Whistling noise

Have a similar problem with my 97 Legacy Wagon. At a combined headwind plus car forwards speed approaching 100 mph (ie 70 mph into a

30 mph wind), there is a buzz, but a very, very, loud buzz, coming from either the front of the passenger window or right hand side of the windshield. Drowns out any audo in the car and in fact is so loud it's very wearying. It's only happened twice when I was driving northwest into a strong northwest wind. In my case I suspect something with the right hand mirror, but never have had a passenger with me to isolate the source. Jim

If that link doesn't work, search Google Groups for "subaru gusset". Simple fix is to open the window and squeeze the inside & outside triangle bits together. Complex fix is to open up the door and adjust the clips. Both are detailed in the above thread.

-mark

Earle Jones

If the noise could be described as a demented kazoo thru a PA then it might be what I had....

Above 50 mph with a crosswind from the right at 25 mph or better the noise was elicited. I finally applied 6 " strips of electrical tape over the windshield reveal molding rubber strip until the noise stopped. I then removed the tape bit by bit to confirm the location of the problem.

I took it to a automotive glass repair shop and they sealed the rubber strip in place. No problems since then.

HTH

Greg in IN

I get a light wind whistle from both the antenna being up and from the Bosch aftermarket windshield wipers. Usually giving the windshield wipers a twitch with the switch solves the problem until I use them again.

Is your Outback's transmission MT or AT?

I had an annoying buzzing that came and went - seemed to depend on speed, typically happened more at highway speeds. Sounded like it was outside I eventually realized that it went away when I rested my hand on the MT shifter!!

Diagnosed it was a worn shifter bushing/broken spring.

Greg in IN is correct. I deduced the location and cause of the sound in exactly the same manner. Local windshield installer fixed it with a bit of silicone caulk.

Most whistling noises are caused by the gusset windows, due to subarus having no window frame. When you constantly shut the doors using the glass to push against, this puts the window alignment slightly out and allows a tiny bit of air in at speed.

Any noise from a windshield means the windshield was not installed properly to begin with; especially if a quick squirt of silicone can fix it.

Very easy to fix in either case.

-mark

What makes this different was the OP descriptive "buzzing noise"... phrase. This particular noise isn't really a whistle...it is a near deafening raspy buzz that makes a conversation impossible...This thing is LOUD. The other thing that sets this noise apart is that it requires a special circumstance of a very strong crosswind to cause it. Most other wind noises and whistles are less particular. It took me 3 or 4 years to figure out what the problem was coming from because the noise was so infrequent--only 3 or 4 times in the life of the car (OBW Ltd

2000). When the noise was occurring it would go away if the road changed direction (altering the crosswind angle) or it was foul weather and I was coming back from a xc ski trip. Finally had a day with heavy winds and I had the time to drive and provoke the noise and that was the end of the problem.

I'm not sure that the windshield is installed incorrectly though.... the other side of my windshield trim molding isn't adhered down and I haven't had any noise from it. Could be I haven't had a crosswind from the left to provoke the noise. I suspect the problem lies with the rubber trim molding itself or its installation.

Greg in IN

Your description in the first lines above is EXACTLY what I have experienced, although only two times. It did see to me that it requires a certain minimum headwind, rather than crosswind component.

Anyway...thanks for your earlier solution. Will do that.

Jim

My 2005 Forester XS has always whistled when I pass a tractor trailer or get close to 100 mph. Sounds like it comes from top of wind shield near the rear view mirror. The molding on the Subaru wind shield does have an odd shape with a deep recess.

Blair

If it's the same noise I have (and have had) with my WRX and now my STi, the noise is coming from the driver's side rearview mirror (or possibly the passenger-side rearview mirror.) There is a seam which appears to like whistling. I'm not sure if Subaru put it there on purpose (so when I wander in and ask them about the whistle, they know I've been going fast with the car..?)

Anyway, you can eliminate it by tucking the mirrors in, or by one of the other creative methods other people like to use: electrician's tape around the mirror's joint seam, a permanent modification to the joint.. etc.

This isn't the same issue I have. In the google poster's case, the sound was a hissing noise and had to do with a window seal.

I have no trouble with the rubber, and the noise is instead a high-pitched whine or whistle which is instantly solved by tucking the mirrors in or wrapping the mirror joint with tape. Something about the way the rearview mirrors are designed makes them whine at speed.

I believe I'm getting whistling from the rack cross bars, short of removing them while not in use, any known ways to reduce this whistling?

Have you tried tucking the mirrors in or putting electricians' tape around the mirror joints? :-)

If this doesn't eliminate it for you, then your noise is completely different than the noises I've had in both my old WRX and now my STi, and I'd better bow out of this particular advice column.