Driving around in a car can be a pretty noisy endeavor. There are so many different things on a car that make noise, and that’s not even factoring in the wind.
How to stop wind noise in car? To stop wind whistle noise in your you fist need to find the source. Most of the time the wind noise comes from a damaged door seal. Replacing the car door seal with a new one will get rid of that annoying wind noise!
While the engine is always going to make noise, and they are other inevitable sounds coming from the car, the wind is controllable enough for the average person.
First, we’re going to take a look at the top 10 ways to reduce wind noise in a car. Then I’ll give you some tips on finding what causes wind noise in cars.
Arming yourself with this information, you’ll get rid of that wind whistle noise once and for all!
1. Spotting Exact Issues
Before getting started with any method, identifying the locations of the issues is key. There are some tests people can use that will allow people to better figure out where the sound is coming from.
The simplest test is something that most people are probably already using. It is to just drive down the road and listen for any sound. Try to keep the cabin as quiet as possible otherwise to pinpoint the exact location.
Faster results are possible if passengers sit in the car and also troubleshoot the location. They will be able to cover the entire car and identify as quickly as possible.
Keep in mind that the noise can be coming from multiple places at once. Just because one area is fixed doesn’t mean that the whole problem is over.
2. Treat Door Weatherstripping
The weatherstripping that comes on doors needs to be maintained properly for it to work as it should. Anyone who has a car that is a little bit older should be looking for air leaks that could create problematic noises.
Start by opening up each door and window to see if the seal is intact all the way around. If there’s any type of damage, look to make a repair or replace it completely.
There can also be some vulnerable spots near the trunk or the sunroof, since they act like doors and windows as well.
Weatherstripping is pretty easy to come unattached to a door. Try to find some way to stick it back to where it needs to be. If there’s a tear or more significant damage, replacing it completely makes sense.
3. Fix Car Doors
If the weatherstripping is fine, the door might have a problem itself. Maybe the door is not closing all the way, or there’s some issue holding it back from working as it should.
If there’s any obvious damage to the car, that’s likely going to be where the problem is. Think about dents or cracks that look problematic.
They need to be fixed right away, either individually or going to a professional to get things taken care of.
Once everything seems to be in much better working order, try opening up and closing the door. It needs to be working perfectly so that there is not air being left in.
Anything pretty obvious is going to be easy to spot, but if there’s still an issue, a professional may be able to identify the issue.
The good news is that it probably won’t be too much of a problem for them to handle, but even something minor can make an impact.
4. Exterior Fixes
If there’s any significant damage to the exterior of the vehicle, it can be a vulnerable area for wind. This is especially true if there are actual holes in the body.
Maybe someone got in an accident, or something tore off of the car. Whatever the case is, excess noise will be easy to hear from this.
Rust is also something that causes exterior damage from time to time. Older cars need to be checked a little more frequently to make sure that the wind is getting through by mistake.
Glass issues can be troublesome for a lot of people because not only does it cause wind issues, but it can be dangerous for the driver since it is the only barrier between them and the outside elements.
Treat any glass issues with extreme care, and count on professionals more often than not.
While all these fixes are on the pricier side, they help out tremendously with overall driving quality. Don’t put off exterior fixes for too long.
5. Count On Sound Deadening Mats
Sound deadening material (Amazon) of any kind is extremely beneficial for noise control. It doesn’t just work for controlling wind noise either. People use the mats in order to reduce any type of noise transmission overall.
Most people have probably put sound deadening mats on the floor to start with. This can be a particularly noisy area of a car, but it might not be where the wind is coming through.
Instead, look at sound deadening mats as options for doors, around the trunk, and any place else to reduce any vibration and cut down on noise overall.
Insulation is a little bit tricky for people who have never done it before. The sound deadening mats need to get down to the metal of the vehicle so that they stick properly.
Handling the doors is most likely going to result in removing the door panel entirely. If this seems like too complicated of a move, hire a professional to help out.
The good news is that when someone installs sound deadening mats, they are going to last a pretty long time. They are protected from the elements, and people will be able to know the difference right away.
6. Wind Deflectors
There are a lot of people who have started using wind detectors, also known as vent shades (Amazon) as a cheap and easy way to reduce any noise that’s bothering them.
These plastic pieces cover the top of any window and prevent the wind from hitting that particular area where the window meets up with the weatherstripping.
As one would expect, it requires getting the exact fit in order to have them work perfectly. They make wind deflectors for just about every type of car, so take the extra bit of time to shop for the right one.
Installation is easy, as it just has some adhesive backing. They can be purchased online or at auto shops, and there’s no need to hire a professional to install them.
7. Treat Door Drain Holes
There are little holes that allow water to drain from a door that some people might not even realize they have. Whenever a car gets wet, water inevitably gets into doors one way or another.
Not only can water get through these holes, but so can dirt and debris. As soon as they get clogged, they cause more and more problems. If there is no air circling through, the air will try to find another way that causes more noise.
How can door drain holes be treated? It’s a very simple fix. Open the doors and use something small on the holes to clean them out. Even a paperclip will get the job done, and it’s usually a pretty straightforward process.
8. Acoustic Caulk
Using Acoustic Caulk (Amazon) is only recommended for those people who don’t have windows that work. If the windows are sealed to completely keep out when the noise, using acoustic caulk around them as well helps out the older the car is.
To see if the acoustic caulk is necessary, inspect the window and see if there’s any damage to the existing sealant. Even if there’s just a small crack or chip, it could be losing its overall effectiveness.
All it takes is one or two beads around the edges to seal things back up. Acoustic caulk is relatively inexpensive, and a person doesn’t have to get a professional to get this done.
9. Sound Deadening Spray
Sounds can easily come through the undercarriage of any car. When the noise of a vehicle is reflected off the road and back up through the car, it gets noisy.
Minimizing that noise is frustrating since it doesn’t seem like much works effectively. Fortunately, Sound Deadening Spray (Amazon) undercoating is pretty solid.
Most people will use this as a way to reduce noise transmission underneath. It’s fine to put on several coats depending on how noisy it is.
With a few different options to choose from, read up on reviews and see which one fits specific needs.
Make sure the area is clean and dry before spraying. The sound deadening spray will not stick to a damp surface and can also create premature rust issues if sprayed on wet surface.
10. Acoustic Windshields
Sound is such a priority for people these days that there are acoustic-friendly options for everything. The same can be said for a windshield, as it’s dealing with a lot of wind noise every single day.
It seems costly to a lot of people, but those who don’t really find any true solution elsewhere should look into acoustic windshields.
Not only are they quieter, but they also do a better job of blocking ultraviolet rays. This helps out the driver, but it also helps keep the interior of the car looking nicer since the sun isn’t doing as much damage.
Here’s some interesting studies regarding acoustic windshields and how well they work in reducing wind whistle noise coming from the windshield.
What is the Cause of Wind Whistle Noise in Cars?
As soon as a car is in motion, it’s going to have some level of audible wind noise. The speed of the wind itself is obviously going to cause some problems, but so is the speed of the vehicle.
If a car is on a highway, it could be dealing with a combination of wind resistance and natural wind outside.
What creates this noise that is tough for people to handle? There are three main causes of wind noise within the average car.
Vehicle Aerodynamics
Every single vehicle has a different design as far as aerodynamics is concerned. If it can cut through the air with a smaller amount of resistance overall, it’s going to handle wind sound pretty well.
Sports cars usually have better aerodynamics overall. The ones that struggle are the larger designs that come with trucks and SUVs.
Basically, they are creating a bigger area of air pressure disturbance when they are moving down the road.
Seals Around the Car
The air that’s inside the cabin is always trying to get out, and it is supposed to go through discharge vents set up in the car.
However, when a person is in the middle of driving at high speeds, the air doesn’t actually know how it is supposed to leave.
It’s going to leave wherever is easiest, and that usually means the doors or the windows. These are the biggest holes in a car, and seems like a place for air to escape naturally.
Doors automatically come with weatherstripping to try to control air as much as possible. Every time a door is opened and closed, it is deformed a little bit so that it doesn’t do as great of a job.
There’s also a chance of this weatherstripping tearing or ripping for one reason or another. Whether it seals around the door or the window, they are always vulnerable to damage.
Windows can be particularly challenging because people are always rolling them up or down. It seems like an automated process that’s easy to keep intact, but that’s far from the case.
They can be sun-damaged or broken during regular use, which is extremely frustrating.
Air Pressure
When a car is in motion, it’s pushing the air in front of it and creating changes in the pressure. When air is moving rapidly right outside of the vehicle, there is lower pressure than the air that’s inside of the car.
High-pressure air wants to try to find any way possible to escape, and it wants to get to the lower pressure area outside.
All this creates that windy sound around the door and any openings while driving. Vents do help out to an extent, allowing air to escape and keep pressure neutralized in a cabin.
Vents purposely point away from any riders so that they make minor noticeable noise.
Attempting to get air to escape through these vents is the best course of action. Air coming out of the vehicle in other ways Is going to be much noisier.
Most people complaining about wind noise inside the cabin are probably hearing that. (Source)
Why Treating a Car For Wind Noise Matters
The longer wind noise remains a problem, the more frustrated the average driver gets. It’s recommended to just go ahead and take care of business sooner rather than later.
Even trying some of the cheaper options first could make the difference that people are looking for.
Just remember to keep in mind that no matter what is used, there will still always be some level of noise coming from a car.
It’s just impossible to eliminate every single noise coming from a vehicle that’s going 70 miles an hour.