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Strange noise issue when back windows are down

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9K views 26 replies 21 participants last post by  blizbod  
J
#1 ·
When I roll only the rear windows down at highway speeds, my Ridgeline makes an unbearable noise. This only occurs at 60mph or above. The entire car vibrates, the passenger seat shakes violently, and it sounds as if 10 subwoofers are going off at full blast right behind my head. I have no idea what causes this; maybe some some strange wind resistance? When I open the rear window, or a front window, the noise is diminished but still there. I have never experienced this with any other vehicle I have driven or owned.

Does anyone else have this problem or heard about it?
 
#2 ·
Haven't checked this myself... but if it is as you describe, you are getting a resonance effect. You can read about the general theory here: Resonance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you really want to ride with the windows down, the simplest solution would be those window edge plastic thingees, which shape the air flow.
 
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#3 ·
This sometimes happens with sun-roof equipped cars when the spring-loaded deflector fails to pop up and re-direct the wind around the sunroof opening. It is commonly referred to as "Wind Buffeting" where a large volume of air is pressurized into a given space but cannot escape.

The way I see it, you have two choices:

1) Live with it and try different driving scenarios with the bed window or another window cracked open in order to "bleed" any excess air from the cabin.:cool:

2) Hire an aerodynamicist to perform wind tunnel testing with a scale model of your truck and install custom window spoilers and vortex generators to prevent another occurrence;) :D
 
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#5 ·
No, just Ernie K-Doe and Huey Lewis.;)

Seriously, my RL does this too, maybe not to the extent you described. I do not have a sun roof. I think this was discussed on another thread?:confused:
 
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#6 ·
Doesn't every truck do that if you only open the back windows? I know my Four Runners always did. Not sure why you would do that. I always open the pass side and back one on drivers side. Then the air goes right past the back of your seat. Both back down would let air in with nowhere to go so it bounces off the back window and roof.
 
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#8 ·
You think the RL is bad? My Regal would cause your ears to bleed if you rolled down the back windows at highway speeds! Want a smaller dose of the same thing? Open only the sunroof then push down the pop-up deflector. You know how blowing over the top of a soda bottle causes it to whistle? The same thing happens in vehicles, but at a much, much lower frequency. Your RL is becoming a giant, low-frequency whistle.
 
#12 ·
I don't hear what a subwoofer some has heard, but when i have my back windows half way down or open, i hear a loose glass or two glass vibrating together?
 
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#14 ·
"Buffeting"? Then the back does seat 3. Ernie, Huey & Jimmy! ;)

Opening the slider just enough will stop the effect. However, that will pull a lot of air thru the cabin at those speeds. I also like to do Sliders' cross venilation technique posted above. My accord does this to a much lesser extent. Perhaps because the dynamics are different because of an angled rear glass and a rear deck?
 
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D
#15 ·
Yes, my RL makes this noise as well as my wifes Accord. The worst that I have come across is our old 2003 chevy Impala. According to a friend of mine who works for a dealer up here that sells every make of new cars, "it happens on all four door cars and trucks manufactured from 2000". Again, I'm not sure if it happens on all cars but I do know that it also does it on my dad's 03 Taurus, if you open the front window a crack it alleviates the noise somewhat.
 
#17 ·
My RL buffets too when the rear windows are opened.... but only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.



Seriously, the wind buffeting is normal - a synopsis from a Honda publication:


Buffeting Noise With Rear
Window(s) Open Is Normal
On ’98–03 Accords, ’96–03 Civics, ’97–02 CR-Vs, or
’03 Pilots, if you have the front windows raised
and one or both of the rear windows lowered
while driving, air rushing past the rear window
opening can generate a buffeting or booming
noise that’s hard to miss. This noise is simply the
price paid for an aerodynamically efficient
automotive design, and it’s similar to what you
hear when you blow across the mouth of an
empty soda bottle. You can affect this buffeting by
lowering the front windows or raising one or both
of the rear windows.

This was published in late '02 - which is why it only covers models up to '03 but it still applies to any vehicle.


HT
 
#24 ·
I’ve been driving minivans, SUVs, or this truck for 26 years, and every one of them had wind buffeting if the windows weren’t opened correctly. We are talking Dodge, Mazda, Toyota, Ford, Buick, Chevy and Honda (Odyssey and now RL). It is normal, IMO, because every large vehicle that I’ve driven does it - it certainly isn’t a Honda-only thing.
 
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