My Prius makes a very strange sound when one rear window is down

BoosPrius · 04-19-2006, 10:23 AM

It is really bizarre and hard to explain. I have never heard anything like it before. And the window has to be down more than just a few inches. The car starts to feel like it is vibrating more and more, and my ears start to pop. But if I lower only a front window instead, it doesn't happen. Does anyone else's Prius do this?

Gary
2006 Prius

Trevor · 04-19-2006, 10:46 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BayouBulldog @ Apr 19 2006, 10:23 AM) [snapback]242045[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

It is really bizarre and hard to explain. I have never heard anything like it before. And the window has to be down more than just a few inches. The car starts to feel like it is vibrating more and more, and my ears start to pop. But if I lower only a front window instead, it doesn't happen. Does anyone else's Prius do this?

Gary
2006 Prius
[/b]

I have not done this in the Prius, because I don't usually have occasion to drive with the back windows open, but it did happen to me once in my last car - 1988 Nissan Stanza. I had a passenger in the back seat who gets warm easily and he opened the back window about half way in the middle of winter. I started to hear a loud howling noise that sounded like I was driving on a grooved road surface and my ears started to pop. I made him close the window and it stopped.

I just did a quick search and found that someone who tried to sue for the damages caused by noise caused by an open windows in a Land Rover. http://www.lemonlawclaims.com/2002%20Land%...20decisions.htm

unruhly · 04-19-2006, 11:08 AM

There have been other threads about this phenomenon. If you think it's weird with one window down a bit, try 'em both down and cruise about 48 MPH. You will feel the vibes all the way through your body as if your whole car were a massive subwoofer.

As soon as you crack open the front windows, it goes away.

BoosPrius · 04-19-2006, 11:16 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Trevor @ Apr 19 2006, 09:46 AM) [snapback]242055[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have not done this in the Prius, because I don't usually have occasion to drive with the back windows open, but it did happen to me once in my last car - 1988 Nissan Stanza. I had a passenger in the back seat who gets warm easily and he opened the back window about half way in the middle of winter. I started to hear a loud howling noise that sounded like I was driving on a grooved road surface and my ears started to pop. I made him close the window and it stopped.

I just did a quick search and found that someone who tried to sue for the damages caused by noise caused by an open windows in a Land Rover. http://www.lemonlawclaims.com/2002%20Land%...20decisions.htm
[/b]

That's a pretty good description of what it sounds like. It's so odd that the noise completely goes away when a front window is lowered. I wonder if it's just the wind buffeting the rear seat area and causing some kind of change in the air pressure. It's a very unpleasant sensation, almost painful. Fortunately, I don't often have the rear windows down, but it must be unbearable for a back seat passenger who wants to put them down when the temp outside is pleasant.

Thanx for the replies.

Gary
2006 Prius

RonH · 04-19-2006, 11:20 AM

The interior of the car is resonating. Not unlike blowing across the top of a bottle. Its pretty specific to the car geometry. My wife's highlander does it when the moonroof is open. I've had other cars do it with the rear windows as well. I believe the ear popping is due to a lowering of air pressure by standing waves in the car. If I remember, I'll take along a barometer next time out and see if I can measure it.

DaveinOlyWA · 04-19-2006, 11:20 AM

ya this has happened on a few cars i have owned. what i do is crack front and back on same side a ½ inch or so. with two windows open you get much better circulation anyway so opening the windows wider is not necessary.

etyler88 · 04-19-2006, 11:37 AM

There is nothing wrong with the car. It is just aerodynamics at work. I have been in many cars that do it, Olds, Volvo, Honda etc. I suppose it is possible for the manufacturer to prevent the problem by doing special wind tunnel testing or something but the Prius is a Toyota not a Lexus. Just keep adjusting the windows till you find a sweet spot.

Cosmo · 04-19-2006, 12:05 PM

If I roll my front drivers side window down all the way, all I have to do is just crack open the rear window less then an inch and it goes away.

I've had few cars in the past that have had this same phenomenon. Technically, I'm not quite sue it is properly described as resonance.

Peace,
Cosmo

K5VMI · 04-19-2006, 12:31 PM

This is harmonics set up by opening the window. You can compare it to the noise made when blowing across the top of a soft drink bottle. Opening another window changes the physical characteristics, and thus the equilibrium conditions making the low level harmonics favorable. This also happens in other cars as well, like my old VW Jetta.

Red Ginger · 04-20-2006, 06:13 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(K5VMI @ Apr 19 2006, 06:31 AM) [snapback]242114[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

This is harmonics set up by opening the window. You can compare it to the noise made when blowing across the top of a soft drink bottle. Opening another window changes the physical characteristics, and thus the equilibrium conditions making the low level harmonics favorable. This also happens in other cars as well, like my old VW Jetta.
[/b]

My '97 Jetta, too.

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04-19-2006, 10:23 AM	#1
BoosPrius Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 109 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It is really bizarre and hard to explain. I have never heard anything like it before. And the window has to be down more than just a few inches. The car starts to feel like it is vibrating more and more, and my ears start to pop. But if I lower only a front window instead, it doesn't happen. Does anyone else's Prius do this? Gary 2006 Prius

04-19-2006, 11:08 AM	#3
unruhly Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 205 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	There have been other threads about this phenomenon. If you think it's weird with one window down a bit, try 'em both down and cruise about 48 MPH. You will feel the vibes all the way through your body as if your whole car were a massive subwoofer. As soon as you crack open the front windows, it goes away.

04-19-2006, 11:20 AM	#5
RonH Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 512 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The interior of the car is resonating. Not unlike blowing across the top of a bottle. Its pretty specific to the car geometry. My wife's highlander does it when the moonroof is open. I've had other cars do it with the rear windows as well. I believe the ear popping is due to a lowering of air pressure by standing waves in the car. If I remember, I'll take along a barometer next time out and see if I can measure it.

04-19-2006, 11:20 AM	#6
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,676 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	ya this has happened on a few cars i have owned. what i do is crack front and back on same side a ½ inch or so. with two windows open you get much better circulation anyway so opening the windows wider is not necessary.

04-19-2006, 11:37 AM	#7
etyler88 etyler88 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 449 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	There is nothing wrong with the car. It is just aerodynamics at work. I have been in many cars that do it, Olds, Volvo, Honda etc. I suppose it is possible for the manufacturer to prevent the problem by doing special wind tunnel testing or something but the Prius is a Toyota not a Lexus. Just keep adjusting the windows till you find a sweet spot.

04-19-2006, 12:05 PM	#8
Cosmo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 78 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	If I roll my front drivers side window down all the way, all I have to do is just crack open the rear window less then an inch and it goes away. I've had few cars in the past that have had this same phenomenon. Technically, I'm not quite sue it is properly described as resonance. Peace, Cosmo

04-19-2006, 12:31 PM	#9
K5VMI Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 56 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	This is harmonics set up by opening the window. You can compare it to the noise made when blowing across the top of a soft drink bottle. Opening another window changes the physical characteristics, and thus the equilibrium conditions making the low level harmonics favorable. This also happens in other cars as well, like my old VW Jetta.