That Open Window? Whistle

[geo13647]

Hi all,

my car was in the dealers for a duff battery- see 'Battery was discharged!' Thread in the hybrid forum.

When I was talking to the service manager, we got to discussing the 'Open Window' issue,

where there is the whistling sound just exactly like the driver's window is open a crack.

This seems to happen around 60mph, and is more noticeable on a windy day.

He found out after about 4 weeks of trial & error, that it is due to the radio antenna.

The Auris in the Uk is fitted with DAB, so the antenna is quite long, and is helical wound,

With a loading coil about 2cm from the top. This resonates quite nicely, making a whistling sound,

At certain speeds & under certain conditions sounds exactly like the drivers window is open a crack.

Gave me a loan of a short antenna to try it for myself.

So if you are getting that annoying whistle, try removing the antenna whip, it just unscrews.

Interested in your findings.

Regards,

G...

[Ratho1]

Great tip.

I have had my XL for a week and found that when travelling at speeds greater than 50 m.p.h. there is a whistling sound which increases with speed, very annoying. Removing the aerial removes the whistle. However it also removes reception from the radio when in a built up area.I wonder if the dealer has a shorter alternative as an exchange ? I am surprised to find such an obvious design fault in a modern car.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Usually cars fitted with DAB have a separate, additional aerial specifically for the DAB transmissions - and quite often DAB aerial elements are built into one of the side windows.

Helically wound aerial masts aren't new and were also fitted to the last model Corolla (my 2006 Corolla had one as standard) and the first pre-facelift first generation Auris (my 2009 Auris had one) - neither of which had DAB. Our 2012 Hyundai i20 has a helically wound aerial as well - again no DAB.

DAB is standard on the Icon upwards on the 2013 Auris.

As regards shorter aerial masts, the aerial mast fitted to the 2010-2012 Auris is a shorter rubber aerial.

See: http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/topic/148814-rav-44-roof-aerial/?hl=%2Bshorter+%2Baerial#entry1277090

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/topic/149626-shorter-antenna-for-verso/?hl=%2Bshorter+%2Baerial#entry1280755

[Ratho1]

I doubt if there is a DAB aerial built into the side windows on this car. If that were true would reception still be affected when the roof aerial is removed ?

[FROSTYBALLS]

The term used was 'quite often'.

[Parts-King]

I doubt if there is a DAB aerial built into the side windows on this car. If that were true would reception still be affected when the roof aerial is removed ?

IF your car has DAB, the aerial for it is a short strip stuck on the windscreen, the aerial part runs down the A piller and into the back of the set

Removing the roof aerial will of course cause reception issues

The Yaris has a nice short aerial, perhaps your dealer could arrange for you to try one on your car, worth asking?

Kingo

[Ratho1]

Not meaning to be critical there FROSTY, just trying to be logical as SPOCK used to say.

Had a look at the windscreen Kingo but can't see any aerial. If it is there it must be well hidden.I'll try the Yaris tip though. Thanks for that.

Frank