2000 outback - strange noise

[japer2]

Hi,

I'm considering buying a 2000 Outback wagon with 52,000 miles from a private seller. While driving to and from the mechanic and during the mechanic's test drive, a high pitched noise varying in length from a very brief "peep" to a 2-3 second "mrrr" could be heard coming from right front, upper corner(?) of passenger side. (Mechanic described the sound like someone blowing into their hand while humming in a high pitch.) The noise was loud enough to stop conversation and could be heard over the sound of the CD player at moderate volume (by the way sound was heard both with CD player on, and CD/cassette/radio completely off).


Specifically, at 60 mph on a windy September day, heard the sound 3 times driving one hour to the mechanic and 1 time driving one hour back from the mechanic.

In between while at the mechanic, one mechanic test drove it for only about 3 miles and heard noise 3 times. Puzzled, he asked second mechanic to test drive car for the same 3 miles and second mechanic heard it 2 times.

Mechanics don't know what the cause is (the car was otherwise found to be in good condition). They speculated wind in the roof rack or wind going under the edge of the rubber seal around the windshield (but it looks nice and solid). They really don't know.

Didn't get much of a chance to talk about owner about it, but he did acknowledge that he has heard noise on occasion and says he doesn't know what it is.

No idea if this is wind related or not or why it occurred more frequently in the shorter time the mechanics were driving the car.

Any ideas? Anybody have the same problem? Should this be a concern in my decision to buy the car? Is the car haunted?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[sha_zapple]

I think my 98 Legacy makes that sound sometimes. But only for half a second. It only seems to happen when I use the blinker.

[hwgates]

I have the same noise in my Outback. It is a terrible hissing noise that comes from the dash on the driver's side and sometimes the passenger side. It definitely is worse when it is windy outside and i am driving at high speeds. I recently drove across texas and it made the noise for a good hour straight. If anyone knows how to fix this please email me!!!
It is very very annoying!

hwgates@olemiss.edu

[chutchin]

Usually if I can't fix it, I try QuikMechanic at:
http://www.ineed1.com/quikmechanic.html

I used them before, and they helped alot. It's alot cheaper than going to the shop and they don't fix it, but charge me $68 or more per hour. It's just $1 anyway, so you can't go wrong.

Chutch

[brus brother]

I have the 00 Legacy GT and there are two likely culprits that I experienced.
Has the windshield ever been replaced. Mine was due to a rock hit and it doesn't take much for a little air to catch under the rubber gaskets and make that sound. It took them two tries to reseal the windshield and now that sound is gone.
The other sound that relates to other posts here is the window gussets. These are the triangular shaped areas where the mirrors are attached. What happens over time is as you manhandle the window, it imperceptibly flexes this metal and you get the wind noise at speeds. I discovered under warranty that SOA had redeveloped this part ($60 plus installation) and the noise is gone. Going forward, the tech advised me never grab the door by the glass and be careful getting into the car in tight spots not to lean too hard on the glass. Other suggestion as a cheap fix is, lower the window completely and slightly pinch the top point of the triangle. This will compress this metal and add tension to the rubber that presses against the window. Over time, it might come back if the metal flexes again.