Noticed if I do 45-50 with the sunroof open, I begin to hear a low frequency rumble/vibration. I couldn't figure it out until I put my hand on the wind deflector. It begins to vibrate and once you stop it, the sound goes away.

Anyone else notice this?

 

I have notive excess wind noise, but no vibration.

 

Crack open a window. The RL is nothing compared to my old A4 and S500. Hell, even my brand new LS430 makes pressure noises with the sunroof open.

 

The thing is that I don't think it's a pressure noise. I think it's the vibration of the wind deflector. If I put my hand on the deflector, the noise stops.

I'll try it nonetheless.

 

Oh my bad. So youre saying that the steel flap thingie is rattling? Ours definitely does not do that.

 

No noise (other than wind) here either. You may need a service visit.

 

yeah I have the same problem, it's a lot better without the winddeflector there. I think it's a design flaw.

 

Re-opening this thread. Just noticed this annoying wind deflector issue. Anybody get there deflector replaced or figure out a solution. Thanks in advance.

 

I have heard a drone on a few occaisions. It sounded like a helicopter in the distance. But it was not consistent each time I opened the sun roof. It gathered it might be due to the particular crosswind at that moment. I even considered it may the Audio Pilot trying to compensate or overcompensate?

The last time it happened, I cracked open a rear window an it stopped. It may be a pressure (as bkw suggested) issue or crosswind issue. Each drive we make is subject to different conditions, so this may just be a trait of the RL's design. I hear similar stories with people who add the external wind deflector / visor vs. those who do not have it.

 

Thanks TampaRL. I'll try opening the rear window later today. Nice and sunny in NJ for a change...and no rain

 

What Exit? <ducking> I was raised in Woodbridge and am a Rutger's grad (no Imus comments puleeze).


Rain? What is that? Please send some of that spring flood water down south...we need it.

Another thought. Next time you hear that drone, try moving the pop up wind deflector a bit. This may determine if the deflector is vibrating or, as mentioned earlier...it is just an aerodynamic anomaly of the RL.

 

the wind diffuser on the RL is useless the odyssey's deflector is much quieter. I simply opted for the Acura external wind deflector. It works like a charm at any speed.

 

Now this is out of my league, because I am no physicist, but I read in a Road & Track that this buffeting sound, which is quite evident in the RL, as well as most other cars, is called a Helmholtz resonance caused by compression and decompression of the volume of within the cabin. So my layman's explanation follows.

A common example of Helmholtz resonance is an empty bottle: the air inside vibrates when you blow across the top. A volume of air in and near the open hole (in this case, the sunroof) vibrates because of the 'springiness' of the air inside.

I relieve the sound by cracking one of the rear windows. You can even tune the buffeting based on how much the rear window is opened.

I think that the add on air deflector alters the flow over the sunroof just enough. It is like when you are blowing over the bottle, and varying your angle can give you varying sounds, or none.

My two cents on why you get the very heavy buffeting in the RL with the sunroof open and the windows closed...its the springy air.

 

This droning is NOT buffeting. The reason why I know this is that if you look at the wind deflector while the noise is occurring, you can see it vibrating. Put your hand on it and the vibrating stops and the noise goes away.

It's not the same as buffeting that occurs more commonly if you oonly open one window, usually a rear one, and it goes away when you open another.

Like Tampa states, mine does not occur regularly. Most of the time it isn't an issue, other times I hear it at 40mph, other times at 45 or 50 mph. As he stated, I'm betting it's due to wind conditions at the time.

 

I defer to you. I actually don't drive the RL with the sunroof open that much, especially since I bought it in December 06

 

I know, I KNOW! Next time it happens, call us from the car so we can run some tests!

If course, in order to use the HFL & voice commands, it is suggested you close the sunroof. Problem SOLVED!

I just got home & I'm seven minutes late...but HAPPY CINCO de MAYO!

 

Holmholz is the droning tha occurs when all the windows are closed and you open one of the rear ones. Its caused by trying to suck out air in an area where the airflow is turbulent.

 

Hello everyone. This post hasn't been touched for some time, maybe it's time to resurrect it as sunroof weather approaches! Note: apologies to my northern dwelling brethren, the snow will melt soon...

I have the same issue that GoHawks described, the wind deflector on the front of the sunroof vibrates when driving 50+ with the roof is open and the windows closed. You can crack a rear window or put your hand on the deflector to make it stop, but both are lousy solutions in my mind. I had my car in for its A1 service this week and they said they adjusted it, but there has been no improvement at all.

I'm wondering if this is a design flaw that others simply live with or if there is an adjustment that can be made. To try in your RL, simply drive with the roof open and the windows closed. Depending on wind direction, mine kicks in at 50 to 65 MPH.

Any suggestions appreciated, I'll report back from the dealer if they provide a solution when I return the car this week.

 

i have the same exact issue. the vibration is caused by wind pushing down on the deflector against it own dampaning system. Put your hand on it and it stops. I went ahead and got a factory add-on wind deflector and it takes care of the vibration issue, it makes use of the moonroof to be very pleasant, but it deters from the look of the car...it also adds a very slight amount of wind noise when the moonroof is closed....one final result is the normal closed moonroof upward view is obstructed and takes away from the car.

My compromise, Install and use the moonroof visor 8 months of the year and remove and stow 4 months of the year.

 

just to add it a point, it may not be the deflector. The deflector to my knowledge causes air to come into the cabin. Well the RL and TL-S have the active noise cancellation feature, and when wind rushes past the mics, it causes havoc with noise.

 

Thanks for the replies.

It's definitely a vibration, you can see the deflector vibrating & feel it when you put your hand on it.

I'm in agreement regarding the factory wind deflector deterring from the look of the car, I'd rather compromise by cracking the rear windows. The issue seems like a defect to me, but I'm not going to get bent out of shape about it. The car scores too many other points for excellent design to make too big of an issue out of this one.

I need to bring the car back to the dealer & will report back if they offer another solution to consider.

 

I promised an update on my 2nd trip to the dealer here in Austin. They were able to adjust the tension of the deflector and the vibration seems to have disappeared!

It doesn't seem like a very common problem, but hope this information may help someone in the future.

Safe driving, everyone.

 

Do you know how they adjusted it?

 

Per the service sheet, they "tightened fit OPF slide door and headliner". Hope this helps you.

 

Thanks, when I get my car back (Door handle replacement) I'll have to look again.