Bees on the roof?

RodC · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 3087 Location: Los Angeles, CA

My tC decided to start making a new noise today, while I was driving on the freeway. I took the onramp, and as I started to get up to speed there was this buzzing sound coming from the roof. It just started randomly, but after it started, it never stopped until I reached my destination and slowed down.

The noise happens at 70mph and over. The buzz gets more high-pitched as the speed of travel increases. I took it up to 90mph for lulz and the buzz turned into a really high-pitched whine.

There is obviously something catching in the wind, but I wondered if anyone else has experienced this first-hand. My first guess would be the rubber seal at the top of the windshield, where it meets the wind deflector. Upon visual inspection, everything seems fine. However, I wonder if this part is lifting up at speed. I have heard about the rubber strip peeling off at one end and slapping against the roof, even causing glass breakage in some cases. I don't want to see this happen, but I cannot be sure of the source of the noise. It could also be the sunroof itself, but it doesn't seem to be loose in any way.

So... loud high-pitched buzzing from the roof... anyone else? :doh:

sciontc_mich · Posted: 9/3/08 10:30PM Post subject:

hey rodC 8)

try re-initializing the sunroof, by unplugging the negative cable from the battery, waiting a couple minutes then re-connecting it. Then go ahead, re-initialize the doors and the sunroof. I've heard that it can take up slack in the cabling for the sunroof motor. Sometimes it's lack of tension in the cabling, and it causes the sunroof assembly to lift up at highway speed.

Also, have you silicone sprayed your seals? Over time the rubber seals dry out and could be vibrating in the wind just like you do as a kid when you put your tongue out and blow. bbbzzzzz.. seriously. :)

if you try all that and it doesn't stop the noise. Then try this. Get some blue or black painters tape, and with the sunroof closed, tape the front sunroof molding so that you do not have the gap behind the molding where it meets the sunroof deflector at the front of the deflector, top of the windshield. Might be that molding lifting up at highway speeds, taping it down will help you target that area. I had this happen before on another car, and that's how I was able to find it. Hope that helps :)

RodC · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 3087 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks for the suggestions. I never would have thought of taping the seal down to target the problem. I guess that strategy depends on the problem being easily recreatable. So far, I have only made one journey since this started happening. If it happens again tomorrow then I will try the tape method for sure.

Also, thanks for reminding me to get some silicone spray. I made a post two weeks ago about how I was dumb enough to let my hatch fuse with the rubber seal, causing the entire seal to rip off when I opened the hatch after months of dormancy. It's definitely time to spray all my rubber seals. I'll give that a shot.

sciontc_mich · Posted: 9/3/08 10:43PM Post subject:

hey no problem rodC! yeah it's always those DOH! moments that are the ones we always miss. lol

but thanks by giving you advice I just remembered I have to silicone all the seals too. okay keep us posted :)

jovan_gonzales · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 433 Location: 903 and the 979

Yep. Mine did the same exact thing like a month ago and man was it annoying! Anyways seemed like an easy enough fix. Just reinitialize the sunroof motor like sciontc_mich already said! That's what fixed it for me!

You should get out of the car and stand on the side of it and see if there's a little crack between the glass and the rubber, mine was slightly higher on the right side and didn't sit flush like the rest of the glass so air from the cabin was able to rush out - causing that horrible whistling sound, lol.

Hope you get it fixed!

RodC · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 3087 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Nice, thanks for the confirmation. Now I am confident this will probably fix the problem. It's been about a year since the last time I did a re-initialization, so it was probably overdue anyway.

RodC · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 3087 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Just as an FYI, I just read that sunroof re-initialization can be accomplished by holding down the "close" part of the sunroof switch for 15 seconds. That would save having to disconnect the battery and reset the windows, if true. I'll try it tomorrow.

Joes06tC · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 3411 Location: San Diego, CA

I had the same thing happen to me twice but it was just the rubber seal. If I hadn't stopped the second time I'm pretty sure it would've flown off.

And my friend's just outright flew off...

Just tap down on the rubber seal and I think you should be good. It needs to kind of "snap" in.

ScionJim23 · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 817 Location: Upstate New York

easy = unplug negative cable from battery, then let sit, then hook back up. this fixed my sunroof noises.

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8127 Location: Minneapolis, MN

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=192770

:) A few things to try with roof noises.