Whistling Noise in Crosswinds At Highway Speed

As this thread has shown, I think there's probably a couple different noises coming from all the stuff listed here and without any definitive "This is absolutely it" they won't put out a fix for it, or even acknowledge it.

 

To any doubters, the next time the noise happens, fold in your side mirrors (*warning: I must liability-wise advise you that this must be done only when safely to do so, will reduce visibility, blah-blah-blah, don't sue me when you sideswipe someone 'cause you didn't look, etc*) and let me know if that solves the problem for you as well. If we can isolate and prove what's doing it, I don't see how Toyota can refute this problem once we have enough evidence. And perhaps I'm wrong, but there's only one way to prove/disprove an hypothesis. Let's experiment, and see if we get reproducible results!

 

Well it's windy today and I'm attempting once again to diagnose the kazoo noise...here is the senerio. West winds blowing approximately 25-30 mph. As I drive 65mph northbound I hear Mr. Kazoo seemingly coming from the passenger side side mirror. I turn around and travel roughly the same speed going southbound and sure enough the kazoo returns, only this time on the drivers side seeminly coming from the side mirror. I roll down the window and and the kazoo appears to go away (at least can no longer be heard with the wind noise through the open window). I roll up the window with the mirror still folded in and there is no longer the noise. I immediately fold the mirror back out and close the window and it's back (loud as heck mind you). I repeat the many times and have concluded without doubt it's an issue with the mirrors. Now what? How the heck can I seal up the space around the glass mirror and the mirror housing and still have the capability to adjust my mirrors?
This appears to be a very likely cause and Toyota certainly must realize the issue but has chosen not to offer a fix.
SHAMEFUL!!!!!

 

Toyota certainly must realize that a noise your truck makes is cause for a nationwide service bulletin, how shameful It's quite clear if you take the time to read this thread that there are multiple possibilities (for instance, my noise that I posted a video for goes away when I push on the side windows) and certainly it's not the majority of Tacos experiencing this.

 

I've got the same noise happening. 2104 double cab. only at hi-way speeds and usually with a crosswind. it's loud, annoying, blah blah, same as everyone else. just wanted to add to this thread for the record.

 

Add me to the list. A design flaw, for sure.

 

Same problem on my 2015 Double Cab 4x4 at or above 65 or 70 mph with crosswinds.

 

Same issue here, 2013 DC SB OR.
I narrowed it down to my mirror vibrations at freeway speeds with a crosswind. Wasn't hard to figure out. It doesn't happen with the window rolled down, even a little bit, because you alter the airflow path.

I am considering strategically placing (so as to not restrict mirror operation) open-cell foam behind the mirror to change/alter the volume of void space inside the mirror housing or even to dampen the vibration. I've just been too busy working on other things and it also doesn't get windy too often in my neck of the woods.

 

I've been brainstorming a means and methods way of doing the same thing, just haven't decided how yet. Please keep us posted on how you go about the fix (photos would be great!). You are correct about where this noise is coming from, I am 100% certain on my double cab it's the mirrors, just astonishing that Toyota doesn't acknowledge this issue!!

 

I've got a plan. I don't think it would take much behind the mirror to rid of the noise. as previous poster mentioned, just something to alter the airflow. I'm wondering about a balloon. just a regular kids balloon. stick it in the gap between the mirror and the housing while maintaining control of the balloon opening. then blow it up a little, tie it off, and stick it all inside out of sight. done deal. if it lost its air due to fluctuation of temps, it could probably be fished out with a stiff wire. and with luck, the mirror would remain adjustable by simply deforming the balloon. any thoughts?

 

Try it and let us know if it works or not. I'd hate to think that a balloon that will fail due to weathering multiple times a year is the ultimate answer, but maybe at least we can prove it's the airflow around/behind the mirror that's causing the issue...

 

maybe they'll fill the balloons with nitrogen for us at the dealer for $15 per balloon. i agree- not a good permanent solution.

 

Hey everyone, I joined just to reply to this thread. I have a 2010 Sport double cab and have the same noise as the video in post #8 and the others that are like it. The noise starts in high crosswinds and depends on the wind direction. If the wind is hitting the passenger side, the driver side makes the noise and vice versa. Also if I'm driving straight into harsh wind, both windows tend to do it.

I started to do the 1/4'' dripper tube as posted here and ended up folding back some of the window seal and discovered something odd.

Here is the location of what I found.

This is the area where my noise is coming from and I can either quiet it or stop it completely by pushing on the window from the inside in this location.

Here is a close up of that area.


As you can see there are 2 little half moon cut-outs in the door under the seal with cracks in the seal where the cut-outs are. I'm thinking this could be the source of the problem in my case but also maybe for others too. My passenger door is identical to the pics above. I plan on picking up some clear silicone tomorrow to run inside this area. Hopefully that will work. I'll post back with results.

 

Anxious to hear of your results, GotMetal. Same here- I can push outward on the top edge of the window and make the sound change pitch/almost stop (which makes me question the mirror as being the source of my problem- although it could be a player in air flow). I can also lower the window about 1/8 of an inch and get a slight reduction in loudness (not enough to actually open the window). Mine sounds just like the posted video as well.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2012-whistling-sound-indentified.189392/page-14#post-10264738

 

Got Metal: 2, maybe 3 questions: Did you buy your truck used? (did someone put in aftermarket drip guards that were subsequently removed-that might explain the holes and corrosion to the window seal in your pic.) Where do you live/where is your truck from? (That kind of corrosion to the seal is indicative of high acid/high salt/high temperature/dryness conditions.) It's only a 2010, and that kind of damage has occurred to your seals? My 20-year old Mustang that I sold when I got my Taco didn't have anywhere near that amount of seal damage when I sold it, and I live in dry-ass Colorado (LOTS of weather/temperature changes).

 

Yes I bought it used. I don't believe there were drip guards on it previously, but it's possible. I live in the high desert of Southern California, but the truck was a trade in from somewhere out of state, Tennessee if I remember correctly. The damage you see in the pics is only in those areas, no where else in any of the seals so I don't think it's weather related. Also, the cracks in the seal don't go all the way through on either side. I siliconed that area very well yesterday and let it sit for a full 24 hours now. I should be driving in some high wind areas in the next few days so I'll report back then.

 

Ok so I drove in some pretty good winds today and sad to report the problem still exists. I even folded my mirrors in like some have suggested and the noise still happened, although it changed in pitch slightly. So the aerodynamics of the mirror has some sort of effect on it, but I think the noise is still ultimately in the windows. I'm going to try the dripper tube fix next and see what happens.

 

Got Metal: cool. Let me know how it goes. I just received an offer from Toyota for a service discount, and I'm going to stop by the local dealership (as there's no phone/web info on the offer). When I'm there, I'll ask the service manager how much they've heard about this...

 

Ok I believe I have found the problem area. I started doing the drip tube fix and remembered someone mentioning using the air compressor to check seals. So I started shooting air into the seals around the door and mirror and this is what I found.


Right about this area where the mirror attaches to the door I could reproduce the sound over and over on both doors. I ran a bead of silicone along that whole gap on the driver side, let it sit for a few hours and retested. NO FREAKING NOISE. So I have now done both doors and will retest again in awhile. Hopefully this will cure mine for good and possibly help others as well. The real test will of course be actually driving it, but I'm optimistic about this one.