Body/Frame - Wind Noise
File In Section: 10 - BodyBulletin No.: 53-15-16
Date: September, 1995
INFORMATION
Subject:
Windnoise
Models:
1990-95 Buick Regal
1988-94 Chevrolet Lumina
1990-95 Oldsmobile Cutlass
1990-95 Pontiac Grand Prix
Customer comments regarding WINDNOISE may be addressed by using the procedures on the individual items listed in this bulletin. Proper diagnoses may be made with a variety of tools and methods including stethoscopes, dust guns, sonic instruments, visual inspection, dollar bill method, etc. It is important to remember that windnoise can best be described as air leaking from inside of the vehicle outward while traveling at highway speeds. Turbulence or Windrush is best described as air passing over and around body openings and moldings.
Important:
Prior to any repairs, the door primary opening weatherstrips should be visually inspected for proper gaps, fits, weatherstrip contact and sealing. The vehicle should also be road tested to determine location and degree of windnoise/turbulence on the vehicle.
The recommended materials (or equivalent) to be used with the procedures are as shown.
We believe these sources and their product to be reliable. There may be additional manufacturers of such products. General Motors does not endorse, indicate any preference for or assume any responsibility for the products from these firms or for any such items which may be available from other sources.
Corrections
I. Windshield side reveal gap to door.
Adjust the door inboard so there is slight contact of the door frame along the A-pillar to the windshield side reveal molding (See Figure 1).
II. Wind rush due to gap at windshield side reveal molding to glass, left and/or right side (See Figure 1).
1. Remove auxiliary weatherstrip to access the windshield side reveal molding retaining screws.
2. Remove the retaining screws.
3. Holding the windshield side reveal molding in position, flush the molding to the glass. Determine how much elongation of the screw holes in the molding is necessary to position the molding flush to the glass. Using a small rattail file, elongate the retaining holes in the direction and length needed to position the molding flush to the glass.
Labor Operation Table
4. Reinstall retaining screws and auxiliary weatherstrip.
III. Windshield upper reveal gaps to the roof of less than 2 mm or less (See Figure 2).
1. With 1/2 inch masking tape, tape the upper reveal molding all the way across the roof following the rear most edge of the reveal molding. Tape the roof at the rear edge of the molding all the way across the car.
2. Using GM Goodwrench RTV Silicone Rubber Sealer. P/N 12345739 (or equivalent), and the nozzle from the package, fill the gap between the molding and the roof.
3. Remove the tape and clean any excess sealer on the molding and the body with adhesive cleaner.
Labor Operation Labor Time
B7540 Use published labor operation time.
IV. Windnoise at front door window run channel to door frame (See Figure 3).
1. Lower door glass.
2. Remove the window run channel from the retainer in the header of the door frame by pulling down and outboard on the run channel.
3. With the run channel removed, make sure the run channel retainer retaining screws are tight (See Figure 5).
4. Using bedding and glazing compound, run a 5 mm bead around the inboard edge of the retainer.
5. Using bedding and glazing compound, fill the cavity in the upper rear corner of the door frame (See Figure 3, View A). Also fill the cavity in the upper corner above the mirror where the run channel retainers meets the mirror.
6. Spray window run channel with glass cleaner, for ease of installation.
7. Reinstall the window run channel, using a plastic trim stick to ensure that the run channel is fully seated in the retainer.
Labor Operation Table
V. Windnoise at rear door window run channel to door frame.
1. Lower door glass.
2. Remove the front and top portion of the run channel from the retainer by pulling down and outboard on the run channel.
3. With the run channel removed, make sure the run channel retainer retaining screws are tight (see Figure 5).
4. Using bedding and glazing compound, run a 5 mm bead around entire inboard edge of the retainer (See Figure 4, View B). Using bedding and glazing compound, fill the cavity in the upper front corner of the rear door and the upper rear corner of the door.
5. Spray the window run channel with glass cleaner for ease of installation.
6. Reinstall the window run channel using a plastic trim stick to insure that the run channel is fully seated in the retainer.
Labor Operation Labor Time
C0340 (Right), C0341 (Left) 0.3 hr (Each)
There should be a medium amount of resistance as the bill or paper is slowly withdrawn. Continue around the entire seal area. If there is little or no resistance, it indicates there is insufficient contact to form a good seal. This test may indicate that the door is out of alignment, adjust as necessary.
VII. Windnoise around mirror.
1. Remove the mirror per Section 10 of the Service Manual.
2. Using bedding and glazing compound run a 5 mm bead around the perimeter of the mirror mounting surface as shown in Figure 6.
3. Before the molding is re-installed, coat the outer belt retaining flange with silicone lubricant so that the molding can be removed at a later date.
VIII. Windnoise under the outer door beltline reveal molding.
1. Remove the outer door beltline molding per Section 10 of the Service Manual.
2. With the molding removed, apply a bead of silicone along the full length of the molding in the molding cavity as shown in Figure 7.
Labor Operation Table
IX. Road noise caused by inner belt seal gap to glass. 1988 to 1993 Sedans and 1988 to 1995 Coupes.
The condition above may be caused by a misadjusted regulator arm stabilizer plate.
See Correction A or mislocated inner belt pinch flange (See Correction B).
Correction A
The stabilizer may be adjusted inboard or outboard by bending with locking pliers. It may be considered to be adjusted properly when: (See Figure 8).
1. There is enough inboard pressure to prevent glass moving outboard, creating gaps of inner belt strip glass. But not so much inboard pressure to increase binding of the regulator arm to the stabilizer.
2. After necessary adjustment has been completed, lightly coat the outboard surface of the regulator arm and the inboard surface of the stabilizer arm where they come in contact with lubriplate or equivalent.
Labor Operation Description Labor Time
C0100 (Right) Glass, Front Use published
C0101 (Left) Door Align labor operation
time.
Correction B
After inner belt strip is removed, bend the inner belt pinch flange outboard so the inner belt seal touches glass (See Figure 9).