Wind related chirping noise at 70-75mph, getting desperate

I have a 2015 Tacoma and I’m about at my wits end trying to fix this extremely annoying wind related “chirping” noise coming from my front driver door area when driving about 70-75mph. I know there’s issues with our door seals and I’ve seen some videos on applying an extra surrounding layer of D rubber weather stripping. I’m also aware of the TSB about the door seals, both of which I’ve done. I’m wondering if there’s actually just some loose screw or similar thats located outside of where the cabin is that wind is causing to move and subsequently “chirp”. It’s very hard though to tell if it’s just a super high pitched whistle or actual metal on metal moving slightly. However it fully goes away when the window is rolled down so I’m thinking it has to be a leak/gap in a seal somewhere. I just cannot figure out where. Going on a big trip next week with 1500 Highway miles and I’d be elated to fix this before it. Here’s my symptoms and what I’ve tried.


Symptoms:

• Only occurs at 70-75mph with certain wind conditions. Example, I have cruise control set at 75 and as soon as the freeway turns directions it will start
• Noise sounds like a high pitched chirping/fast fluttering that increases/decreases slightly in speed with the wind speed. It almost sounds like some metal screw chirping and the wind is hitting it and causing the noise but it’s super hard to tell, but I think it’s just wind through a tiny gap
• If I barely crack the window the noise remains but as soon as I open it fully it ceases. Then as soon as I roll it all the way up it starts instantly. Definitely seems related to the cabin pressure

What I’ve tried

• TSB replacement with the “upgraded” door seals that contain the extra little rubber tubing
• Replaced window channel runs with new OEM ones
• Removed side view mirror and replaced foam gasket with new thicker foam
• Double additional layers of D and foam weather strip along A pillar and front of door
• For testing, I’ve tried covering the all seam gaps on exterior along a pillar, front of door, and side of windshield with painters tape (no effect)
• For testing I’ve also tried driving with inner door card removed and shuffling a duster in the seams to see if I could make a difference in sound and nothing.
• I’ve also tried shutting the door with a microfiber towel stuck between the door right below/around the A pillar and no difference.

Note:

• I do have window weather guards but the sound is coming from lower down, somewhere just below the tweeter location.
• Could be unrelated, but when hitting big bumps I feel like I heard the same chirp sound momentarily which makes me wonder if something is just loose and the wind is hitting it at high speeds causing the noise. Has anyone had something similar happen?

Area where chirping seems to be coming from:


TSB door seal/weatherstrip, extra D tubing and Foam weather stripping for testing:

 

Check those flimsy "cloth" liner/covers above the strut tower. They cover the gap between the frame rails and the inner fender apron. The little plastic rivets on mine were half broken and a loose end of the liner was slapping against the frame. Only happened at freeway speeds with some wind blowing around under there

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Are you referring to the thin rubber splash guards in the front wheel well? Or something different?

 

Yes. On mine one end of the guard loose and flapping around but it still had a plastic rivet stuck in it. The plastic rivet was tapping against the frame. Crazy how that little piece of plastic could make so much noise in the cabin

 

Sadly that’s not it for me. I replaced those a while back. I just went and shook the flaps by hand and no noise to be had unfortunately. I’m truly at a loss.

 

Are the mudflaps tight?

 

No mudflaps, I removed them. It definitely sounds like wind entering some tight gap, it’s a high pitched chirping/fluttering noise that changes speed with the wind. But I of course could be wrong

 

I think I know the exact sound your talking about, I get it with my 2013. There's one specific stretch of highway it happens on, same speed range you're talking about and that stretch of highway is always incredibly windy. I've always thought it was the driver's side rear view mirror.

 

Definitely could be the same noise, mine only happens on certain highways as well in certain directions related to wind. I suspected the side view mirror as well because if there’s not a good seal of if it’s not fully tight there’s 4 holes directly behind the sail panel that could certainly allow the noise. However I’ve tried the following to no avail:

1. Removed mirror and replaced inner foam gasket with thicker foam
2. Test drove with painters tape applied around the entire side view mirror perimeter where it meets the truck body

The only test I haven’t done is drove with the mirror completely removed and the holes covered with tape but I’d rather not have to do this… though I might now.

Test driving again tonight it does seem to be a leak as it definitely goes away when the window is open enough. I wasn’t sure before but as soon as I roll up the window it gets louder.

 

Just bumping this to see if anyone else has any ideas, I’m getting desperate. I’ve now read about every full thread I could find on the topic of wind related noise and have tried the additional steps with no success

1. Added 1/4” drip tube to the inside of the door seal (which are already the upgraded OEM TSB ones).
2. Added 1/2” tubing BENEATH the factory door seals
3. Added a significant amount of extra foam weatherstrip to side mirror gasket
4. Taped off interior front side gap near fender (see photo below from another user)


The only thing worth mentioning is that plastic cover below the tape that runs along the entire front side of the door is loose. The sound isn’t plastic flapping though but I wonder if it’s related. I’m wondering if it’s something under the hood near the fire wall or inside the fender that’s causing the noise rather than a leak in my cabin seal (and subsequently why nothing I’ve done has made a single difference in the noise) but I’ve inspected and can’t find anything loose. However it’s also a definite fluttering high pitched chirping/whistling sound.

 

It must be with the rubber seals. My 2015 doesn’t do it but I have heard this with other yrs as well. Sure sounds like a hair line gap where the rubber seal meets the paint, probably from drying out. Just try cleaning all the rubber door seals with soapy rag and water and the mating surface with same. Then apply some silicone to the rubber and wax the paint mating surface.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I should note this is not the well documented “kazoo” sound, but a hairline gap is a definite possibility. So far I’ve replaced my window run seals, and door seals with the upgraded TSB ones and it hasn’t helped. I have NOT replaced the main door seal attached to the cabin that runs the entire perimeter. I’m gonna do what you suggested and focus on that next. They do cause a completely different rubber squeaking noise when the door flexes, so they definitely are worn a bit. However at the same time I’d still be surprised if this is it because I’ve tried adding so much extra beefier seals to the area and it didn’t help. The sound ALMOST sounds like a metal on metal noise being caused by wind but it’s hard to tell.

 

Yea, a 10 yr old truck and things aren’t as flexible anymore. Things that are made of rubber get stiff and don’t respond very good and may need a little help. Keep them clean and lubricated and that’s about all you can do. I have a tube of pure silicone for pools i bought on Amazon and use it for things like that and also the seal on the refrigerator. It really helps.

 

So I just did another test driving with the side mirror completely removed and also with the inner door card completely removed. Noise remains.

With the inner door card removed I can see that the only area where the door seal (the one on the cabin that I haven’t replaced) even “seals” against the metal door itself is the A pillar and top of the window. Where I’m hearing the sound from (lower down, about the height of the tweeter or so), it just presses up against the door card. I should also note that I lubricate them every few weeks with silicone spray to get rid of the unrelated squeaking friction created noise. I don’t think it’s those seals unfortunately.

 

Here's another rabbit hole on door seal noise Cross-wind whistle (kazoo noise) TSB

 

Thanks for sharing that. Unfortunately I’ve gone through it and I’ve replaced my seals with the upgraded TSB ones but the noise remains. Mine isn’t a loud kazoo noise, though I did have that once in a while before I placed the seals. Mine is a quieter but still very noticeable high pitch chirping/fluttering.

 

I’ll toss in some other ideas. I get the chirp when a bicycle is the back, guessing from a brake cable at certain speeds. You got anything extra tied on?
What about cranking the heater/ac blower to change cabin pressure?
Use your phone to record the noise as you move it around while dictating its location so you can review the recording when it’s quiet. “Here is when phone is on mat. Here it is by window. “ etc Listen for when it’s loudest.

 

Was getting noise with my 14 taco, found it really helps to wash the edges of the door opening and the rubber seals when I wash the truck. Replaced the seals on a Ford truck I had, really helped it.

 

Are you referring to the seals on the actual door or the ones that are on the cabin itself that the door presses against when closed? I’ve cleaned and lubed both but have only replaced the seals on the door itself. I’m debating getting new cabin seals but I just can’t see how those would be causing the noise since they press up against the plastic door card when closed and my noise is able to be recreated when that door card is removed.

 

I went completely crazy with the kazoo noise on my 2007. Turns out it was the front windshield gasket and after a TSB barely fixed it, a cracked windshield replacement at a discount window place finally put it to bed.

Some tips, get a roll of blue painters tape. Tape up various gaskets and openings you think are causing the issue, one per day in a systematic testing method. If you think it's a door gap, tape it up and climb in the passenger side that day. Keep driving and testing until your tape finds the culprit.