Drivers window wind noise...

I have heard the wind noise from what sounds like the drivers side small window. We’re getting a second clarity so I’m exited to hear the noise did fences. I have tried pressing down on the seal and so far no luck

 

I noticed the noise too when I picked up the car a few months ago but I didn't think about it. Then oddly enough today when I was driving, I decided to try to push in some of the edge of the window. It didn't seem to help but I'll try again tomorrow.

 

So I had my Clarity for one year now. The first time I took it in for service at 6k, I told them about the wind noise, but when I got the car back it seemed nothing was done.
Today I took it in again for some updates and I brought up this problem again. This time the service adviser filled out a questionnaire, test-drove the car to verify the problem... and mostly importantly... they fixed the noise problem!!!
So this is what they wrote in the invoice concerning the fix:
"adjusted door striker, and lubricated sub seal." no idea what exactly it meant, but I am so glad the noise is gone now.

 

The door striker is a small black rubber thick pad that is attached to the door and butts up against the door frame when closed. There are (I think) four of them on the driver's door. Turn the striker one direction and it extends the striker. Turn it the other way and it retracts. By adjusting the strikers you can make the door close tighter eliminating gaps around the gasket. All of the doors, including the trunk have strikers.



Moderator note: The author of the video has disabled viewing from embedded sites, so you'll have to go to this URL to watch youtu.be/VoK82Gt840s

 

One possible con of tightening the door is that it requires more force to close, which is annoying in its own way. I wonder if window guards would help since they'd divert airflow away from the surface of the small window?

 

This has been an issue in my vehicle as well since I bought it. However, I do not believe in my case, it is the triangle window seal that has been reported by others (mine seems sealed correctly). The wind noise, seems to me, to be "airflow disturbance" around the area of the side view mirror. Now, since we have two of those that either means that I hear it because I am close to the driver's side (I am almost never a passenger in my Clarity), or the wind noise is coming from another source. Or possibly that I am driving to fast, nah… I have never driven another vehicle that had a "hatch" right in front of the driver's side door. The charge port is new to me as far as cars go, and I noticed that it has a fair size gap around it, and that may cause boundary layer air turbulence to rumble in the cavity. Since when I push the "open" button from inside the car the mechanism is fairly distinct (not dampened or muffled) it got me to thinking, any wind noise in that area may be more audible in the cabin (driver's side) than one would guess. Also, there is a decent gap right in front of the triangle window for air to also cause turbulence and boundary noise. This gap is environmentally sealed (water intrusion) by a small grommet extrusion in the shape of a blade that contacts this gap. However, it is evident it was an afterthought for water and would do little for “noise.”

My solution was to put cheap big box window foam gasket seal in. This is not glued in yet, as I am testing it, but I have to admit that the car is noticeably quieter and there is far less wind noise now. As to appearance, well – they all pass the 3 foot rule easily and in fact are very difficult to see unless you know what you are looking for (photos attached). Took 5 minutes and $5. You be the judge. I might have preferred black seal for the charge door, however the part of the seal that is visible actually matches the pin striping the dealer applied. If you are wondering, the seal does not impact opening the charge door, although increases the close force just slightly. I do not expect it to be any source of concern and may keep the rain (or car wash spray) out of the cavity. Again, just presented as an FYI with YMMV.

Gasket foam was on hand, also didn't have the bag they came in but measurements were: large black was .5x.3 inches, and small grey was .3x.15 inches.



Cheers,
Cash

 

What a coincidence that you posted this today. The wind noise has been bothering me, too, but I wholeheartedly expect the dealership to give me the runaround and waste my time. My Clarity has less than 500 miles on it. I'm going to try the foam seal. Thanks for the advice! Please reply back with updates it you can!

 

If you have not followed my other posts you may not know that currently (and I am actually working on this today) my ANC (active noise cancelling) system is disabled in my vehicle, as a result of a car audio system upgrade. Not an issue normally, as I have my stereo on at a moderate volume masking any cabin noise entirely. However on the rare occasion that I have the stereo off, my vehicle may be more "cabin noise prone" than most. I plan to reduce the road noise (tire noise) substantially when I finally replace the high efficiency tires with good quiet touring models. However, this ANC situation may be why I am more acutely aware of these little noise sources (and my apparent OCD/ADHD in this arena). What I will report is that today it is quite windy in Dallas, and I had to make an airport run on the tollway with the stereo off at the request of the in-laws that were passengers. The tollway is 70 mph , with traffic cruising at 80+ and a good gusty wind. I can affirmatively say that this little foam seal mod has made a subjective difference (reduction) in the noise I would attribute to "wind" passing around the car as evident from the driver's side. I have no regrets and will leave the mod in place for as long as I own the vehicle.

Now to modifying the ANC module.. I have my doubts about this as I am pretty certain I can get it back online with my audio enhancement. My doubt is that I will be able to retain the improved sound dynamics achieved with it completely removed/bypassed. I will report that in a different thread.

Cheers,

Cash

 

Since I got the windshield replaced, it seems my car got way too loud (like turbulent air) and safelite who did the work tried to fix (detached and re-attached) but did not help and second time they took it for a testdrive and gave up saying that there is no “whistle” and re-work would not do nothing. Dead silence till 40 mph and from that point on, it sounds like i have my window open somewhere. It sounds like it is coming from windshield but when I try to put my finger along the edge, there seems to be no window coming in actually. I tried foam seal around the side mirrors and it does not help. Very frustrating on the high way w/o music but I dont want to listen to music all the time. Any idea on tackle this issue?

 

First, suggest you read the thread about Clarity windshield replacement at https://www.insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/clarity-phev-windshield-replacement-lessons-learned.6173/#post-68828.

I had my own Clarity windshield replaced last summer and, while I had plenty of issues and problems, wind noise afterwards was not one of them. If you are experiencing new cabin wind noise after the w/s replacement, there has to be a cause somewhere in the replacement process. I suggest you check into these items:

• There is no non-OEM windshield glass out there for the Clarity, so double check that Safelite installed the proper Honda p/n glass in the first place.
• If they installed the proper windshield p/n, the Safelite installation has to be faulty -- no matter what they are saying now. Take your car to a (different) dealer to have the noise verified and an estimate to fix it rendered. Send a copy of the estimate to your local Safelite installation company and tell them you plan to have the dealer fix the problem at Safelite's expense, unless they immediately fix the problem themselves at no charge to you.
• Keep your insurance company in the loop on this whole process, so they know (if) they paid for a faulty repair.

Good luck. Like you, I don't want to listen to music all the time and prefer just the (usual) quiet of the Clarity cabin.