Dealer working on front window noise

[edwardh1]

04 Highlander-
I have the wind noise when front windows are all the way up.
Bump window down 1/8 inch and the wind noise quits. (very silent then)
Dealer ran the TSB (new mouldings on outside) about 2 months ago- NO CHANGE.

i took it back this week - they tried again, but no luck again- they have ordered "runners"
will be in next week.

[edwardh1]

Dealer replaced the rubber pieces on left, right. and top of the two front windows (as you stand outside and look at the window) today.

No change in the road noise problem. it was not fixed.

they are going to send in some type trouble report to their area toyota system. Mechanic thinks the main noise leak place is the inside rubber piece, where you rest your elbow. when window is full up it does not touch the glass. lower the window 1/8 inch and it touches the glass , thereby sealing the noise out

[mustang67408]

We have found Avalons and Highlanders are having road noise issues.
I have found that REPLACING the outer door handle and installing FOAM with sticky back on it on the inside of the door and the back of the handle has eliminated the wind noise. They are working on a NEW UPDATED door handle, but are not going to officially release them until the OLD STOCK is depleted. (shhhhhhh Toyota secret, dont tell anyone).
Just my .02
its something to try,
Tape off the outer door handle on the outside to see if noise goes away.
Youll have to do each door , as you make 1 door quiet, you'll probably hear another door making noise then too.
good luck

[edwardh1]

why would lowering the window 1/8 inch stop the noise, if its coming thru the door handles?

[mustang67408]

Originally Posted by edwardh1

why would lowering the window 1/8 inch stop the noise, if its coming thru the door handles?

Thats a good question and i really dont have a definative answer.
If you lower the window 1/8" then why dont they change the WINDOW RUN. The rubber that the windows slides up and down in. Or did they already change that too?
Could the window be mis adjusted and going up to far and applying excess pressure to the window run and disforming it causing wind to leak in?

[edwardh1]

as part of the tsb they changed (looking at the window from outside the car)
1. the outside horizontal metal and rubber piece at the bottom of the window opening (where your elbow would rest if the window was open).

then on the next trip (not tsb) they replaced the other three rubber pieces you see from outside the car- I think these were called the runners- work order mentioned window/door "run'

so looking from outside the door , on the two front windows they have replaced all the visible weather stripping(from outside) around the window opening.

One possibility is that when they did the tsb they by accident used old parts???????. my guess is that the purpose of the tsb that replaced the horizontal outside elbow area moulding was , was to put in a better part, to push the bottom of the window in toward the inside.

the noise comes in on the inside of the window at the bottom of the window opening area where your elbow would be with the window down- lower the window 1/8 inch - this causes the window glass at the area where your elbow would be to move in toward the inside of the car about 1/16 inch and it then contacts the rubber inside weatherstrip and stops the noise. mechanic put some foam under the door panels there as an attempt to move the door panel toward the glass.

when on the highway you can lower the windows the 1/8 inch to stop the noise but then the glass rattles a little when you close the door.

[mustang67408]

I am sure you have seen these, but I thought i'd post them anyways.TSB's
Yes, your correct they could have accidently put the old stuff back, or maybe the new PART was OLD STOCK and not the NEW UPDATED piece. I have seen them do that many times before, they dont release the NEW UPDATED parts until the OLD STOCK has been depleted. It sounds like the TSB should have taken care of the problem.
I have also seen the holes for the WINDOW REGULATOR were drilled wrong. This puts the window in a sort of bind and causes it to shift in the door and not seal properly. I had to grind a slot in the door for the window regulator bolt and re adj it to close properly.
Sorry this is hard to do, without actually seeing the vehicle.
To bad we cant check the new part number manufacture date, as outlined in the TSB.

the noise comes in on the inside of the window at the bottom of the window opening area where your elbow would be with the window down- lower the window 1/8 inch - this causes the window glass at the area where your elbow would be to move in toward the inside of the car about 1/16 inch and it then contacts the rubber inside weatherstrip and stops the noise. mechanic put some foam under the door panels there as an attempt to move the door panel toward the glass.

I have seen many cars with that small gap on the belt moulding to window. Try taping off the outer door handle and see if the noise stops.It might be letting air in and thats what your hearing. Then like you said moving the window down 1/8" causes the window to move to the inside of the car 1/16" and blocks the air and the noise stops.
It's an easy thing to try , just mask tape over the outer door handle and go for a ride. Doesnt cost a thing and helps to eliminate 1 more potential problem. At this point logic and rationalization are out the window, and all efforts should be made to fix it not matter what crazy senario takes place.

[edwardh1]

I will try it.
since I am in the South, should I use duct tape?

appreciate your interest.

re new old parts- they had to order them but that does not mean anything. I waited 6 mo after the tsb came out for that reason. am in the jacksonville toyota district or whatever they call it

Hard to believe I am the only one- a few on edmunds say their dealers fixed it but do not know how.

[mustang67408]

Originally Posted by edwardh1

I will try it.
since I am in the South, should I use duct tape?

appreciate your interest.

re new old parts- they had to order them but that does not mean anything. I waited 6 mo after the tsb came out for that reason. am in the jacksonville toyota district or whatever they call it

Hard to believe I am the only one- a few on edmunds say their dealers fixed it but do not know how.

I use the BLUE PAINTERS TAPE, it sticks to the vehicle but doesnt "STICK to the paint"
Duct tape would be ok, just becareful the glue sticks and leaves a residue.

TSB's usually take about 6-8 months from FIELD FIX (engineer) to Print and Distribution. I think your 6 month wait should have been long enough.
BUT.. The door handle issues has been known (secretly) for 2-3 months now and they are not going to release any TSB or new updated parts until they run out of the old ones Who knows how long that will be.

Can the people at edmunds look at their receipts? and see what description was given for the fix. It might help give us some other ideas or direction to go.
Let us know if the tape helps or if it doesnt either way we eliminate 1 possibility.
Ill keep digging

[edwardh1]

Thanks may get on the interstate tomorrow am and see

[edwardh1]

I taped the door handles. no change in noise.

the noise will go away if you push on the inside of the door/on the door panel where the window comes up out of the door (where your elbow would go) .

the door panel (mounts on the inside of the door and is covered in cloth) will move toward the window a little when you push on it and that pushes the rubber gasket up against the window sealing out the noise. you get the same effect if you tape the rubber to the window.

so the problem is either the inside door panel needs to be pushed onto the door a little more (closer to the window) or the door panel gasket needs to be about 1/16 inch longer so that it touches the glass. i called the dealer and toldthe service rep and he said he would send it in with the report he had already sent in last friday. Have no idea what Toyota will do

[mustang67408]

Well it was worth a try
I hope they will be able to help you more than i did.
Good Luck
PLEASE let us know if they resolve this issue.

[edwardh1]

Dealer now ordering One interior door panel to see if that fixes it (I think it will if the panel fits better)