Weird rattle noise from driver's side door when window is fully up
01-18-21, 07:18 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Weird rattle noise from driver's side door when window is fully up
Hey all, trying to track down an intermittent rattle noise from the driver's side door. It only occurs when the window is fully up and only when the car runs over some rough pavement, but it is not always reproducible. Sometimes the noise is gone even when I drive on those rough surfaces.
Here's the weird part - when I crack the window a little bit (ever so slightly), the rattles seem to stop. I'm wondering if anyone has had something similar on their car? Thanks.
Here's the weird part - when I crack the window a little bit (ever so slightly), the rattles seem to stop. I'm wondering if anyone has had something similar on their car? Thanks.
01-18-21, 10:25 PM
#2
Lexus Test Driver
Hey all, trying to track down an intermittent rattle noise from the driver's side door. It only occurs when the window is fully up and only when the car runs over some rough pavement, but it is not always reproducible. Sometimes the noise is gone even when I drive on those rough surfaces.
Here's the weird part - when I crack the window a little bit (ever so slightly), the rattles seem to stop. I'm wondering if anyone has had something similar on their car? Thanks.
Here's the weird part - when I crack the window a little bit (ever so slightly), the rattles seem to stop. I'm wondering if anyone has had something similar on their car? Thanks.
01-18-21, 10:31 PM
#3
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Where exactly on the driver's door are you hearing it? Top? Bottom? Side? My 2020 has a rattle at the top of the door glass, where the window meets the black plastic trim on the inside. Only happens when cold out. If I press up against the black trim, it quiets down. Very inconsistent though and only when it's below 55 degrees. Haven't mentioned to dealer yet.
Which part of the black trim do you press on? And what is your method of pressing on the trim, ie. press upwards with the fingers of the left hand?
01-18-21, 10:36 PM
#4
Lexus Test Driver
It kind of sounds like it is coming from the textured portion at the bottom of the window, but like I mentioned, the noise seems to go away if I wind the window down a very tiny amount. Given that the rattle doesn't happen with the window cracked just a tiny bit, the noise could be coming from that black trim you're talking about.
Which part of the black trim do you press on? And what is your method of pressing on the trim, ie. press upwards with the fingers of the left hand?
Which part of the black trim do you press on? And what is your method of pressing on the trim, ie. press upwards with the fingers of the left hand?
01-18-21, 10:41 PM
#5
Intermediate
Thread Starter
If yours is coming from the bottom of the window, it kinda sounds like the opposite of mine. I am pretty sure mine is coming from the top of the window, more towards the b-pillar, but still at the top region. There is a thick, black plastic frame on the inside of the door, where the window goes up into. I press upward on the bottom side of it and it mostly goes away. I think only a few times that didn't make a difference, but it mostly stops the rattle when I'm pushing up on it.
Do you press near the upper left portion or near the middle of the window?
01-19-21, 07:56 AM
#6
Instructor
Another help that I've done in the past on other cars when I rarely encountered this was a fine piece of felt that I ran on the door edge right below the window trim guard on the inside (as most windows curve lightly inward).
01-19-21, 01:04 PM
#7
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Thanks, sorry for the confusing words, hope it is understandable enough.
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01-20-21, 07:10 AM
#8
drives cars
I had a noise near the top of the glass like that, and it seemed like lowering and raising the window glass (i.e. opening and then closing) usually fixed the issue. This occurred pretty much throughout my entire ownership during the winter months. Sounds like you have something different, but wanted to throw it out there in case it helps.
Maybe, with repsect to your last question, you could try reproducing the noise while the car is sitting still? i.e., if you are standing outside the car and press on the glass and/or door frame, does it make a sound? I've used this method to track down creaks and rattles in other cars.
Maybe, with repsect to your last question, you could try reproducing the noise while the car is sitting still? i.e., if you are standing outside the car and press on the glass and/or door frame, does it make a sound? I've used this method to track down creaks and rattles in other cars.
01-20-21, 08:03 AM
#9
Instructor
I'm trying to imagine this on my window trim - so I could get a very fine piece of felt (Home Depot, I guess?) and cut off a strip. Do I stick this inside the window frame (ie. where the window glass slides up and down in) at the top or on the side running parallel to the B pillar? If it goes on the inside, does it stick on the top, or on the side closest to the outside, or the side closest to the interior (if my description makes any sense)?
Thanks, sorry for the confusing words, hope it is understandable enough.
Thanks, sorry for the confusing words, hope it is understandable enough.
Basically, if you take off your door panel and look straight down from up top, it would be right there. It worked for me and the problem hasn't come back in years.
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GNS (01-20-21)
01-20-21, 08:36 AM
#10
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I had a noise near the top of the glass like that, and it seemed like lowering and raising the window glass (i.e. opening and then closing) usually fixed the issue. This occurred pretty much throughout my entire ownership during the winter months. Sounds like you have something different, but wanted to throw it out there in case it helps.
Maybe, with repsect to your last question, you could try reproducing the noise while the car is sitting still? i.e., if you are standing outside the car and press on the glass and/or door frame, does it make a sound? I've used this method to track down creaks and rattles in other cars.
Maybe, with repsect to your last question, you could try reproducing the noise while the car is sitting still? i.e., if you are standing outside the car and press on the glass and/or door frame, does it make a sound? I've used this method to track down creaks and rattles in other cars.
Post #6 says:
The rattle you're probably hearing is really the door squirming around a bit as the car moves. The rubber seals around the doors rub against the body in the door frame making the annoying, squeaking, creaking, crunching noise. Tapping your window down relieves the stress in the top part of the door frame so it doesn't push the seals as tightly. This is why lowering the window makes it go away.
Rub down the door seals (both on the door and in the door jams) with silicon lubricant. (*Not the window channel where the door glass tucks up into.) Honda's Shin-Etsu is preferred because it tends to last longer, is water repellent, and doesn't collect grime.
For years with my 2003 I lubricated the window seals with varying success. When I started lubricating the door seals, the noise went away all together. There's no need to grease up the window channel, just the larger door seals. I know - you wouldn't think lubing the door seals would work, but try it. It's the damnedest thing and might save you from pulling your hair out.
Rub down the door seals (both on the door and in the door jams) with silicon lubricant. (*Not the window channel where the door glass tucks up into.) Honda's Shin-Etsu is preferred because it tends to last longer, is water repellent, and doesn't collect grime.
For years with my 2003 I lubricated the window seals with varying success. When I started lubricating the door seals, the noise went away all together. There's no need to grease up the window channel, just the larger door seals. I know - you wouldn't think lubing the door seals would work, but try it. It's the damnedest thing and might save you from pulling your hair out.
In the meanwhile, I did a small test with silicone spray (as long as the spray doesn't smell too much like petroleum distillate) and rubbed it into the seals, and the rattling noise seemed to go away for the couple of test drives I took it on. It was -2C (28F), and I made sure to find all the cracked parts of the street and the noise appears to be greatly reduced (if not gone). When the Gummi Pflege arrives, I'll do a wipe down of the seals and apply the stuff.
01-20-21, 09:16 AM
#11
drives cars
I use that Shin-Etsu lubricant, too. It worked really well for the sunroof on my GTI and also for the top door seals.
01-20-21, 11:25 AM
#12
Instructor
I have that for my s2000's hardtop and I use it for nearly everything rubber/poly to prolong the life. Works awesome.
01-20-21, 03:06 PM
#13
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Edit: I did a thorough application of that Gummi Pflege on the door and body seals and the rattle is gone.
Last edited by GNS; 01-31-21 at 07:13 PM.
12-18-21, 08:42 PM
#14
Pit Crew
If you still have this problem then check out my post at the end of this thread. I had the same kind of noise that went away with the window cracked open.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-solution.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-solution.html
