Wind noise diagnosis
Attention! The assistant should drive the car, and the specialist at this time should find the place of wind noise, in order to avoid injury and damage to the car.
A test drive in the vehicle is necessary to pinpoint the exact location of the wind noise. There is often a primary leak and secondary leaks. If all leaks are not fixed, the wind noise will only subside a little, but will not completely disappear.
During the test drive, the technician should use the following means to locate the wind noise.
- Mechanical stethoscope or vacuum hose
- Insulating tape
- Sealing putty
- Marker
- Screwdriver
To carry out a road test, follow these steps:
1. Choose a route along flat, straight streets going in all four directions (north, south, east and west).
2. Choose streets where there is no heavy traffic or loud noise that could interfere with the test.
3. Drive the car at the speed at which the noise was noticed by the client, or pick up speed until the noise appears. Do not exceed the legal speed limits.
4. Wind noise is external when at least one of the following circumstances exists:
- Wind noise is caused by the wind.
- Wind noise is heard when the door glass is lowered while the car is moving.
- Wind noise disappears when the tape is applied to various moldings and crevices.
5. Interior wind noise is generated by the flow of air escaping from the vehicle. This thread must be eliminated as follows.
- Tape the pressure equalizing valves in the bodywork to detect a leak. This will build up air pressure inside the vehicle and increase wind noise.
- Check for leaks with a stethoscope or vacuum hose.
- Temporarily seal the leak with duct tape.
- Continue testing to see if all leaks have been found.
- Once all leaks have been found, return to the workshop and perform permanent repairs using appropriate leveling techniques and sealing materials.
Eliminate wind noise
Eliminating wind noise leakage is very similar to eliminating water leakage. See section 9I, «water flow». The actual procedure depends on the type of sealant used.
Leaks around doorway seals are not always indicative of seal failure. Perhaps the problem is fixed by adjusting the door or window. See section 9P, «doors» or section 9L, «Glass and mirrors».