Rear road / wind noise 2003 vs 2004 V6

[Norbertflyer]

Hello all, I've just "upgraded" from a 2003 to a 2004 XJ and was surprised by what appears to be more rear noise on the newer XJ. I have the premium Alpine sub woofers in the parcel shelf in the newer car and there's 2 holes under the parcel shelf into the boot area, which I believe is associated with the sound system. These holes aren't present on the older car with the standard sound system. Could this be the reason for the increased road/wind noise, or something else? It's difficult to pinpoint exactly where the extra noise is coming from the rear. Thanks, Richard
PS - I have the "leather" sandwich wheel nut washers on the older car with 17 inch wheels vs 18s on the newer car without those "leather" washers.

[steve_m]

Could be tyres; it's surprising how different the road noise is between different brands.
That's why they have a noise rating on the new ones.

[Norbertflyer]

Thanks Steve, I'd have expected all-round increased noise if it was tyres, rather than just the rear. It sounds like there's a tiny gap at the top of the electric windows, not fully closed (but there's no gap).

Budget 'thing-a-me' tyres on the old car and Continental Contact 6 on the newer car.

Cheers, Richard.

[ptjs1]

Richard,

Window rubbers and door rubbers can cause significant road noise. Wait until it stops raining and then try taping up the windows and door shuts with masking tape and see if it improves.

Good luck

Paul

[Norbertflyer]

Thanks Paul, I hadn't considered it could be the door rubbers possibly having a small gap. Only needs to be 0.5mm of course, in one part of the seal. I'll give that a go. Richard

[Norbertflyer]

I tried the masking tape suggestion around the newer car rear door jambs, went for a drive and there was perceived lower wind noise. No decibel instrument science here. I then performed the strip of A4 paper grip test in various positions around the door jambs closing the doors and found tight grip on the paper all around the door jambs except for the rear lower quarter below the window to the bottom of the door. I then tried the test on the older car and there was a tight grip on the paper all around the rear doors. I therefore think I've found the source of the wind noise on the newer car? The fix would probably be some extra 3M "D" shape door seal around that quarter of the existing door seal, but I need to think a bit more on this first. I'll let you know more on a fix soon. Cheers Richard

[Norbertflyer]

Solved !!!

Bought the 8mm x 6mm D profile self adhesive rubber sealing strip, thoroughly cleaned between the outer rubber folds and applied the strip to the inner flap of rubber folds of the lower rear of the door. 2 minutes each side and it doesn't look like an added rubber strip. The A4 paper strip is now gripped tightly by the shut door all round, the door is no harder to shut and following a test drive, the newer car is now a quiet as the older car. Might run the A4 paper test on the other family cars to check.

[ptjs1]

Great work, Richard!

Well done!

Paul

[Norbertflyer]

Thanks for the pointer Paul. The family Nissan is also now a lot quieter than before. Richard