Hard top wind noise

[Wfd1244]

How about meeting up and comparing our jeeps and see if we can find a difference

For sure, I’ll pm you my number!

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[Wfd1244]

Here’s where I’m at today.

After getting the jeep back from service, I took the liberty of taping off every conceivable seam in and around the front windshield frame and front door seals, as well as the top freedom panels.

After crawling through the backseat, I drove it about 15 miles; I live in Kansas and it’s moderately breezy all the time, maybe 8-10mph. I got up to highway speeds, and at 65mph I was reading 69-71 for decibel levels.

I felt as if there was a reduction in the whooshing noise, but there was still noticeable wind noise from the front windshield.

I’m no mechanic, or aerodynamic engineer, and I know Jeeps are like driving a brick down the road, but I still felt as if the sound was slightly louder than it should have been.

My next plan is to begin untaping, until the full wind whooshing noise returns.

 

[WranglerMan]

That sir is a pretty extreme job of chasing the air, what are you using to measure the noise with, I am curious as I have some noise as well and just curious as to how loud it is

 

[Wfd1244]

That sir is a pretty extreme job of chasing the air, what are you using to measure the noise with, I am curious as I have some noise as well and just curious as to how loud it is

I used the DB meter on the App Store. I took a lot of cues from the JeepInformat YouTube channel. Here is his link where he compared the JK road noise to the JL.



This morning after taping off my jeep, I went back in to my local dealer, the one who had been trying to address my wind noise issue. I asked if I could go for a test drive to compare wind noise from a different JL to see what my wind noise faired in comparison.

So we hopped in a brand new stock JLU sport S and hit the road. The wind conditions and highway were the same as when I had done the earlier test with my JL.
This JL read between 71-73 db level when doing 65 down the highway. And actually sounded like worse wind noise than my jeep, in my opinion.

When you watch the jeep informat video, he actually gets dB readings in the upper 70’s at highway speeds.

So now I’m starting to question myself on my theory that these new wranglers shouldn’t be so loud. Maybe the interior of the new JL is so redefined and sound deadening that the ambient wind noise we previously didn’t notice as much in the JK, is at the forefront of the sound spectrum when riding in a new JL.

Now I plan to begin the untaping process, and see if I can notice when the wind noise becomes more prominent again and what seal is the culprit. Will update.

 

[kre62]

71db is pretty good. Even grand cherokees are like 67-69db. You won't find any car that has no wind noise, even my Range Rover Sport has it.


One thing to point out is that Jeep Informant has the regular stereo. If you get the upgraded stereo with the big screen, you not only get Acoustic laminated glass but also active noise cancellation. Add in a hard top headliner from hotheads with Sound Assassin and you'll probably be in the high 60s like a grand cherokee. If your Jl doesnt have the upgraded stereo, try one with that. If you have the stereo upgrade that would help explain the 71db you are seeing compared to his 76+db. Try the hotheads liner.

 

[mtnsurfer]

71db is pretty good. Even grand cherokees are like 67-69db. You won't find any car that has no wind noise, even my Range Rover Sport has it.

I understand there will be some wind noise. I would say mine sounds like a window that is 98-99% rolled up. Like a window that is not all the way to the top, but still above the channel a bit.

 

[WranglerMan]

Thanks for all the great info. I DL the app and will run it all the way home and see what my high is but it’s traffic in DT Houston so we will see, I do like what Jeep Informant said when he said Jeeps are not luxury cars like BMW’s and such they are built to go off road and get wet and since the doors, windows and top are all removable maybe it’s just something we have to live with. I came from a semi luxury car and it was soooo quiet so it’s a learning curve for me in my very first Wrangler, I will post up my sound readings when I get them and I also am curious to what you find in regard to seals leaking

 

[Sftdyna0326$]

I understand there will be some wind noise. I would say mine sounds like a window that is 98-99% rolled up. Like a window that is not all the way to the top, but still above the channel a bit.

Exactly

 

[Dynomite1371]

Im breaking out the echo leave blower, and have a friend hit all the seems at full blast, from all angles, while i sit inside to attempt to narrow down my cross wind door seal noise...

 

[Killed by Death]

Here’s where I’m at today.

After getting the jeep back from service, I took the liberty of taping off every conceivable seam in and around the front windshield frame and front door seals, as well as the top freedom panels.

After crawling through the backseat, I drove it about 15 miles; I live in Kansas and it’s moderately breezy all the time, maybe 8-10mph. I got up to highway speeds, and at 65mph I was reading 69-71 for decibel levels.

I felt as if there was a reduction in the whooshing noise, but there was still noticeable wind noise from the front windshield.

I’m no mechanic, or aerodynamic engineer, and I know Jeeps are like driving a brick down the road, but I still felt as if the sound was slightly louder than it should have been.

My next plan is to begin untaping, until the full wind whooshing noise returns.

Looks like you have everything taped off, maybe try removing the windshield wipers? Or taping off the vent between them?

 

[WranglerMan]

@Wfd1244 I do the app and did a few tests on my way home, coming out of DT Houston during rush hour is pretty loud with 5-6 lanes of traffic so going to do another highway check tomorrow morning when nobody is on the road

Anyway in order from top to bottom is 1. Everything off just sitting in vehicle, 2. Startup with nothing on except engine, 3. 45-50 mph on traffic heavy road and 4. Is 65 mph on medium traffic road.

This is by no means a professional test as I was just holding my phone in my right hand flat just over the shifter to try to get it close to where I here the wind noise and today I actually noticed it from both sides of the windshield so I am almost guessing it’s just in the design of the vehicle, I wonder if the windshield was fixed like a car or truck if it would be as loud, my first guess would be no.

My JLU Sahara is no Beamer or Lexus but I sure do like driving it and can’t explain why as it’s got so much less in extras compared tote other vehicles I have owned and this is my daily driver.

 

[JeepSmash]

I’ll start off by saying that those apps are not accurate especially at high volumes. I have a real DB meter that I’ll compare it to.

However as a comparison. I used that same app today. In my 2015 Durango. 70mph on the freeway I’m at 66db.

Durango’s are pretty well insulated and they have laminated glass on the front windows which cuts down noise. I’d say it’s about as quiet as you’re gonna get outside of an ultra luxury vehicle.

With my radio up where I normally set it (which is on the loud side as I’m a metal head) it’s at 77db.

I don’t have my wrangler yet but I figured I’d give ya’ll something to compare to.

 

[kre62]

@Wfd1244 I do the app and did a few tests on my way home, coming out of DT Houston during rush hour is pretty loud with 5-6 lanes of traffic so going to do another highway check tomorrow morning when nobody is on the road

Anyway in order from top to bottom is 1. Everything off just sitting in vehicle, 2. Startup with nothing on except engine, 3. 45-50 mph on traffic heavy road and 4. Is 65 mph on medium traffic road.

This is by no means a professional test as I was just holding my phone in my right hand flat just over the shifter to try to get it close to where I here the wind noise and today I actually noticed it from both sides of the windshield so I am almost guessing it’s just in the design of the vehicle, I wonder if the windshield was fixed like a car or truck if it would be as loud, my first guess would be no.

My JLU Sahara is no Beamer or Lexus but I sure do like driving it and can’t explain why as it’s got so much less in extras compared tote other vehicles I have owned and this is my daily driver.

Do you have the upgraded infotainment with acoustic glass and active noise cancellation? I bet its much quieter with that setup, maybe the 71db we heard from the other guy.

 

[WranglerMan]

Do you have the upgraded infotainment with acoustic glass and active noise cancellation? I bet its much quieter with that setup, maybe the 71db we heard from the other guy.

I do not have the upgraded sound system but do have the mopar branded panels in the top, I don’t think they do much but maybe they do, also on the app you can choose DB-A, B or C but since it’s the non paid version you only can select A so not sure if there is a difference, maybe I will DL another one for a comparison

Also found this as a reference

 

[kre62]

I do not have the upgraded sound system but do have the mopar branded panels in the top, I don’t think they do much but maybe they do, also on the app you can choose DB-A, B or C but since it’s the non paid version you only can select A so not sure if there is a difference, maybe I will DL another one for a comparison

OK, I think that is what will make the biggest difference. You get the laminated glass and noise cancellation. That and some hothead headliners with sound assassin would probably get you down to 68-69, like a grand cherokee.

So glad I ordered the upgraded radio..it really is a no brainer. You get all that plus the Alpine system and the bigger display for like 1200 bucks.

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