Buick Encore: Air & Wind Noise - Diagnostic information and procedures

AIR/WIND NOISE

Special Tools

• CH-39570 Chassis Ear
• GE-41416 Ultrasonic Leak Detector

WARNING: An assistant should drive the vehicle while the technician checks for the location of the reported condition. Otherwise, personal injury could result.

To analyze a reported windnoise condition, test drive the vehicle to determine the origin of the noise.

Choose a regular route with smooth and straight streets that run in all 4 directions: North, South, East, and West. The area should have little traffic or little noise in order to eliminate interference with the test.

NOTE: Often there is one primary leak source and one or more secondary leaks that contribute to the noise condition. Repairing only one of the contributing leak sources may not completely repair the total condition but only reduce the condition.

Drive the vehicle at the speed in which the noise was noticed, or until the noise is heard. Maintain safe and legal speeds.

Many of the waterleak diagnosis tests are also used for the windnoise diagnosis.

Most windnoise is caused either by leaking seals or by misaligned body surfaces. You can diagnose the following types of windnoise with the aid of CH-39570 chassis ear or GE-41416 leak detector.

• Wind whistle
• Wind roar
• Wind rush

When moving at highway speeds, air pressure inside the vehicle becomes greater than the air pressure outside.

When a leak occurs, the escaping air causes a hiss or a whistle.

Wind roar occurs when air passes over or through an opening between the 2 body surfaces. To correct the condition, adjust the alignment to the body surfaces.

Wind rush occurs when air presses over the vehicles body and is related to the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

Wind whistle and wind roar are repairable. Rule out wind whistle and wind roar before concluding that the wind noise is due to wind rush.

Use the following inspections in order to aid in diagnosing wind whistle or wind roar:

1. Note the details for wind noise:

• The perceived location
• The location where the noise is loudest
• When the noise occurs
• The vehicle speed
• The interior fan speed
• The position of the windows
• What the noise sounds lik

2. Inspect the vehicle for the possible cause of the windnoise.
3. Test drive the vehicle and determine if the windnoise is external or internal.
4. Perform a visual inspection of the following components:

• Loose fasteners
• Torn weather-strips
• Broken weld joints
• Sealer and/or adhesive skips

TRACING POWDER OR CHALK TEST

Clean the weatherstrips and the contact surfaces with cleaning solvent.

1. Apply powder or chalk in an unbroken line to the contact surface of the weatherstrip surrounding the perimeter of the suspected areas.
2. Close the panel completely without slamming the panel. Closing the panel completely presses the weatherstrip firmly against the mating surface.
3. Inspect the applied line on the weatherstrip. The applied line is marred where contact is good. A corresponding imprint is on the mating surfaces.
4. Gaps or irregularities in the powder or the chalk line on the mating surfaces indicate the areas with a poor seal.

AIR PRESSURE TEST

1. Mask off both the pressure relief valves.
2. Close all the windows.
3. Turn the vehicles ventilation fan to the on position, with the selector on high speed and in the defrost mode.
4. Unlock and close the doors.
5. Listen for escaping air along the door and the window seals with a stethoscope or a length of heater hose.

SOAP SUDS OR BUBBLE TEST

1. Mask off the pressure relief valves.
2. Close all the windows and the doors.
3. Turn the vehicles ventilation fan to the on position, with the selector on high speed and in the defrost mode.
4. Unlock and close the doors.
5. Apply the soap solution to the potential leak areas.
6. Look for bubbles revealing escaping air.

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