet of paper so it is caught by the upper part of the window weather stripping. I just tried my drivers door, and at no time could I pull the paper out without really gripping the sheet firmly. I tried all along the door frame, starting just above the drivers side window, all the way to the top rear edge, and vertically between the door frame and the body pillar.

I would guess those of you with the excessive wind noise will find a spot the paper is loose. For me, that would be sufficient to complain and have the door adjusted.