One More Down .....
 

Well, I'm still chasing down issues/problems with my 2 new 2011 HHR's and heres another one Down.

I know some will think I took the hard way to fix this but hear me thru.

First .. The problem.

Wind Noises .. on both HHR's, and both sound approx. the same.
That tells me it's not just some single fluke on 1 car.

2 or 3 different sounds at different speeds and conditions.

I thought I would give it a Go before letting the Chevy mechanics go nuts trying to figure these noises out.

SO as I go sluething, I decided to use a simple tool/method to help eliminate each suspect area 1 at a time.

The Tool ???

3" Duct Tape !!!

I have taped closed most every thing that is a possible at the front .. 1 place at a time, to see if it changes the sound.

First culprit ... The AM Radio antenna on the top.
Starts whistling and making other sounds at 15 mph and gets worse at 50/60 mph. It sits right on top of your head when driving so you hear it.
My solution was to test it by wrapping it 5" up from the base with black electricion tape to see it affected/altered the noise.
That stopped it completely.
The final fix was to replace the electical tape with Black sail rigging tape that will last a long time and welds itself together.

Job Done and you cannot even tell it has been changed by looking at it.
No change in Reception as far as I can tell.

The other possible fix of using a stubby antenna was out for me as I did'nt want to give up any possible loss of the reception.
I live in a weak signal area for many stations.

Now I am onto the rest of the wind noises.

Hope I don't run out of tape......

SF

SF-

Very interesting, surprised no water leak at the antenna base..

Thanks for posting your findings.. :thumb:

No signs of any leaks, but I did just unscrew the antenna from the base to do the wraps as it is much easier to work on it.
Also put a dab of dielectric grease on the threads when I reinstalled it into the base. Just hand tightened firmly.
Also I wrapped the whole antenna with the sail tape.

Cool, I'll have to keep this in mind, should mine get windy also.. :twothumbs:

Well, the standard antenna is fairly long and it is spiral wrapped. Mine were both slightly deformed meaning they had a "bend/set" and not straight. These things whip around a lot at higher speeds. There out of site so you don't see whats going on. They can get bent out of shape over time and that changes how they go against the wind.
Both of these I have had a slight bend in them which I straightened out first to see if that would help, but it didn't.
The tape wrap changed the shaped enough to stop the noise.
I did not put any tape on the base... just the antenna.

The stock antenna (also commonly referred to as "the Fishing pole")
I removed right after getting mine & adding a stubby.. :wink:

My 2011 is a quiet as a tomb at low or hi speeds ! Strange you got 2 with wind noise ! Glad it worked out for you on the 1 fix so far !

My 08 has the same antenna and no noise here.

I had some air noise in the mirrors but the TSB GM had and the dealer fixed them with no problem.

Today I am still air noise and rattle free.

If you are hunting for whistling noises...check the driver side mirror. I had a terrible whistling at speed. Problem was solved by removing the plastic chromed cover and installing 3m foam tape around the holes in the back of the mirror housing and replacing the cover. Just a thought. I'll see if I can find the thread

Edit: Found the thread with the mirror TSB
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/mirror-whistle-28159/

You really would have had the mechanics try to find your wind noise ?
That would have made some great shop talk - I'm sure.

"Now I am onto the rest of the wind noises." Maybe just layoff the beans for a while.

I have never figured wind noise a problem on any car I own, your going fast just expect it.