Door seal TSB

Just thought I would update my situation. My rig is about 4 years old and basically had the squeaky seals right out of the gate. I didn't bother taking it to the dealership because, at the time, there wasn't an official fix and I figured they couldn't do anything more than I could. Silicone didn't work for me. And additional tubing inside the seal was only moderately effective.

After poking around on various forums, I stumbled across a VW site. Apparently squeaky seals are common with them. They recommend a product sold by NAPA called Sil-Glyde. Worked great. After a couple of applications the speaking was completely gone.



However, over time I developed the dreaded cross-wind howl...both sides. I tinkered with several things, including additional tubing in various spots. Everything I did helped. But nothing was 100% effective. I just wasn't willing to get to intrusive with the seals.

So I broke down and ordered 2 revised seals for the front doors (DCSB). I paid $59 for each from my local dealer. Installed them this afternoon. Hopefully you can see in the pictures that the new seal has the additional tubing built in.









They say this seal solves both the squeaking and the cross-wind howl. I alcohol wiped the door, jamb and inner seal several times to ensure the Sil-Gylde was all off.

I will give updates over the next few days.

 

Any news? Did it work?

 

I was waiting a while before giving an update. But so far....nothing. Not a squeak or a howl at all. And as an added bonus...there's less overall wind noise as a whole.

Couldn't be happier.

A few tips for those wanting to tackle this job.

Nothing difficult about at all. Just pull off the old seal. Most, if not all, the clips will stay on the door. I used a combination of needle nose pliers and a clip puller, both covered in electrical tape to avoid scratches, to remove the clips.

Next, you'll need to remove the 10mm bolt securing the door-checker to the A-pillar. This allows you to remove the old seal and install the new one. Be mindful that the door is now free to open much further than usual.

Next, you'll want to alcohol wipe the top of the door frame. This is important because there's an adhesive strip under the seal that needs to securely stick. It's not there to hold the seal in place....that's what the clips are for. But rather, it's there to help keep air from getting under the seal.

I started in the top corner and worked my way clock wise around the door...snapping in each clip as I went.

When done, go back up top and work your way across the top of the door to make sure that adhesive portion is secure.

Don't forget to reinstall the door-checker bolt.

Enjoy your new found peace and quiet.

 

So just a further update. I'm going on 2.5 months now. Once in a while I do hear a squeek. But it's nothing like the old seals. I'm sure some Sil-Glyde would permanently silence it. But frankly, it's just not enough to notice. If that changes as the seal ages, I'll address. But so far....no big deal.

The kazoo sound, though? Gone....completely. Not even the slightest peep in the strongest of crosswinds.

 

Thanks for the info and part numbers!

I'll never forget when I was sitting parked for 20 minutes in the truck with the engine off, while in direct sunlight on a 40 degree day. Stupid passenger door seal was clicking and rubbing and tapping, all on its own just from the constantly changing cabin pressure/temperature differential, while parked.

Different temperatures throughout the year cause different types of taps and clicks. Music and bass pressure also plays a factor. Its time to change the stupid things out at 103k miles.

All said, I'd rather have a vehicle that has annoying, phantom door seal design issues instead of a vehicle with engine and transmission problems, or a cheap interior that falls apart.

 

My new door seals just arrived. In case it wasn't clear from the above post (really helpful info!), the seals come with new clips. At first I thought the process involved reusing clips, but that's not the case.

One thing I'm not clear on is whether you clip in the new seals and then pull the backing off the adhesive, or pull it as you clip in the new seal. I guess I'll find out next week or late this weekend when I tear into it. Oh, and I have no idea what a "clip puller" is, but hopefully needlenose pliers and a small screwdriver will do the trick.

 

I removed the adhesive backing 1st then worked my way across the top installing the clips. Once it was all in place, I went back up and pressed downward with both hands using my fingers to make sure the adhesive was secure. I recommend wiping that area with alcohol 1st to ensure good adhesion.

You'll be fine using needle nose pliers. Just be careful not to scratch up the paint.

And don't over think this. It's actually quite easy. The longest part of the whole procedure is pulling out the old clips. The actual install is less than 5 minutes.

 

I had the kazzoo noise at 60 - 70 MPH on the freeway and it was driving me crazy. I purchased this from Amazon and put it around my front and rear door and I don't hear a thing anymore.

Also, I installed it similar to the youtube video I attached. Hope this helps!

$11 33Ft Universal Self Adhesive Weather Seal Strip for Car, 51/100" Wide X 1/5" Thick, Auto Door & Window Weatherstrip with Engine Cover (2 Rolls, 16.5 Ft Each)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0771T61VH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=736UhJpjo2k

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with that fix.

I just got tired of fiddling with it. Toyota offers an actual remedy. Just wanted to go that route

 

Thank you, sir. All the Syl-Glide I've used over the last couple of years is going to take a good scrubbing with Dawn and then an alcohol wipedown.

 

I do get the occasional squeak out of it. But nothing bad. A bit a Syl-Glide might be good. But most importantly, the kazoo wail is completely gone. In fact, I find that the wind noise in general is reduced

 

I did this Wednesday night, D/S and P/S, and wanted to share my results. First off, thanks to PJT for sharing the part numbers and info.

Removing the D/S original seal was easy. The clips I yanked out with a pair of needle nose pliers.

The P/S was not so easy. Seal itself came off fine, clips were mostly compliant, but the adhesive was a PITA. Took me a good hour alternating between isopropyl and WD-40 to get all the old seal and adhesive off.

I wiped down all parts of the body-side door seals, the metal, *EVERYTHING* with blue rags and isopropyl alcohol. Then I used some degreaser to remove anything I might have missed, and then went over it all a 2nd time with alcohol.

Installing the seals is simple. Line up the seal and start popping in clips, until they're all in. Pull the backing for the adhesive and start pressing it to the metal on the door. Reinstall the bolt for the door catch (more on this in a moment).

Result: The damn D/S squeaks MORE than it did with the old seal!!! Every bump on a paved road and it creaks/squeaks like mad. WTF,O?

For the record, I don't blame anyone except MF'n Toyota and their defective design. I know the contact areas are CLEAN. I kept wiping down until there was no residue on the rags at all. So, who knows. I tried. I failed.

A note for anyone else - the door keeper bolt is smothered in blue loctite of some sort. The D/S I removed with just a regular 3/8 ratchet. The P/S would not budge. So I applied a 24" breaker bar and that bolt finally came out. I cleaned the threads with a copper fitting brush and reinstalled them with more blue loctite. Just FYI. Used German torque settings.

 

You're very welcome.

My driver's side occasionally squeaks too. A small amount of Sil-Glyde will silence it. The passenger side is quiet...for now.

The most important thing for me is the reduced wind noise and the complete eliminations of the cross-wind howl.

 

Haven't been up to highway speeds yet, or in any nasty crosswinds. That'll change in a couple of hours, so then I'll see. I trust it will at least remedy that issue, given the redesign.

 

As long as you didn't put them on upside down....it'll be a quiet, peaceful trip.



I was beginning to lose my sanity until the fix.

 

Well, the wind noise is gone and on a smooth highway, it's a bit quieter in the truck. As soon as I hit the trail, it's squeak city, though. Amazes me how it's worse than it ever was with the original seals. I'm wondering if cleaning everything with alcohol somehow added to the problem. There's obviously a lot of flex going on - more than I remember, at least.

 

Possibly. Maybe you literally got it too squeaky clean. It should be an easy fix though

 

I only had the kazoo on the passenger side. After dicking around with home remedies (including the drip line trick) I gave in and ordered the updated seal just for the passenger side. All good now. Not a noise since. I recommend it.

 

I have plenty of silicone goop left, but I noticed that it seemed to really soften the adhesive on the D/S door seal (I never applied it to the P/S and that adhesive was a PITA to remove). But yeah, it may be worth it to try.

And still, this DID eliminate the kazoo/howl effect, which though less common, was WAY more annoying!

 

What is the door seal squeak sound? Are you guys sure you aren't just hearing the leaf springs squeaking? (a known issue)