Targa making lot of windnoise on high speed

[rsevo6]

I have my 2nd NSX Targa now and it is very annoying that I feel too scared to try out top speed

Reason: on both Targa's when reaching about 200 KM/h the roof/side windows start making a lot of windnoise like the roof is lifting and side windows not sealing anymore.
When reaching 250 KM/h the noise is getting so loud that it sounds like the roof is at the point of tearing off.
For this reason, I haven't dared to try out top speed yet.

As this is happening on both Targa's (one only has 22K mls on it) I don't feel anything is wrong, the roof is a perfect fit, windows are well aligned with the seals, pressing firmly against the seals.

Is this just a Targa related thing?
Would it be dangerous to just ignore the very loud windnoise (makes me feel really uncomfortable about the roof) and speed up anyways??
Do other Targa owners experience the same on high speed, is there a remidy??

 

[nsxotic911]

For the most part, this a natural consequence of Targas in the NSXs. NSX's, especially NSX-T's and Honda vehicles in general are not as well known for high-speed noise and even stability than say German cars.

Due to the design, and with use and age, the seals will lose effectiveness. Shin-tzu crease helps, so does some tricks like using wax-paper (do a serach)

Your roof is is not going to fly off unless the "clamps," or clips, or whatever it's called is not fully secure or latch is broken/innefective. Inspect the latch, make sure it's not on the red zone and look between the targa and chasis to see the targa clamped down.

If it's really bad, your seals might be bad completely. I'd put some grease on and live with it personally.

 

[rsevo6]

Thank you for your reply.

The seals look and feel in as-new condition.

Only thing to do may be applying this "Shin-tzu grease", to see if it makes any difference. Haven't got a clue however where to get it from here in Europe, must start asking around with dealers etc.....:frown:

According to topspeed remarks here on Prime, my CTSC car may be able to reach the 300KM/h mark..

Any one else advice on the Targa noise issue??

 

[ExCfive]

Ok...I have not had my car to 300km....but have had it well into the triple digits and this noise was not an issue with me....certainly not loud enough for me to think the top was going to rip of!! In my previous car (vette) when you reached 130 the windows would litterally be pulled about an inch out at the top seals....that made some noise and would scare you..but not enough to stop you from bringing it up to 160ish....:wink:

 

[jond]

Only thing to do may be applying this "Shin-tzu grease", to see if it makes any difference. Haven't got a clue however where to get it from here in Europe, must start asking around with dealers etc.....:frown:

Any one else advice on the Targa noise issue??

I think I made a post like this when I first got my NSX. Every time I took it over 120mph or so it sounded like the roof was going to rip off.

The grease you mentioned helped a LOT. I'm not going to say how fast I've had it since, but 'pretty fast', and it doesn't sound bad anymore.

I bought mine from the dealer. They had to special order it.

 

[L8apex32]

My 1992 hard top makes the same sounds. About 120 the wind over the roof gets loud. About 130 the windows start to suck out and that makes even more noise. Its not a targa-only thing.

I've had my car much faster than this and nothing "let go". It just makes lots of noise. I don't drive that fast often so I can put up with it easily.

On the track, they require the windows being down so there is no special roof or window noise. Plus, on closed circuits, we can't get going too fast anyway.

 

[swerve2007]

does anyone know if there is a 'targa rebuild kit' available (all the rubber parts)?

 

[docjohn]

most of your roar at speed is your windows lifting away from the rubber seals,not the roof moving(if the latch system is working).Search on the many threads related to this.See if adjusting the angle of your windows helps before you go messing with the roof.

 

[rsevo6]

most of your roar at speed is your windows lifting away from the rubber seals,not the roof moving(if the latch system is working).Search on the many threads related to this.See if adjusting the angle of your windows helps before you go messing with the roof.

I have the workshop manual and have done the window adjustment on my old Targa as the windows were misaligned. The result was that the noise started at about 20 Km/h higher speed than before adjustments were made.
(before at 180 Km/h, after alignment at about 200 Km/h)
On my new Targa, the fit of windows to seals to roof are a perfect fit, so no gain to be had there with adjusting..

 

[brandonsan]

On another note DO NOT close the doors by pushing on the glass !!! I have noticed a lot of people do this and it knocks the glass out of alignment. Always close the doors by pushing on the door itself.

 

[rsevo6]

To my surprise, the Honda dealer was able to order the "Shin-tzu grease", delivery due 2nd week of may.
Will see if it does arrive and if it will work "wonders" on my seals
Still, any other advise appreciated:wink:

 

[Ski_Banker]

To my surprise, the Honda dealer was able to order the "Shin-tzu grease", delivery due 2nd week of may.
Will see if it does arrive and if it will work "wonders" on my seals
Still, any other advise appreciated:wink:

Hope you're paying USD and not Euro! :tongue: I have some at home and it's pretty much a silicone grease. Nothing special, but it does keep the targa seals nice n moist. :wink:

 

[nsxtasy]

rsevo6 hit the nail on the head. I had the exact same problem on my '91 NSX Coupe. The dealer adjusted the door glass according to the "door glass adjustment" procedure in the body section of the service manual, and it was cured.

 

[nsxvtecvtec]

a few weeks ago, i picked one of my friends who really wanan feel how nsx is.
tried 130 miles/hr. i was focusing on the speed anyway, didn't pay attention on anyelse. after we pull off highway, he told me that there is wind noise during high speed. it happens on my car too. but i dont feel the top is gonna fly out.ha

 

[chaffeer]

At higher speeds the pressure difference between the inside the car and the outside of car causes the cabin to expand, breaking the seal around the door/windows. I helped Toyota test some of their vehicles a few years ago to determine the amount of expansion. Once the amount of expansion is known at different speeds, seals can be designed to keep interiors super quiet. I used to have a VW Touareg that was very quiet inside at 80/90 mph.

 

[rsevo6]

At higher speeds the pressure difference between the inside the car and the outside of car causes the cabin to expand, breaking the seal around the door/windows. I helped Toyota test some of their vehicles a few years ago to determine the amount of expansion. Once the amount of expansion is known at different speeds, seals can be designed to keep interiors super quiet. I used to have a VW Touareg that was very quiet inside at 80/90 mph.

Had thought of this too (pressure build-up inside the cabin by driving air beeing pushed inside through vent system). Have tried to minimise the pressure inside the cabin by putting vent on recirculation (figuering this would lessen the air beeing pushed into the cabin by the vent system) this didn't make any difference

 

[greenberet]

At higher speeds the pressure difference between the inside the car and the outside of car causes the cabin to expand, breaking the seal around the door/windows. I helped Toyota test some of their vehicles a few years ago to determine the amount of expansion. Once the amount of expansion is known at different speeds, seals can be designed to keep interiors super quiet. I used to have a VW Touareg that was very quiet inside at 80/90 mph.

I hadn't heard about this, but I guess it could happen if the air can't exit the cabin fast enough through the ports that are designed for that purpose (in an NSX the cabin air exhausts through ports in the bases of the B-pillars, underneath the rocker panels). Putting the climate control on recirculate as rsevo6 did should stop a pressure buildup, though.

One thing that happens regardless of the climate control settings is that the air flowing over the A-pillars on the outside of the car creates a suction at the front edge of the side windows. The faster you drive, the greater the suction pulling the front edge of the windows out. If the windows aren't adjusted to spec or if the seals are tired, the window can actually get pulled away from the seal above a certain speed, creating a loud noise.