wind whistle

[Redbucket Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Redbucket]

I purchased a 90 series prado a few months ago, I've sorted out some rattles in the door trims made when listening to loud music, done the muffler/exhaust mod. absolutely loving the car offroad and down the beach.
The one thing I cant find info on or find in the car for myself is the source of an annoying wind whistle when driving in windy conditions.
the passenger (missus) thinks its coming from the air con vents (I've tried chaning to fresh air and recycled no difference) but I'm certain its coming from the drivers window. cant see anything wrong with the glass fitting or the rubbers/seals
Any ideas or people who have the same problem???

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Nope, cant say I have that whistle, if it is a diesel, could it be turbo whistle.
The only other things I can think of is the trim on the roof gutter, or something loose on the outside of the vehicle, or wind noise around the mirror, does the whistle stop if you open the window.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

The rubbers around the door frame are intact? What about the wiring grommets between the door & frame?

While on the subject of noise, not having one myself, I'm curious to know if snorkels cause a noticeable difference in wind noise at speed.

[mastermanoj Member Find all posts View Profile Close mastermanoj]

Well to answer Declan's question. after putting the snorkel i haven't noticed anything unusual with the wind noise.......in saying that i haven't either driven with open windows.....

[Smickbus Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smickbus]

We had the front windscreen replaced on our car and on the way home the wife could hear a slight whistle that definately wasnt there before the glass was replaced. A dead giveaway that it wasnt sealed properly was when it rained overnight,drenched the inside roof lining and left big puddles around the gearstick! Once we had that windscreen replaced the noise has gone, so might be worth having a look around the front windscreen seals.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

The rubbers around the door frame are intact? What about the wiring grommets between the door & frame?

While on the subject of noise, not having one myself, I'm curious to know if snorkels cause a noticeable difference in wind noise at speed.

To answer your question, Declan, I've got a snorkel fitted on a 95 series petrol (snorkel on driver's side) and I always drive with the windows down. The snorkel doesn't make any extra noise whatsoever. You certainly can't hear any suction noise either as petrol's don't draw that much air compared to a diesel. The only extra noise created is from my Rhino roof bars which can whistle a little when driving over 80km/h. The manager of the 4wd outlet who fitted my snorkel told me I'd notice a "huge" difference with power after having the snorkel fitted because of the ram air effect. I didn't believe a word of his sales pitch and nor did I notice any difference in performance whatsoever. It's just for security with water crossings and nothing more.

I believe the ram air effect jargon the 4wd outlets like to use is pure rubbish because the engine will only compress so much air which just happens to be the same amount it will take in perfectly fine without a snorkel fitted. It can't compress more than its specifications will allow. Going by their theory that the "ram air effect" is true and gives your car more performance by the snorkel allowing more air to be "forced" into the engine, then when you ride a motorbike at 100km/h and you open your mouth, shouldn't the ram air effect force your lungs with so much air that they'd explode? Even with the snorkel drawing air a few degrees cooler from the outside it still doesn't give you more power.... None that you can notice anyway.

I remember watching a V8 Supercar race once where one of the cars had a plastic bag stuck on the front spoiler covering most of the air intake and the driver was still keeping up with the other cars just fine for half a dozen laps or so until the finish.
So that side of the snorkel story increasing performance is pure bulls%it. The fuel savings are unmeasurable too.

[Redbucket Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Redbucket]

I'll have a look at the mirror and roof gutter, the rubber trim/seals looks intact, haven't looked at the ones in the door for wiring but will check those out too.
I'm going to pull of tthe trim/seals and make sure they are clean and refit them.
We have had some pretty hard down pours while driving and parked uncovered and no water has come in at all, but I'll check out the windscreen anyway.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Another thing to look into is the window frame for the door, over time the pressure inside the cab, (normally when you close the door), can push the window frame out slightly, it is an easy fix though, make sure the window is all the way down, sit sideways on the seat, and from the trim side of the door, place your knees up against the window sill, and with two hand on the window frame, pull towards yourself, you only have to get it to move about 2-3mm, so dont pull too hard, just keep doing it bit by bit, and go for a drive inbetween, till you have no whistle.

[Redbucket Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Redbucket]

nice one croozza, I'll give it a try. cheers