Whistling from car door- Car Repair Advice Saught

[Ned Hamford]

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.'   

[Nick1911]

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.

 

[230RN]

Bright side:  it'll act like a deer warning.

[wmenorr67]

Replace the rubber seal.

[AJ Dual]

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.

[Ned Hamford]

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. 

[AJ Dual]

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.

[Brad Johnson]

Replace the seals.  Kits are available for most any make/model via discount auto parts places like RockAuto.  Easy job.

Brad

[White Horseradish]

It might also be a worn hinge/hinge pin/bushing.

What kind of car?

[RoadKingLarry]

Good grief, the answer to that problem is amazingly simple, turn the freaking radio up!

[wmenorr67]

Good grief, the answer to that problem is amazingly simple, turn the freaking radio up!

Now you sound like my wife.

[bedlamite]

[erictank]

There's some real win in this thread... 

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).

[Jamie B]

Good grief, the answer to that problem is amazingly simple, turn the freaking radio up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHLXnyY537c

[Monkeyleg]

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.

[TommyGunn]

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


 

DETCORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tallpine]

Stop whistling at girls when you drive by them 

[Hawkmoon]

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.

[Ned Hamford]

I knew just throwing the question at APS would be easier than googling 

[Monkeyleg]

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.

[Ned Hamford]

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...

[vaskidmark]

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.

[bedlamite]

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 ...

[never_retreat]

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.

[Ned Hamford]

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.