Wind noise from driver's door?

[sulatek]

My last car was extremely quiet going down the highway, where the Expedition has LOTS of wind noise from the driver's door.

As far as I can tell it is NOT the large mirror but the gap between the window weather stripping and the window glass itself. There is a lip on the weather stripping that goes away from the glass, presumably to make it easy for window to slide into place. Passenger window had some lip on the weather stripping, so doesn't seem to be a defect.

Do you have loud wind noise from your driver's window?


EDIT: Mine is a 2017 XLT

Yes, I suffer from this a lot, especially since I have a problem of tinnitus

Many cars in different countries of manufacture and brands have this problem Sometimes as a result of some misuse, such as opening the car window while it is traveling at high speed and then closing it again I think the best solution for manufacturers is to lower the metal top and slightly increase the side or use reinforced rubber

 

[jimz]

I just turn fan on to bring in fresh air and turn air nozzles away from my face. That increased inside air pressure so noise is exhaust and not throwing noise inside to my ears. Have always done this to keep inside quieter.

 

[llhoneymoons]

I had this same issue on my 2016, but had them address it immediately while under warranty. If I remember correctly from 4 plus years ago, it was actually the weather stripping on the left, rear door (top), but right at the front, by the driver's door, which is why I heard it so clearly.

 

[MTShooter]

My last car was extremely quiet going down the highway, where the Expedition has LOTS of wind noise from the driver's door.

As far as I can tell it is NOT the large mirror but the gap between the window weather stripping and the window glass itself. There is a lip on the weather stripping that goes away from the glass, presumably to make it easy for window to slide into place. Passenger window had some lip on the weather stripping, so doesn't seem to be a defect.

Do you have loud wind noise from your driver's window?


EDIT: Mine is a 2017 XLT

I have a 2015 EL XLT as of a few months ago, purchased with about 91k miles on it, and my driver and passenger window noise is quite noticeable, but only in the front. The rear windows don't seem to be an issue.

It definitely sounds like it's coming from the top of the window, not the door, but I will check the window and door weather stripping based on the feedback here.

 

[developer]

I'm glad I joined here. This is a real issue. I have a 2016 Expy XLT and there is varying air leakage from all 4 windows. I've actually had people ask me if I had a window or door open.

After purchase, I took it to back to Ford, and they *********** all they could to make believe they couldn't hear anything. It caused me a bit of grief and has turned me off to future versions. This was my 3rd in a sequence of Bronco, Expy and Expy. I will give you what I found from my research. If the noise doesn't bother you, or you lease and don't care, that's fine. I paid big $ for my truck. It shouldn't do this. Technology from my last Expy (99) has gotten much better. It should not have this problem, and a lot of other owners don't have it.

Ford designers obviously took great care to minimize noise. Mine has a special sound-reducing windshield. The doors have double weatherstrip between the frame and the doors. I found all of the wind noise coming from where the glass meets the weatherstrip in the window channel. There is a really easy way to confirm it in yours. Just take a rag, sweater, whatever, and hold it up against the window channel while driving. In mine, the noise went away. Part of the issue is locating the source, because the sound reflects all over the place inside the truck.

I was able to find a thin, felt-like weatherstrip which I added to the window channel (self-stick on one side). This fixed the problem completely, but as time went on, the weatherstrip flattened and the problem came back. Using a thicker weatherstrip will not work because the power windows sense current rise, so if the window is pushing too hard on the weatherstrip before coming to the end of its travel, then the (BCM?) senses there is a resistance to closing and mistakenly thinks there is an object in the way. As a safety feature, it reverses the motor and lowers the window.

Based on everything I could find, I believe that the problem is that the window glass is not aligned properly from the factory and it will not seat into the weatherstrip evenly. That creates air gaps. Those little air gaps get worse as the weatherstrip ages. I believe that the corrective action (unfortunately) is to replace all the window channel weatherstrip with new, pull the door panel and align each window glass where it attaches to the regulator so there is a proper seating along the top and leading edge. Sadly, that is a bit of work that we as owners should not have to do. I will do it one of these days because I keep my vehicles on average for 10 or more years. I just haven't had the time to tackle it yet.

Try the rag test. See if your source is the same as mine, and please post your experience with this.

 

[CubSmurf]

Makes me wonder if the previous owner had Vent Visors on the windows or something. Might grab a cheap pair and see if that closes the gap.

Though they aren't my favorite mod. Does anyone make low-profile ones that don't make me look like I borrowed Grandpa's truck?

 

[Anthony DeVor]

My last car was extremely quiet going down the highway, where the Expedition has LOTS of wind noise from the driver's door.

As far as I can tell it is NOT the large mirror but the gap between the window weather stripping and the window glass itself. There is a lip on the weather stripping that goes away from the glass, presumably to make it easy for window to slide into place. Passenger window had some lip on the weather stripping, so doesn't seem to be a defect.

Do you have loud wind noise from your driver's window?


EDIT: Mine is a 2017 XLT

Yea i have the same issue on the same expy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[07navi]

Makes me wonder if the previous owner had Vent Visors on the windows or something. Might grab a cheap pair and see if that closes the gap.

Though they aren't my favorite mod. Does anyone make low-profile ones that don't make me look like I borrowed Grandpa's truck?

Sounds like a band aid.

 

[CubSmurf]

Sounds like a band aid.

You're right, but it would at least potentially confirm the issue and provide data for a more long term solution. The other solution is to tear apart the doors and install new weather stripping, which I'm not prepared to do. Yet.

Thanks for helpful comment.

 

[07navi]

I would just put wide masking tape here and there to find the problem.

 

[Aspen03]

2003 here but my wife's navigator had louder than usual road/wind noise several weeks ago that was only noticeable at highway speeds that appeared to be coming from the driver door. Turns out it was the driver rear door, the weather stripping was just barely unseated right where it makes the curve to the b pillar. A quick smack of my palm to get get it firmly back in place took care of that.

That thing is so quiet you can whisper driving 70mph so it may have been a little easier to pinpoint but in most of these instances weather strip seems to be the common theme.

 

[CubSmurf]

FYI, after thawing out I finally did some testing and I found it was the weatherstripping not sealing correctly.

I compared the driver's door to the passenger's door and noticed the corner was crushed on the driver's side.

I ordered and installed some universal weather stripping over the crushed area and it made an immediate and significant difference.

Haven't decided if I am going to make it look any 'prettier' or just leave it as is, but it's definitely better.

View media item 7325

 

[Frank Wilson]

You're right, but it would at least potentially confirm the issue and provide data for a more long term solution. The other solution is to tear apart the doors and install new weather stripping, which I'm not prepared to do. Yet.

Thanks for helpful comment.

Replacing the weatherstripping is pretty easy actually.

The alternate solution ( not for the faint of heart) is to put a ratchet strap around the door ( latch side ) and ratchet it just enough to improve the door curve.

 

[07navi]

Great idea

 

[developer]

I'm glad I joined here. This is a real issue. I have a 2016 Expy XLT and there is varying air leakage from all 4 windows. I've actually had people ask me if I had a window or door open.

After purchase, I took it to back to Ford, and they *********** all they could to make believe they couldn't hear anything. It caused me a bit of grief and has turned me off to future versions. This was my 3rd in a sequence of Bronco, Expy and Expy. I will give you what I found from my research. If the noise doesn't bother you, or you lease and don't care, that's fine. I paid big $ for my truck. It shouldn't do this. Technology from my last Expy (99) has gotten much better. It should not have this problem, and a lot of other owners don't have it.

Ford designers obviously took great care to minimize noise. Mine has a special sound-reducing windshield. The doors have double weatherstrip between the frame and the doors. I found all of the wind noise coming from where the glass meets the weatherstrip in the window channel. There is a really easy way to confirm it in yours. Just take a rag, sweater, whatever, and hold it up against the window channel while driving. In mine, the noise went away. Part of the issue is locating the source, because the sound reflects all over the place inside the truck.

I was able to find a thin, felt-like weatherstrip which I added to the window channel (self-stick on one side). This fixed the problem completely, but as time went on, the weatherstrip flattened and the problem came back. Using a thicker weatherstrip will not work because the power windows sense current rise, so if the window is pushing too hard on the weatherstrip before coming to the end of its travel, then the (BCM?) senses there is a resistance to closing and mistakenly thinks there is an object in the way. As a safety feature, it reverses the motor and lowers the window.

(This is incorrect->)Based on everything I could find, I believe that the problem is that the window glass is not aligned properly from the factory and it will not seat into the weatherstrip evenly. That creates air gaps. Those little air gaps get worse as the weatherstrip ages. I believe that the corrective action (unfortunately) is to replace all the window channel weatherstrip with new, pull the door panel and align each window glass where it attaches to the regulator so there is a proper seating along the top and leading edge. Sadly, that is a bit of work that we as owners should not have to do. I will do it one of these days because I keep my vehicles on average for 10 or more years. I just haven't had the time to tackle it yet.

Try the rag test. See if your source is the same as mine, and please post your experience with this.

Well, it's fixed. Here is what I found...

The reason that this happened on my 2016 is because the window channel weatherstrip on the inside portion has a curved section that the glass rides against. The curved section has no backing. Wind pressure on the outside can push the curved part in, letting wind through. The fix literally took me 5 minutes. I found some small diameter fuel line at the local hardware store that is semi-rigid, but flexible. I put the window down and pulled the inner curved part down so I could snake the fuel line behind it. I ran it from the bottom of the front a pillar to the rear-top of the window. I made sure it was tucked behind the curved part. Bingo. All fixed. The window seats properly and the weatherstrip stays against the edge of the glass. Super quiet now. I guess the weatherstrip is not rigid enough, so wind can force it away from the glass. It's finally quiet!

 

[riphip]

Got my order in for 3 spools/reels @ $25 each and $11 shipping from different place.

https://www.activeforever.com/latex...qXpPIHjvrdEcBO9lqI_qTxsq_PqvqVsxoCHKIQAvD_BwE

Got the front passenger door completed before the rains hit.
I ended up using silicone spray on this one after trying a couple of failed options.
Still took more time than I liked.
Next ones should go a little faster. Another person helping will be a +.
The tubing is the type used for slingshots. Stretches easily. Slides onto cleaned coax pretty easy and binds onto it great.

I used a piece of #59 coax cable to fish the tubing thru the gasket slot cut about 3' longer than the weatherstrip laid out on work area.
Took me about 3-4 hours on this as I was testing lubes to use. I did not try wire pulling lube which may have worked but did not have on hand. The silicone spray lube was the best that I had on hand.
Could not have used the baby powder since I did not have a device to conveniently get it inside the weatherstrip.

Removed weatherstrip from opening & had to cut at fusion weld that is under threshold cover, laid out on driveway (after clearing work spot) & straightened as much as possible.
Measured 3' longer than weatherstrip (removed), sprayed (with tube in nozzle) silicone spray in the 'Air Escape holes' on the weatherstrip to fully lubricate inside.
Put a piece of #88-3M tape on end of coax to keep from piercing foam weatherstrip compression tube & slowly fed into weatherstrip out other end, spraying silicone spray in 'AE Holes' a head of the coax.
When coax has exited other end about 1' , I removed 3M tape & cleaned 6" of coax with alcohol to remove silicone spray and fed the tubing onto the coax cable (which does fit tightly) to pull back thru weatherstrip.
My tubing is on a roll so I unrolled about 10' at a time, pulling it thru the weatherstrip, lubing it with silicone spray & in the 'AE holes' as needed. The old turns/curves on the weatherstrip really created problems during the last 3' of the pull as the tubing would bind on the inside of the weatherstrip. Kept spraying the lube and made sure I had about 1 to 1-1/2" of tube and coax that would stay on outside of weatherstrip.
Before I cut the tubing from the roll, I worked the weatherstrip from one end to the other, looped the weatherstrip and cut tubing so that I could feed onto other end of coax using it as a connector for the tubing.

INSTALLING:
I started at bottom since there is a cut-out for threshold panel & using a rubber mallet, started to the left side, up the opening to the top left curve, using the mallet, bumping/bottoming the weatherstrip as I went around the opening.
I ended up with about 1/4" space where the weatherstrip ends meet under the threshold panel that I will probably silicone later when i do all the doors & is warmer.
Test drove on expressway & No more whistle from that door. Will do all doors in future.
Pulled the rear hatch seal to check out but rear hatch will be a real experience or will replace later. That baby has been pressed in for a while. Have to reseal mounting grip to reinstall since it had leaked before.

Will post any problems during finish of 'Repair' later.