I've just developed with weird little wind howl/whine/whistle at about 45-55mph that seems to come from the passenger side window area of my '82.

I had my daughter ride with me and she could not pin point it- she actually thought it sounded like it came from the center console area.

Anyway, there is this wind noise howl that starts softly and then louder then fades.

Cracking the window a bit will quiet it a bit but it is still there until I get over 55ish. Lowering the window to 3/4 will eliminate the sound. AC on/off, max or normal seems to have no effect on the noise.

I've double checked (The paper pull test) all the rubber around the window, frame and T-Tops and everything seems to be serviceable.

Has anyone else experience this 45-55mph howl or is my car unique and special??

Any suggestions on isolating the noise?

Thanks!

 

The preferred "Bubba Method" would be to get a 5 foot long section of garden hose or similar hose from a hardware store......get the car up to speed while the passenger holds one end of the hose firmly to their ear and then they slowly move the other end of the hose on any possible seals/glass/vents/console under-dash areas to find openings that air could get into. (You'll probably find some air leaks that allow heat to enter the cabin also).

 

Bubba? I know a lot of X GE engineers/Mechanics do this and use screwdrivers I didn't know they where all named Bubba ����

 

You have a Corvette and you only have a "LITTLE" wind noise? You need a louder exhaust.

 

I would let someone you trust drive the car ,then you listen for the noise.

 

So, I have been working on it and have made no progress. However, I fix a few things along the way with my T Top, rubber gaskets and alignment.

The noise only happens from 45-55 mph and sounds exactly like the noise made by cupping your hands and blowing in them-like when we were kids.

Tonight I'll take my daughter for a ride with an incense stick and a rubber hose.

QUESTION-- Since this noise just started, it leads me to believe that it must be some sort of mis aligned/deteriorated rubber and not mechanical stuff?

 

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/pr...8/SMART-EAR-1/ there are other makes .you could try amazon

 

I have found that I can use tape and cover the gap at the front of the T-tops where they meet the trim and drive it and see if the noise stops...GREAT...if not...then I tape the windshield gap to the trim and test it....and that can be due to the air getting in the gap(s). I also do it on the side glass...if needed.

DUB

 

Well, I learned something yesterday about my howl...

I left a BBQ place after a client meeting (I love Texas; business meetings where ribs and beers are the norm) put on MAX AC but rolled the drivers side window down to let a bit of the heat escape.

After a bit I rolled the window up and the howling began immediately. I lower the window and the noise went away but came back as soon as the window was raised. After a bit the noise dissipated and did not return.

My thought is I have a internal pressure issue forcing air from the inside out and not from air being forced in though cracks?

BTW... the incense stick revealed nothing but made my car smell like a New Orleans head shop..

 

It makes no sense. But many times many things do not make sense to me. It self corrected itself.

If you are on MAX A/C...AND your outside door under your right top hood surround area is actually closing...then you are re-circulating the inside air and NOT introducing air into the cabin..so there should not be a significant pressure increase. And this is assuming that ALL of your weatherstrips are in good condition and sealing and not allowing air to seep by them.

My truck can do the exact same thing....when my dog is in the truck and messes around he hits the window crank on the passenger door window slightly...when I have my window all the way up...I get a whistle sound....knowing right away what it is....because I can slightly crack my window and the noise stops instantly. I crank up the passenger window and all is good.

I am a bit confused on how your problem 'self corrected' itself.

I am curious what happens if you use your A/C on the NORM setting which is allowing outside air in the car....thus somewhat pressurizing the cabin.

If I had to place a bet..I am betting on a window adjustment to get the window to seal better...but that is not knowing if using the tape to seal off seams like I mentioned earlier did any good or not. And I will go as far as actually taping off the door seams on the outside where the door meets the fender and quarter panel and climb in throguh the car unless you have someone who can do it while you are in the car.

DUB

 

Wind noise in a C-3? Surely you jest.

 

I'm not sure it spontaneously "self corrected" but I have a better understanding of the "why" it is happening; it is a aerodynamic thing.

From my reading and what I have been told (I have friends in aerospace) when the car is still, there is equal air pressure on the inside and outside of the car. When the car moves, the pressure stays relatively the same on the inside (vent on or not) but the air on the outside moves around the car as the car picks up speed. The vast, vast majority of the wind does not actually "hit" the car so much moves around the car creating a sucking or vacuum effect around as the car moves.

If there is a leak (window, seal etc) the vacuum will "suck" the higher internal pressure air outside through whatever hole is available.

Think of the airplane disaster movies where a window breaks and everything and everyone gets sucked outside.

What this tells me is that I have a seal that at a certain pressure/speed is failing/leaking/vibrating so as to let air get sucked out.

I now have a three day weekend to inspect or reglue all my seals.

 

But planes at 30,000 feet are pressurized. And when the window breaks and the pilot gets the plane to a lower altitude...the effect of people being sucked out the window stops. Because if a window breaks on take-off....I doubt anyone would get sucked out.

Who knows..I may be wrong ...which is highly possible.

I do know that when I worked at a Cadillac dealership....there were some Cadillacs where the body panels had to be adjusted as they outlined to stop noises when the shop repaired them.

This is why I use tape and it is quick and I can find the problem rather quickly...or at least the area of concern quickly.

DUB

 

DUB you exactly correct- At ground level, the pressure is equal inside and outside of the plane. As the plane takes off, it increases speed and altitude resulting in the outside of the plane having different air pressure while cabin remains the same.

When the pilots decreases altitude he is also decreasing speed- quickly

This is why smokers crack their window slightly so difference pressure caused by air speed will suck the smoke out of the car. At a full stop, the smoke lingers in the car.

BTW.... I found a portion of my T-Top where the rubber gasket had separated from the top. It was about 2 inches long and located by the front clip in the center. It could easily have air pull under the gasket.

I liberally applied windshield goop and am letting it set over night. Tomorrow I'll take my wife with me and drive around and different speeds, raising and lowing my windows and see what happens.

Maybe with enough speed my wife will get sucked out of the window.