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Symptom Chart - NVH

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford Mustang. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
NOTE: NVH symptoms should be identified using the diagnostic tools that are available. For a list of these tools, an explanation of their uses and a glossary of common terms, refer to NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS . Since it is possible that any one of multiple systems may be the cause of a symptom, it may be necessary to use a process of elimination type of diagnostic approach to pinpoint the responsible system. If this is not the causal system for the symptom, refer back to NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS for the next likely system and continue diagnosis.
SYMPTOM CHART - NVH

Condition Possible Sources Action
  • Draft/wind noise and water leak around door perimeter
  • Loose fit seal
  • PINCH seal carrier to improve retention on seal flange.
  • Seal installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL the seal.
  • Door misaligned
  • REALIGN the door. CHECK door gaps and fit in door opening and adjust as necessary. REFER to BODY CLOSURES .
  • Scuff plate installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL the scuff plate.
  • Seal or seal pushpins damaged
  • INSTALL a new seal/pushpins.
  • Sheet metal joints in door or door opening
  • SEAL leaks with silicone gasket and sealant.
  • Draft/wind noise and water leak around glass run
  • Door glass misaligned
  • ADJUST door glass.
  • Glass run installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL glass run. INSERT foam in glass run carrier if necessary.
  • Leak path behind glass run
  • INSTALL foam rope behind glass run.
  • Glass run channel spread wide
  • PINCH glass run channel to reduce size of opening.
  • Glass run damaged
  • INSTALL a new glass run.
  • Draft/wind noise and water leak at inner belt line
  • Belt line seal installed incorrectly on flange
  • ADJUST seal. (Do not bend the flange.)
  • No contact with side glass
  • ADJUST door glass.
  • No contact with glass runs at both ends of belt line seal
  • ADJUST belt line seal or ADD foam at seal ends.
  • Belt line seal damaged
  • INSTALL a new seal.
  • Draft/wind noise and water leak at outer belt line
  • Belt line seal installed incorrectly on flange (no glass contact)
  • ADJUST seal.
  • Belt line seal does not contact the glass
  • ADJUST door glass.
  • No contact with glass runs at both ends of belt line seal
  • ADJUST belt line seal or ADD foam at seal ends.
  • Belt line seal damaged
  • INSTALL a new seal.
  • Draft/wind noise at inner door handle/speaker opening
  • Hole in weathershield
  • SEAL hole with suitable tape.
  • Weathershield misaligned
  • REALIGN weathershield. INSTALL a new weathershield if pressure sensitive adhesive fails.
  • Exterior door handle seal misaligned/damaged
  • Speaker or speaker seal missing or damaged
  • REPAIR speaker seal or INSTALL a new door speaker.
  • Draft/wind noise and water leaks at floor pan and grommets
  • Missing or damaged plugs/grommets
  • CHECK plugs/grommets for correct installation or damage. INSTALL new plugs/grommets if necessary.
  • Road noise
  • Missing mastic insulators
  • CHECK for missing mastic insulators. REFER to BODY REPAIRS .
  • Missing body insulators
  • CHECK for missing body insulators.
  • Rattles in body/doors and instrument panel
  • Loose wires/cables
  • CHECK that all wires/cables are correctly routed and inserted in correct retainers.
  • Loose objects/components in door wells, pillars quarter trim panels
  • CHECK doors by carefully striking underside of doors with a rubber mallet while listening for rattles in doors and pillars. REMOVE or TIGHTEN loose objects/components.
  • Buzz from instrument panel components
  • IDENTIFY which components of the instrument panel are buzzing. SECURE/FASTEN components as necessary, ADD foam or felt as needed if rattle persists.
  • Door drain holes collecting water
  • Holes clogged with mud or road tar
  • CLEAN drain holes of foreign material with a punch or screwdriver. CHECK drain holes regularly.
  • Wind noise from exterior rear view mirror
  • Exterior mirror housing misaligned
  • REALIGN with edges shingled to airflow, with no gaps.
  • Mirror sail gasket folded/misaligned
  • REINSTALL with gasket unfolded and aligned correctly.
  • Mirror housing trim cap installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL with edges shingled to airflow.
  • Air leak through mirror housing hinge
  • Fully ENGAGE mirror into its operating position. USE foam to block air path through hinge.
  • Inner sail trim installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL sail trim. ADJUST door trim.
  • Inner sail trim installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL sail trim. ADJUST door trim.
  • Inner sail gasket/barrier installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL trim cover with gasket/barrier aligned correctly.
  • Air path through wiring bundle/fastener access holes
  • BLOCK air path(s) with foam/tape.
  • Exposed fastener access hole on mirror housing/sail
  • INSTALL a new cap if missing.
  • Rattle/vibration from exterior rear view mirror
  • Mirror glass adjustment screws loose
  • REMOVE mirror glass and TIGHTEN mirror glass adjustment motor screws. REFER to REAR VIEW MIRRORS .
  • Mirror mounting nuts loose
  • Aftermarket air deflector/stone shields
  • If possible, REMOVE aftermarket air deflector/stone shield, then ROAD TEST vehicle. If concern is no longer present, ADVISE customer that aftermarket component was causing concern.
  • Draft/wind noise and water leak around perimeter of all fixed glass
  • Gaps in the sealant bead
  • APPLY approved sealant.
  • Air traveling up windshield molding along A-pillar
  • INSTALL foam rope full length of the A-pillar.
  • Gaps in sealant bead of windshield/rear/roof glass
  • Windshield/rear/roof glass misaligned or not installed correctly
  • Rear hood seal at base of windshield misaligned/damaged
  • REALIGN or INSTALL a new seal as necessary.
  • Gaps in sealant bead of roof appliques
  • Roof appliques misaligned or not installed correctly
  • Draft noise at cowl
  • Cowl seal misaligned/damaged
  • REALIGN or INSTALL a new seal as necessary.
  • Wind noise created by airflow over or behind body panels
  • Fender splash shield misaligned
  • REALIGN fender splash shield.
  • Body panel misaligned (exposed edge)
  • REALIGN appropriate body panel.
  • Hood misaligned (front margin)
  • CHECK hood gaps and fit. ADJUST hood as necessary.
  • Front grille edge noise
  • APPLY foam in hollow areas behind louvers.
  • Wind noise created by grille opening panel
  • Grille relationship to leaking edge on hood
  • If possible, ADJUST grille opening panel forward to eliminate wind noise.
  • Sharp edges due to material imperfections
  • REMOVE sharp edges (no damage to visible surface).
  • Wind noise from air extractor (body vent)
  • Air extractor housing seated incorrectly
  • REINSTALL 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 heater installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL seal.
  • Seal pinched
  • FILL seal with foam to reshape it.
  • Gap between side rail and header seal at A-pillar
  • ADJUST J-hook/vinyl top.
  • Air leak at rear quarter glass (division bar) - vehicles with a convertible top
  • No contact/torn seal between front side glass and quarter glass division bar
  • CHECK the rear quarter glass division bar seal for a torn seal. If the seal is torn, INSTALL a new rear quarter window glass. REFER to GLASS, FRAMES AND MECHANISMS . If there is no contact, ADJUST the rear quarter glass and front door glass. REFER to GLASS, FRAMES AND MECHANISMS .
  • 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 side rail and vinyl top.
  • Seal at windshield header installed incorrectly
  • REINSTALL a seal.
  • Seal damaged between side rail and vinyl top
  • INSTALL a new seal.
  • Vinyl top damaged
  • INSPECT vinyl top. INSTALL a new vinyl top as necessary. REFER to CONVERTIBLE TOP .
  • Air leak or wind noise at windshield header - vehicles with a convertible top
  • Vinyl top not flush with header
  • ADJUST J-hook to lower the top to achieve a flush condition.
  • Seal at windshield header installed incorrectly
  • Header seal not flush with header
  • REINSTALL 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 headliner and vinyl top at suspected area. Allow a clearance of 50 mm (2 in) 75 mm (3 in) away from roof bows and side rails.
  • Wind noise from bug shield/exterior windshield sun visor
  • Turbulence created by location and shape
  • DETERMINE if an OEM part or aftermarket. If aftermarket ADVISE customer accordingly. If OEM, VERIFY correctly installed. If noise is abnormal repair or INSTALL a new as required.
  • Water behind the front side kick panels/on the front floor
  • Leafscreen/cowl grommets missing/not seated
  • INSPECT for correct installation of leafscreen/cowl grommets.
  • Loose A-pillar window weather stripping retainer
  • INSPECT for correct installation of A-pillar weather stripping retainer.
  • Misaligned body harness grommet from the passenger door
  • INSPECT for correct installation of body harness grommet.
  • Glass roof vehicles only: leak under the glass roof front applique
  • Water in the trunk
  • Glass roof only: glass roof leaking rear applique
  • Rear window glass is not sealed correctly
  • Water sloshing sound when going around turns
  • Leafscreen/cowl panel not sealed against windshield/warped
  • INSPECT for correct cowl panel installation.
  • Leafscreen/cowl grommets loose/missing/not seated
  • INSPECT for correct installation of leafscreen/cowl grommets.
  • Incorrectly applied sealer on cowl panel to bulkhead pinch weld
  • Apply Motorcraft® Seam Sealer to pinch weld as required.