Whistling noise in 1986 Dodge Ram 250

[BobFreeman]

My 1986 Dodge Ram 250 makes a strange whistling noise at 120 Kms - a frustrated mechanic spent all day on it and concluded that it was wind related not mechanical or electrical and he claimed the dash had been removed previously - probably someone looking for the same problem. Below this speed it doesn't seem to happen at all. Has anyone had this problem with this type of van?

[frankendart]

Does the noise sound as though it's coming from under the dash or around the front door area?
I had a 86 for 10 years, and I had a number of issues with wind noise. The results were:
1. The radio antenna. To correct this, I replaced it with one from a newer van. My antenna had a smooth surface, the replacement had a slight spiral along the shaft. It broke the movement of the wind, and stopped the whistle from the antenna.
2. Vent window on pass side was not sealing completely. I placed a dime in the latch mechenism and it pulled the glass tight enough against the rubber weather strip to stop the wind noise.
3. Dried leaves that had gotten down into the cowl vent. At about 60mph they would start to rustle and make a whistle sound. I cleaned everything out and the noise stopped.
4. Drivers side wind wind noise. I found that the felt channel at the top of the drivers side door glass had somehow moved slightly toward the lock edge of the door. This opened a small gap at the top of the door where the door glass seals to the door. On the interstate it sounded like a wind tunnel! To correct it, I lowered the window, removed the felt channel from the top of the glass opening, and then applied a light coat of rubber cement to the runner at the top of the door. Reinstalled the rubber/felt channel, and the noise disappeared.
5. Wind noise from under dash at drivers side. It turned out to be the manual vent at the drivers side front kick panel. The slide was not sealing the vent closed and created wind noise. I disassembled it and found pieces of dried leaves and pine straw stuck in there. Cleaned it out and noise was gone.

Understand that sometimes it took weeks to track this stuff down. But it always turned out to be something very minor. There are a lot of body plugs in the firewall of an 86 van. If thtere is a hole in one of them, it could make noise, too. Also, if the seal around the engine cover has gone bad, or if the cover isn't seated correctly you will get wind noise.
Also check the plastic inserts in the floor of the van where the engine cover screws go. If they are dried out, chances are the cover isn't sealing tightly enough.

Hope some of this helps.