Windshield Noise TSB - Last Chapter

[BillB]

I just picked up my Ridgeline after it being at Dealer and Glass shop for 2 days. I spent a few hours watching the TSB being applied to my truck and did everything I could to push for the fullest application of the TSB as can be expected and the Glass guys went above and beyond in trying to line up the molding as cleanly as possible (there is no way it can be done as neatly as in the factory but it came close). They even stuffed the inner channel of the molding with a foam tape that is definitely more of a repair effort than Honda prescribed in the TSB. Now for the bad news. The "noise" is still there (maybe a bit less, but definitely not worse), and to my ears the TSB and anything short of redesigning the molding to being completely aerodynamic is a failure if you exect the wind noise to disappear. If you have the howling or wind blowing over a bottle type noise (which I had at one point but it came and went) then this will probably stop that very extreme version of the "Wind Noise". My Dealer did the best he could and I did not go into this service with the highest of hopes and basically am glad to get my truck back with a new windshield and new wiper blades for my troubles. Moral of the story is give it a try if your noise is extreme, but do not have unreasonable hopes if a little noise is bothersome.

[moumou48]

BillB, I’m glad you got your RL back. Hope the wind noise reduced to a more acceptable level if it is not complete disappears.

[Perkolater]

Sorry to hear you still have the noise Bill. I had the TSB (procedure A) perfomed on my RL 10 days ago and it has been noise free ever since!

Thanks again for sending me a copy of the TSB!

[BillB]

Happy to hear it worked for you. The good thing about taking it in this early to my dealer was that mine was the first Ridgeline to come in for the TSB at my dealer and they did try to learn about the repair in a positive way so that others that come behind me will get some level of satisfaction. 4 have been in for the water leak repair and they quickly to be able to tell I was not a candidate by what they learned from the guys before me.

[mayfielh]

Bill do you have the roof rack by any chance? I ask because I was convinced the TSB did help but didn't resolve the issue totally. One day I moved my x-bars back and the remaining noise had shift from the front to back. I removed the x-bars and it was gone, put them back on and it was back.

[CGM55123]

BillB - I am sorry they were not able to fix the windnoise on your RL. I have to say, my dealer's fix was a 100% improvement, I am completely satisfied.

Peace

CGM

[RRPRTS]

I pick mine up today. Dealer replaced windshield. Service Manager said noise is gone. I will post results and satisfaction. 1/27/06

[ridgelinewannabe]

I purchased my RL in late July, and have had it in to the dealer 5 times to address the windhield noise problem. They have tested and made repeated attempts at repairs, by sealing the body seams with masking tape, adding foam under the windshield molding, adding more silicone, smoke testing, and finally changing out the windshield. The technician from the dealer that I purchased it from has acknowledged hearing the noise, and once commented how it seems to change in pitch and becomes louder when going downhill. After all of this, I still have the noise and the two different Honda dealers that have heard it, refer to it as turbulence. I drove a new Ridgeline off the lot in the last three weeks from each of these two dealers. They both exhibited the same characteristic swooshing sound when speeds reached above 40 MPH. Almost sounds like flying in a jet airliner at times. So I don't believe this is a problem only with early models. The technician from the second dealer after riding in mine, actually believes that the noise may be radiating from the side mirrors themselves. I would welcome hearing from anybody that can tell me that they themselves, or a regular passenger have listened for, but never heard this noise. I might then have the courage to take it back one more time. Maybe because the rest of the truck is so quiet, I am just tuned into this noise, and that I need to somehow tune it out. But occaisionally it gets loud enough that you would think that maybe the Climate Control fan is turned on to about the third notch. Don't get me wrong, I love this truck, and am very proud to own it. It is the best vehicle I have ever purchased. After owning it for 6 months, I still look for excuses to take it for a spin. I just wish someone, would have tested the aerodynamics a little more thorough.

[montana]

Put some aggressive tires on it and you won't notice it anymore. The rumble from below will drown it out!!!

[BillB]

Ridgelinewannabe, the noise is not going to go away. It cannot be solved with a thousand windshield replacements. You like me are in tune with the noise and now that it is part of our driving experience, it cannot be hidden by joking about it as many have done in these threads. I would expect Honda to address this issue more agressively in later designs, possibly by haveing cleaner lines in the molding area, possibly by raking the windshield at a greater angle, and other aerodynamic ideas they will surely come up with. For us, we are stuck with a design deficiency and that's that. There are many fine features in this truck to counter this noise, but if another manufacturer stepped up to the plate and produced this level of hybrid use truck and it was more in tune with providing a quieter experience, I am not opposed to going for a test drive and having an option.