wind noise

[jonhul]

I have been experiencing what I consider to be too much wind noise coming from the roof area. I assumed it was due to the sunroof I had installed when I purchased my 06 sport v8. After reading some of the above posts I thought I would check the position of the cross rails. They were off by 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. No big deal. Boy, was I ever wrong. After aligning with the black dots, a HUGE difference. I took a 400 mile hiway trip today and could not believe the difference. The positioning of the cross rails is critical relative to the amount of wind noise generated. Many thanks to whoever suggested this.

 

[pipspeak]

Maybe it says something about the other vehicles you drive or have driven recently. If you've been motoring around in a Lexus sedan, the 4Runner will sound pretty loud.

Could be a factor... I think my 2004 is quiet but I came from a jeep Cherokee that had the aerodynamics of a brick and the wind noise to match. No SUV will be as quiet as a sedan IMO.

I also find it depends on wind direction... if I'm driving into a headwind, the noise is certainly greater (as would be expected). If I have a tailwind the truck seems to be whisper quiet. And on the freeway in the rain the wind noise is muted enough that I can hear the water being channeled outside the passenger windows like the sound of a relaxing waterfall!

All in all I'm perfectly satisfied with the noise (or lack thereof) of the 4runner.

 

[pipspeak]

Re: Re: wind noise

I'm worried about thing gets rusted inside. Perhaps $550.00 is worth getting it fixed. What do you think?

Water leaks are notoriously hard to solve without popping out the windshield BUT I would still have a go yourself first to potentially save $550. If you think you know where the leak is coming from try injecting some silicone windshiled sealant in that area and see if it works.

The dealer will also probably let you know that if the windshield breaks when they pop it out (which they sometimes do) you'll have to pay for a totally new windshield too.

Personally would worry more about electrical problems from a leaking windshield than rust. A few drops of water on a bundle of cables and things could start going haywire.

 

[wasc007]

My cross bars are aligned accordingly.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Hey wasxc007, do you think you can measure the middle of the arrow to the end of the rack. Because our 4Runner was straight from the factory and off the truck after we got there, that must have been a dealer thing to do. Thanks.

 

[wasc007]

6-in for the rear arrow, 33-in for the front arrow
note the reference point for measurement

 

[bsl888]

I have a 2006, and I have heard toyota put thicker winshield and front windows. It is much quieter than my 97 4Runner that I previously owned. Did not notice wind noise at all.

 

[Uneek]

AHH!!! Everybody says about the white arrows!! I don't have the white arrows!! Can anybody take a picture?//

If you look at the inside of the driver side roof rail (easier to see standing on the passenger side running board), there are two dots or dimples in the channel of the roof rail for each cross bar. It seems like there's also a dimple on the passenger roof rail, but it's not too clear. Position the cross bars so that the front edge of bars where the knob is behind that dimple. The rail in the back will pretty much be in the rear most position.

Here's the dimple on the front rail, I circled the reflection too.

Here's another pic relative to the moonroof.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Thanks guys. Your pics and descriptions really helped. They were just pushed to the end, but now I expect a quieter ride. Also, I do hear the wind noise, like the seal isn't all the way there, on the passenger side window.

 

[jharris2]

6-in for the rear arrow, 33-in for the front arrow
note the reference point for measurement

Interesting. Mine are at 7-1/4" and 37" from the front of the rear covers. Wonder why they are different?

For grins, I moved the front to be 33", just as your mark shows, to see if there is a noticeable difference. Always easy to move it back.

 

[4dailyRunner]

Edges At Dimples

I measured after placing the rails at the edge of the dimple.

I have a 2003 w/o stickers and kind of found the dimples/dots on my own as well.

Interestingly enough... The back rail is at 4.5" using the mentioned starting point. The front rail is at 34" using the mentioned starting point. These are very close to the mentioned 6" and 33" with the stickers.

I had the front rail moved fully forward (Christmas tree purchase) . FYI, it does not interfere with the sun roof BUT MAN, can you hear it in this postion. I thought I left the sunroof (vent) open.

Suffice to say, I moved it back at my first chance.

 

[jeober]

Mine is whisper quiet. That was my impression during a first test drive and automotive knowledgeable persons who ride with me also are impressed with the vehicle. After two years and 50,000 miles I still feel like I'm in a premium grade vehicle from the driving feel.

The wind noise complaints seems strange in my experience. I just wonder what the differences are.

 

[MNTIm]

jeober, I'd be interested to know the part number on your windshield. I also have a 2005, and the part number in the lower driver's side corner is "NSG-M311" (the bottom row of numbers).

I looked at the part number on the windshield of a 2006, and the part number was "NSG-M411". Since supposedly the thickness of the windshield for 2006 was increased from 2005, I'm wondering if the "M411" number corresponds to the thicker glass.

If in fact you have the "M411" glass, perhaps your 2005 ride is quieter because it has the 2006 glass.

Thanks.

 

[jeober]

I have a 311 windshield. Thanks for the interesting info on this numbering.

My take on the windshield thickness increase is that this is not noise related but durability related.

Look at the number of complaints on this forum about windshield impact strength. If Toyota were to admit to this shortcoming then there would be some pretty huge warranty costs.

Instead Toyota turns it into a marketing positive as a lower noise model.

 

[wasc007]

I hope the windshield is not part of the "roll over safety system" like those used in the Ford Explorer. They found out that in a roll over the Windshield usually poped and could not be counted on as part of the support.

I hope Toyota would place safety higher than cost and have at least some steel frames for roll-over safety.

 

[RichP]

I recently replaced the windshield on my 2005 with glass from Safelite and it does seem a bit quieter to me. Could be thicker glass but could also be a better seal.

I have to go check my roof rails now as I had some ski racks on last winter and had to move them.

Anyone think the sideview mirrors are a source of windnoise? Seems that way to me.

 

[atomic punk]

Your stereo is not loud enough.
My trailer hitch used to rattle really loud... then I turned up my amplifier to ELEVEN and I haven't heard it since...

 

[SciRunner]

I looked at my rails and apparently the dealer did not adjust it. Now it's quiter than before. I also have the moonroof and closing the shade does help noise reduction from the top. Most of the noise i hear are road noise. I'm on my factory Bridgestone Dueler H/Ts.

 

[4dailyRunner]

:girl:

"turned my amp up to ELEVEN..."

S P I N A L T A P!!!

:rocker:

 

[SciRunner]

Mine is whisper quiet. That was my impression during a first test drive and automotive knowledgeable persons who ride with me also are impressed with the vehicle. After two years and 50,000 miles I still feel like I'm in a premium grade vehicle from the driving feel.

The wind noise complaints seems strange in my experience. I just wonder what the differences are.

I do hear more wind noise than expected. I have a 2006 with the 411 windshield. I've read that the 4Runner windshield are hydrophobic...when water hits the windshield, the drops form into bigger blobs and forced away from the drivers line of sight. If that's the case, mine doesn't do that. Good thing I have plenty of Rain-X around.