How to Stop Wind Noise in Car Windows and Door

Everybody loves a smooth and quiet ride without any disturbance. Experiencing wind noise while cruising is no moment for any driver or vehicle owner. 

Sometimes the wind outside may find its way into your vehicle’s cabin,  hence causing annoying howls or speaking noise. Whilst your car’s engine is always going to noise, they are other unavoidable noises that can easily be handled with the right approach. 

Some of the simplest ways to get rid of the wind noise in your car are; too to tox the doors, replace worn-out seals, use wind deflectors, use acoustic caulk and use sound-deadening spray.

In this article, we will talk about the causes and some of the best methods to help you fix the wind noise in your car.

Causes of Wind Noise in Car Windows and Door

Aerodynamics

Generally the bigger the car the more wind noise it will likely generate when you are driving. When your car is unable to efficiently slice through the air it will make more wind noise due to a greater disruption to the surrounding air.

On the other hand vehicles such as sports cars won’t generate much wind noise as it doesn’t create a great disturbance in the surrounding air pressure. One rule of thumb is that the smaller the car the less wind resistance.

Hence the less noise it will produce. So if you drive a smaller vehicle and hear a lot of wind, then there may be different reasons other than aerodynamics.

Defective Seals

Generally, all have weatherstripping in the form of door seals. The weatherstrippings are mostly made of EPDM rubber plastics and TPO polymer. These materials make them perfect seals for preventing any water or dust from going into your vehicle.

Just like other plastics element of your car, the door seals can wear down over time.

The frequent opening and closing of your car door. And slamming it against the weatherstrippings causes the seals to become torn, flat, and ripped. 

When this happens air flowing outside will find its way into the snug space between your car door and the seal, hence creating a whistling high-pitched noise due to the narrow nature of the snug space. 

Surprisingly the air inside your car can also induce annoying sounds that come from your car door. Usually, the air inside the cabin can pass through special vents and find its way outside. But with a worn-out door seal, the air will easily move through the snug space and create high-pitched noises.

Air Pressure

Every car has an air vent that allows air to escape out of the car. In the course of driving the air pushes the outside air forward, hence lowering the outside air pressure to the one outside your vehicle’s cabin.

Due to the air pressure inside your vehicle’s cabin, the air would escape to the lower air pressure outside, but it can only do this through holes. But in most cases, the air is directed through the vents in your car. The vents are specially made to allow air escape in the quietest possible manner and at the same time maintain proper air in the cabin.

However, if the air escapes through other means due to faulty weatherstripping it will result in the disruption of the proper airflow. And thus causing increased wind noise.

Non-Acoustic Windshield

It is a pretty good idea to invest in a windshield made from acoustic glass when upgrading a car. This type of glass is thicker and more tortuous than normal glass and the materials make it great for wind noise reduction. Even many homes today now use windows made from acoustic glass.

The acoustic glass windshield has two panels of glass with an extra vinyl panel between them. This blend will greatly help lessen all noises coming from the wind. The acoustic glass is very light and easy to install and remove.

The shock absorption of acoustic glass windshields is much greater than normal glass. Even though these glasses may suffer damage from ongoing objects they are much less prone to shattering.

Sadly many cars choose to use a non-acoustic windshield because of how they are made up. But this non-acoustic windshield does not do as well as the acoustic windshield and has difficulty blocking out air when you drive your vehicle at high speed. 

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Bad Weather Conditions

Of all the causes mentioned above, this is the only one that is completely out of your control. If you are driving your car in very bad weather, you will certainly be exposed to wind noise outside. Snowstorms, blizzards, and rainstorms come along with very strong winds, so once you find yourself amid these weather phenomena no amount of acoustic windshield or weatherstripping can help.

This doesn’t mean you can’t drive in very bad weather, but if you have no choice, you can weatherproof your car as much as possible. Even though this will not get rid of the noise it will lessen the noise to some degree. 

How to Fix the Wind Noise Issue in Your Car

Find the Source of the Wind Noise

Before you begin to solve the wind noise issue, you first need to figure out where the noise is coming from. There are various places in your car through which air can get into your car. These include sunroofs, cabin corners, hoods, trunks, wheels, and rearview mirrors.

There is a technique you can use to check for wind resistance. The first one is to drive your car for a while.  First, drive your car at a normal speed. Pay heed to every sound your car makes and ensure that no other sound pops up either from the radio or your voice.

Here are a few places you should pay critical attention to while trying to figure out the source of the wind noise.

The seals around your car doors and the windows. 

The weather stripping along the doors and windows

Deformities of the doors 

Exterior damage to the vehicle’s body.

In the course, of driving makes sure to take note of everything. You may be surprised that even the slightest noise from your wind windshield can be an indication of a bigger problem. Once you figure out the cause, start the necessary techniques to get rid of the wind noise. 

Replace Worn-Out Car Door Seals

Defective weatherstripping is one of the common causes of wind noise in your car. So if you begin to notice strange noise emanating from your car door, then you need to focus on the seals.

Open your car door and carefully inspect the weatherstrippings. In most cases, you will see the flattened and crushed areas of the door seal. Even though might be the cause it definitely won’t be the only one, so ensure the door seal for any cuts, rips, or tear. In most cases, a part of the seal just is hanging unattached. 

If you spot a crushed seal part in the car door, apply lithium grease on the crushed section. This substance will make the seal expand back to its original size. However, if that doesn’t work, you can replace your old seal with an adhesive door seal. 

To tackle unattached weatherstripping, you can apply weatherstripping adhesive to sections where the seals are loose. However, if you realize there is a lot of physical damage on the weatherstripping, it’s best to replace the seal completely. 

Fix Your Car Doors

If your weatherstrippings are in good shape, but you still hear wind noises then the door itself is the problem. It can be that the door is not closing all the way or there is a problem preventing it from not working properly.

If there a physical damage to your car, then is likely it is the cause of the problem. Look out for dents or cracks on your car. If you notice the problems car quickly get them fixed either by yourself or a professional. 

If the problem is fixed and everything is working as it should. Try opening and closing your car door as it needs to work effectively and ensure no air is left in.

Fix Your Car Exterior

If your car’s exterior is seriously damaged, it can be susceptible areas for wind, especially if there are holes in your car’s body.

Maybe if someone has gotten into an accident or something is torn off in the car. Either way excess noise will be heard from these areas. In most cases, rust is the main cause of exterior damage O Older vehicles need to be checked often to ensure the wind noise doesn’t get into the car through holes created by rust. 

Also, inspect the glasses to ensure it is working as they should since it is the common cause of wind noise. 

Use Wind Deflectors

In recent times many people have started using wind deflectors to get rid of noise bothering them.   These wind deflectors are better known as vents shades and can be gotten at a low cost. 

These wind deflectors are pieces of plastic used on the top of your car window to prevent wind from directly hitting the place the window meets with the weatherstrippings. For this technique to work effectively it should completely fit in.

There are various deflectors for different car models, take your time and select one that is right for your car. Installing the wind deflectors is pretty simple. It requires only an adhesive backing and a little bit of your time to get things done.

Take out the adhesive backing and inset the lip into the top of your vehicle’s window frame. 

Then push the lip up hard for the adhesive to stick properly. 

Use an Acoustic Caulk

This approach is recommended for those whose windows aren’t working. if your car windows are completely sealed to get rid of noise,  then using acoustic caulk will around the windows helps make the seal work as it should, especially if the car is old. 

To determine if acoustic is necessary you examine your windows to see if the sealants are damaged or not. Even if you spot a small crack or chip as it cause it to lose its overall effectiveness Use about one or two beads of acoustic caulk along the edges to help keep them back.

Use Sound-Deadening Spray

Sounds can easily get into your car through the undercarriage.  If the noise in your car is reflected by off-road wind and finds its way into your car it gets noisy.  

Many people use sound-deadening spray to cut down the noise transmission beneath. However, you can put several coats depending on the intensity of the noise. Before you use the sound-deadening spray ensure the surface is lean and dry. This will make it stick properly and prevent premature rust.

Clear Up the Door Drain Holes

Every car has a door drain that gets rid of water. These holes are useful after you have washed your car or when you are driving in a rainstorm. sometimes these may become clogged with dirt and debris. When this happens air that passes through them will stay trapped and make a lot of noise.

However solving this problem isn’t anything difficult, simply locate the drain holes and clean them up. In most instances, they are usually located at the bottom of your car door. When you can locate the holes, you a paper clip to puncture them This will remove the blockage and allow continuous airflow. 

Conclusion

Wind noise can be very disturbing and annoying especially when you are at highway speed. Luckily enough will covered some of the potential causes and solutions to help you fix the wind noise issue in your car. Read the article carefully and stick to the procedures to achieve better results.

Josephine

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