Wind whistle from base of sideview mirrors

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Pinto Girl, Aug 28, 2006.

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  1. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    It's intermittent and I probably wouldn't even hear it if the car wasn't so quiet to begin with, but sometimes, at freeway speeds or (slightly) above, I notice what sounds like a soft wind whistle coming from the base of the driver's side view mirror (and I believe it occurs on the passenger side as well).

    If one stands in front of either mirror and looks directly at where the mirror part pivots from where it's attached to the car, one might notice a passage which would let air through, and where I believe the whistle originates. (This is best done when the car is parked.)

    One clue: on a still morning, the whistle on the driver's side occurs when I'm on the freeway and take a turn to the right (exposing the mirror to more of a crosswind; the whistle on the passenger side occurs under similar conditions when I take a turn to the left.

    If you'll pardon the pun, does this sound familiar to anyone? I know a sound can be difficult to track down, but it sure sounds/looks like it might be coming from the mirrors.

    Thoughts? I haven't yet tried taping over the seam...wondering if the area gets too hot since the mirrors are heated...?
     
    #1 Pinto Girl, Aug 28, 2006
  2. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    I think your tape experiment is in order. If you use black electrician's tape, you may not see it and have a solution if the crevice is the problem. I don't think there's anything down at the swivel that heats up.

    Good luck and keep us posted.
     
    #2 Bill Merchant, Aug 28, 2006
  3. naterprius

    naterprius Senior Member

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    Use blue painter's tape. It will not leave any goo on the finish of the car.


    Nate
     
    #3 naterprius, Aug 28, 2006
  4. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    I hear whistling noises, too, but I thought they were from the deflectors, which were installed with a small gap at the front. Have you got wind deflectors, Pinto Girl? If the tape idea on the mirror works, I'd be tempted to use black electrician's tape and leave it there.
     
    #4 hyo silver, Aug 28, 2006
  5. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    --hmmmm...no, I don't have deflectors installed (I'm assuming you're referring to those semi-opaque...well, deflectors...which I've seen installed around the perimeter of car windows as aftermarket equipment...?)

    --Thanks for the blue painter's tape idea; just got done painting the bathroom this weekend!

    If I am able to isolate the source of the noise - and it's actually in this area - as a more permanent fix I was considering folding the mirror to gain access to the underside, then affixing a small piece of foam that would block the channel when the mirror is returned to the normal position.

    As I said, it's a small issue. One thing's for certain, though: I never have problems like this in my '73 Pinto...'cause she's too noisy to even hear myself think!
     
    #5 Pinto Girl, Aug 28, 2006
  6. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    Still haven't gotten around to this; I don't normally drive during the week (public trans to work/shopping, etc).

    Details this weekend.
     
    #6 Pinto Girl, Aug 30, 2006
  7. lowspeed

    lowspeed Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Aug 30 2006, 01:47 PM) [snapback]311673[/snapback]</div>

    My 2006 suddenly started making a whistle noise after 13000. Very annoying. only from the passanger side though.
     
    #7 lowspeed, Sep 6, 2006
  8. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    lowspeed, check the black foam seal around the pax door. That stuff usta come loose in the classic Prius model.
     
    #8 tochatihu, Sep 6, 2006
  9. lowspeed

    lowspeed Member

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    I figured out what made the noise....


    Under the mirrors there are 3 screws covered by 3 round clear stickies....

    One of the stickers was torn.


    Check it out... I'm curious to see if you have the same problem...


    Now i need to call the dealer and see if they have those stickers in stock.
     
    #9 lowspeed, Sep 7, 2006
  10. adamwmcanally

    adamwmcanally New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Sep 7 2006, 09:29 PM) [snapback]316115[/snapback]</div>
    Did the plastic sticker replacement solve the problem? I have a whistle and sure enough when I checked the mirror one of my clear stickers placed over the screw hole was cracked as well. I'm thinking of just using electrical tape and see if that works.
     
    #10 adamwmcanally, Oct 23, 2006
  11. lowspeed

    lowspeed Member

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    Good thing you saw this post :-p

    anyway they didn't know what this stickers are all about so i went to the dealer... they told me these are suppose to be removed before delivery. ( I think its pure BS, because why would they put it there pre delivery ?)


    My MPG droped 2mpg since removing the stickers !!! (JUST KIDDING)

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adammc @ Oct 23 2006, 08:23 AM) [snapback]336685[/snapback]</div>
     
    #11 lowspeed, Oct 23, 2006
  12. adamwmcanally

    adamwmcanally New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Oct 23 2006, 08:18 AM) [snapback]336695[/snapback]</div>
    when you removed them did the whistle stop?
     
    #12 adamwmcanally, Oct 23, 2006
  13. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Sep 7 2006, 09:29 PM) [snapback]316115[/snapback]</div>
    No way! I just noticed your reply...so that did the trick? I tried taping around the seam and it didn't seem to help, but I didn't think to check the underside of the mirror.
     
    #13 Pinto Girl, Oct 23, 2006
  14. bhaynnes

    bhaynnes Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Oct 23 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]337062[/snapback]</div>
    My dealer charged me for the whistle. He said it was a deer whistle to chase away the deer. :p
     
    #14 bhaynnes, Oct 23, 2006
  15. bobster

    bobster Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Sep 7 2006, 06:29 PM) [snapback]316115[/snapback]</div>
    This happened to me. I heard a whistling, wondered what it was, searched priuschat.com and voila here's the cause of the problem. A quick application of packing tape and my Prius is silent again.
     
    #15 bobster, Nov 18, 2006
  16. lowspeed

    lowspeed Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adammc @ Oct 23 2006, 12:09 PM) [snapback]336799[/snapback]</div>

    Yes.
     
    #16 lowspeed, Nov 19, 2006
  17. alanh

    alanh Active Member

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    I had this happen too.

    I'm leaning towards "supposed to be removed at delivery". It's just cheap cellophane tape, and on my car they've all started to dry out and crack. I can't believe they intended this as a permanent application.
     
    #17 alanh, Jan 2, 2008
  18. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Hi Pinto girl,
    If I may jack this thread...did you ever write a review on the
    muffler you bought? I was following it but have been off PC for a while?
    Thanks.
     
    #18 edthefox5, Jan 2, 2008
  19. Gilbert

    Gilbert Member

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    At high speeds I also hear wind like if it was comming inside the vehicle, from both, driver and pasanger sides... anyone find out the cause of this?
     
    #19 Gilbert, Jan 9, 2008
  20. Hermit_Congrejo

    Hermit_Congrejo New Member

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    I was just about to make an appointment with the dealer but I thought I'd check online first. Long story short: I removed the stickers from both sides and I'll report back tomorrow with the results.

    Yep, it was the stickers. My Prius is once again silent. Thanks guys!
     
    #20 Hermit_Congrejo, Mar 24, 2008
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