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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ned Hamford on December 19, 2011, 02:46:53 PM

Title: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Ned Hamford on December 19, 2011, 02:46:53 PM
Apparently the rubber seal has dried out/rotted enough to make the most annoying whistling noise from my passenger side door when traveling at high speeds. 

Has anyone dealt with that problem before or otherwise have worthwhile offers of advice? Beyond of course the snarky 'stop driving at high speeds' or 'detcord solves all problems.'   :P
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Nick1911 on December 19, 2011, 02:49:39 PM
Had to use some manual force to bend a car door on a 2001 Saturn to make the seal have better contact once. 

You might try something like armor-all on the rubber to make it more pliable.

 
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: 230RN on December 19, 2011, 02:59:19 PM
Bright side:  it'll act like a deer warning.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: wmenorr67 on December 19, 2011, 03:16:21 PM
Replace the rubber seal. :facepalm:
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: AJ Dual on December 19, 2011, 03:18:24 PM
Replace the seal? It can't be all that expensive in this day of Internet car part shopping.

If that's too much a PITA for you, or too much expense, because you actually do have some high-end car or some oddball car, you could try threading some foam backer rod into the main cavity inside the foam rubber gasket to hold it wider, give it some loft again.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Ned Hamford on December 19, 2011, 03:47:07 PM
First... I shall apply the armor-all and hope for the best.  As yet, all I've had done is tightening up the pins on the door.  So at least now it doesn't drop 3 inches when opened. 

When sitting in the passenger side you can squeeze the spot for a good seal.  It so close... 

More efforts will wait till January.  Family friend with an auto body shop pretty much handles all things. 
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: AJ Dual on December 19, 2011, 04:03:13 PM
Ah, if it's that close, then a razor slit to stuff $.25 worth of foam backer rope from the hardware store inside, or a SMALL squirt of "Great Stuff" (which becomes $#!*& Stuff when it gets somewhere you don't want it...) to re-loft that one small part of the door seal may well work.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Brad Johnson on December 19, 2011, 04:05:03 PM
Replace the seals.  Kits are available for most any make/model via discount auto parts places like RockAuto.  Easy job.

Brad
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: White Horseradish on December 19, 2011, 04:25:18 PM
It might also be a worn hinge/hinge pin/bushing.

What kind of car?
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: RoadKingLarry on December 19, 2011, 04:31:49 PM
Good grief, the answer to that problem is amazingly simple, turn the freaking radio up!
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: wmenorr67 on December 19, 2011, 04:32:37 PM
Good grief, the answer to that problem is amazingly simple, turn the freaking radio up!

Now you sound like my wife. [popcorn]
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: bedlamite on December 19, 2011, 05:05:28 PM
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.seattlepi.com%2Fnaturalmedicine%2Ffiles%2F2011%2F11%2Fduct-tape.jpg&hash=0a26d34c1892addba47fe591fb2b89615586628c)
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: erictank on December 19, 2011, 05:34:55 PM
There's some real win in this thread...  :lol:

Ned, replacing a rubber door seal really isn't that big a deal.  Use Teh Googlez to figure out what the correct part number is for your car, order, strip out the old, install the new.  Easy-peasy. You probably don't even need to buy a Chiltons or Haynes manual for your car to do it (but should probably have one anyways just on general principle, if they make one for your particular car).
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Jamie B on December 19, 2011, 06:41:28 PM
Good grief, the answer to that problem is amazingly simple, turn the freaking radio up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHLXnyY537c
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Monkeyleg on December 19, 2011, 07:05:16 PM
It would be helpful to get some tools from Autozone or another auto parts place for installing the seals. I haven't replaced them in years, but it was no fun back then.

If you don't feel like struggling with the seals, an auto body shop could do it quickly.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: TommyGunn on December 19, 2011, 07:38:16 PM
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.seattlepi.com%2Fnaturalmedicine%2Ffiles%2F2011%2F11%2Fduct-tape.jpg&hash=0a26d34c1892addba47fe591fb2b89615586628c)


No no no no no no no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 
DETCORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Tallpine on December 19, 2011, 07:41:41 PM
Stop whistling at girls when you drive by them  :P
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Hawkmoon on December 19, 2011, 08:01:18 PM
If the door was significantly sagged, it's also possible the striker is out of adjustment. Can a passenger pull in on the door while moving at speed and reduce or eliminate the whistling? If so, a simple adjustment of the striker in the door jamb should be all that's necessary.

Do not use Armor-All on door seals. Use silicone spray.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Ned Hamford on December 19, 2011, 09:56:40 PM
I knew just throwing the question at APS would be easier than googling  >:D
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Monkeyleg on December 19, 2011, 11:17:03 PM
Quote
I knew just throwing the question at APS would be easier than googling.

Sure, but now you have to figure out what you can do that would be easier than doing the job itself.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Ned Hamford on December 20, 2011, 12:07:49 AM
Sure, but now you have to figure out what you can do that would be easier than doing the job itself.

This may take all my skill...
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: vaskidmark on December 20, 2011, 12:37:18 AM
Sure, but now you have to figure out what you can do that would be easier than doing the job itself.

Is there a vocational school nearby?  (Preferably high school, but community college will do in a pinch.)  Contact their auto shop program and get your car accepted for repairs there.

Be sure to take pictures of the car before you take it in - so you can remember what it's supposed to look like.  It's like goimg to one of those beauty academies for a haircut by a stident, or the free dental clinic at the dental school, except that they do stuff to your car.  Most of the time it works out great and you save tons of money - most of the time.

But regardless, you will have a great story to tell the other folks on the bus.

stay safe.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: bedlamite on December 20, 2011, 07:30:57 AM
Is there a vocational school nearby?  (Preferably high school, but community college will do in a pinch.)  Contact their auto shop program and get your car accepted for repairs there.

Be sure to take pictures of the car before you take it in - so you can remember what it's supposed to look like.  It's like goimg to one of those beauty academies for a haircut by a stident, or the free dental clinic at the dental school, except that they do stuff to your car.  Most of the time it works out great and you save tons of money - most of the time.

But regardless, you will have a great story to tell the other folks on the bus.

stay safe.

Other times, they refill your radiator with straight water in January ...
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: never_retreat on December 20, 2011, 10:53:56 AM
First... I shall apply the armor-all and hope for the best.  As yet, all I've had done is tightening up the pins on the door.  So at least now it doesn't drop 3 inches when opened.  
It might also be a worn hinge/hinge pin/bushing.

What kind of car?

Obviously a chevy product. Our mechanic at work used to keep chevy truck hinges in stock.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Ned Hamford on December 20, 2011, 01:54:28 PM
Pontiac Grand Am.

I gave it a walk around and found the back driver's side door had a broken hinge arm.  I've no idea how long that has been broken.  If other things weren't going as well as they are, that would have ruined my day.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: wmenorr67 on December 20, 2011, 01:55:23 PM
Pontiac Grand Am.

I gave it a walk around and found the back driver's side door had a broken hinge.  I've no idea how long that has been broken.  If other things weren't going as well as they are, that would have ruined my day.

Date with body shot?
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Ned Hamford on December 20, 2011, 02:02:50 PM
string of legal successes with paychecks to go along with them.  Tho after Thursday I'll have no active clients, but will have enough buffer to comfortably pursue more.  So I'm expecting a lot of free time to enjoy those video games and books I'm expecting for Christmas. 
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: wmenorr67 on December 20, 2011, 02:03:40 PM
Well congrats anyway. :lol:
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: 280plus on December 20, 2011, 05:19:38 PM
string of legal successes with paychecks to go along with them.  Tho after Thursday I'll have no active clients, but will have enough buffer to comfortably pursue more.  So I'm expecting a lot of free time to enjoy those video games and books I'm expecting for Christmas. 
Simplest answer of all: BUY A NEW CAR!  ;)
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Ned Hamford on December 20, 2011, 05:34:16 PM
Simplest answer of all: BUY A NEW CAR!  ;)

That was my plan when my radio clock stopped working.  Now if only my income matched these intentions...
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Doggy Daddy on December 20, 2011, 05:35:53 PM
Date with body shot?

Sounds like a great date!   =D

DD
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: Scout26 on December 20, 2011, 06:40:18 PM
Ummm, teach the car door a new tune...
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: never_retreat on December 20, 2011, 10:59:37 PM
Pontiac Grand Am.

I gave it a walk around and found the back driver's side door had a broken hinge arm.  I've no idea how long that has been broken.  If other things weren't going as well as they are, that would have ruined my day.

Ha back in the day I had a grand prix and an s-10 both had bad hinges after a while.
Title: Re: Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught
Post by: AJ Dual on December 21, 2011, 09:16:41 AM
Ha back in the day I had a grand prix and an s-10 both had bad hinges after a while.

Those commercials that show a montage of downtown Detroit, with doormen in fancy suits, girls ice-skating near some big municipal sculpture of a hammer or whatever it was, all set to the uplifting music of that one Eminem song, building to some sort of crescendo... tells me that this must be incorrect.

Something else must have been wrong with your cars. GM engineers and UAW members could never have produced such a thing.