Symptom Chart - Air Leak and Wind Noise

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Sable and 2003 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

SYMPTOM CHARTS

Condition	Possible Sources	Action
Air leak around door perimeter	Loose fit seal.	PINCH the seal carrier to improve retention on the seal flange.
Seal installed incorrectly.		REINSTALL the seal.
Door misaligned.		REALIGN the door. CHECK door gaps and fit in the door opening and ADJUST as necessary.
Scuff plate installed incorrectly.		REINSTALL the scuff plate.
Seal or seal push pins damaged.		INSTALL a new seal.
Air leak around glass run	Door glass misaligned.	ADJUST the door glass.
Glass run installed incorrectly.		ADJUST the glass run. INSERT foam in the glass run carrier.
Leak path behind glass run.		INSTALL foam rope behind the glass run.
Glass run channel spread wide.		PINCH the glass run channel to reduce the size of the opening.
Blow-out clip bent or contacting door glass.		ADJUST the blow-out clip or INSTALL a new glass run/blow-out clip molding assembly.
Glass run damaged.		INSTALL a new glass run.
Air leak at inner belt line	Belt line seal installed incorrectly on flange.	ADJUST the seal. (Do not bend the flange.)
Belt line seal integrated with door trim installed incorrectly (no glass contact).		REINSTALL the door trim.
No contact with side glass.		ADJUST the door glass.
No contact with glass runs at both ends of belt line seal.		ADJUST the belt line seal or ADD foam at the seal ends.
Belt line seal damaged.		INSTALL a new seal.
Air leak at outer belt line	Belt line seal installed incorrectly on flange (no glass contact).	ADJUST the seal.
Belt line seal does not contact the glass.		ADJUST the door glass.
No contact with glass runs at both ends of belt line seal.		ADJUST the belt line seal/ADD foam at the seal ends.
Belt line seal damaged.		INSTALL a new seal.
Draft at inner door handle/speaker opening	Hole in watershield.	SEAL the hole with a suitable tape.
Watershield misaligned.		REALIGN the watershield. INSTALL a new watershield if the pressure sensitive adhesive fails.
Exterior door handle seal misaligned/damaged.		REALIGN or INSTALL a new seal as necessary.
Wind noise from side view mirror	Outside mirror housing misaligned.	REALIGN with the edges shingled correctly and no gaps.
Mirror sail gasket folded/misaligned.		REINSTALL with the gasket unfolded and aligned correctly.
Mirror housing trim cap installed incorrectly.		REINSTALL with the edges shingled to the air flow.
Air leak through mirror housing hinge.		Fully ENGAGE the mirror into its operating position/USE foam to block the air path through the hinge.
Inner sail trim installed incorrectly.		REINSTALL the sail trim/ADJUST the door trim.
Inner sail gasket/barrier installed incorrectly.		REINSTALL the trim cover with the gasket/barrier aligned correctly.
Air path through wiring bundle/fastener access holes.		BLOCK the air path(s) with foam/tape.
Exposed fastener access hole on mirror housing/sail.		INSTALL a new cap if it is missing.
Air leak around perimeter of fixed glass	Gaps in the sealant bead.	APPLY approved sealant.
Air traveling up windshield molding along A-pillar.		INSTALL foam rope the full length of the A-pillar.
Windshield/backlite misaligned or not installed correctly.		REINSTALL the windshield/backlite.
Rear hood seal at base of windshield misaligned/damaged.		REALIGN or INSTALL a new seal as necessary.
Air leak at cowl	Cowl gasket misaligned/damaged.	REALIGN or INSTALL a new seal as necessary.
Air leak around liftgate perimeter	Loose fit seal.	PINCH the seal carrier to improve retention on the seal flange or INSERT foam in the carrier.
Seal misaligned.		REINSTALL the seal.
Liftgate misaligned.		REALIGN the liftgate. CHECK the liftgate fit in the body opening and ADJUST as necessary.
Scuff plate misaligned.		REINSTALL the scuff plate.
Seal or seal push pins damaged.		INSTALL a new seal.
Air leak around the liftgate flip window perimeter	Loose fit seal.	PINCH the seal carrier to improve the retention to the seal flange.
Seal misaligned.		REINSTALL the seal.
Glass misaligned.		REALIGN the glass.
Seal damaged.		INSTALL a new seal.
Wind noise from antenna	Shape of antenna.	INSTALL an antenna boot or a spiral antenna.
Air leak around antenna cable access hole.		INSPECT the antenna access hole grommet. REPAIR as necessary.
Air leak from closed roof opening panel	Seal installed incorrectly.	REINSTALL the seal.
Roof opening panel glass/door misaligned.		REALIGN the roof opening panel glass/door.
Roof opening panel damaged.		INSTALL a new roof opening panel.
Buffeting from an open roof opening panel	Wind deflector inoperative/damaged.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new wind deflector as necessary.
Wind deflector height incorrect.		ADJUST the wind deflector higher.
Wind noise created by airflow over or behind body panels	Fender splash shield misaligned.	REALIGN the fender splash shield.
Body panel misaligned (exposed edge).		REALIGN the appropriate body panel.
Hood misaligned (front margin).		CHECK hood gaps and fit. ADJUST the hood as necessary.
Front grille edge noise.		APPLY foam in the hollow areas behind the louvers.
Wind noise created by grille opening panel	Grille relationship to leading edge on hood.	ADJUST the grille opening panel forward to eliminate wind noise.
Sharp edges due to material imperfections.		REMOVE the sharp edges (no damage to visible surface).
Wind noise from air extractor	Air extractor housing seated incorrectly.	REINSTALL the air extractor housing.
Air extractor housing or flaps damaged.		INSTALL a new air extractor.
Air leak at top of A-pillar - vehicles with a convertible top	Seal at windshield header installed incorrectly.	REINSTALL the seal.
Seal pinched.		FILL the seal with foam to reshape it.
Gap between side rail and header seal at A-pillar.		ADJUST the J-hook/vinyl top.
Air leak at rear quarter glass (division bar) - vehicles with a convertible top	No contact between front side glass and quarter glass division bar.	ADJUST the front side glass regulator and the rear quarter glass regulator.
Air leak or wind noise from top of side glass - vehicles with a convertible top	Gap between side rail and vinyl top.	ADD additional foam tape to seal between the side rail and the vinyl top.
Seal at windshield header installed incorrectly.		REINSTALL the seal.
Seal damaged between side rail and vinyl top.		INSTALL a new seal.
Vinyl top damaged.		INSPECT the vinyl top. INSTALL a new vinyl top as necessary.
Air leak or wind noise at windshield header - vehicles with a convertible top	Vinyl top not flush with header.	ADJUST the J-hook to lower the top to achieve a flush condition.
Seal at windshield header installed incorrectly.		REINSTALL the seal.
Header seal not flush with header.		REINSTALL the seal.
Convertible top flapping with the top up	Vinyl top contacting interior headliner.	Working from front to back, INSTALL a 6.35 mm (0.25 in) foam sheet between the headliner and the vinyl top at the suspected area. Allow a clearance of 50 mm (2 in) -75 mm (3 in) away from the roof bows and the side rails.
Noise from roof rack	Roof rack rails or crossbars loose.	TIGHTEN the fasteners.
Roof rack fasteners missing.		INSTALL the approved fasteners.
Roof rack crossbars installed backward.		REINSTALL the crossbars.
Roof rack rub strips partially lifting from roof.		REAPPLY adhesive or fasteners or INSTALL new rub strips as necessary.
Roof rack gaskets loose or misaligned.		REINSTALL the gasket.
Wind noise from bug shield/exterior windshield sun visor	Turbulence created by location and shape.	REMOVE per customer direction if it is a dealer installed option.