Hi,

 

When driving along and some/all of the windows open then it creates a air vibration in the car that just pounds the ears to the point you just't can't have the windows open. I have never had this in any other car. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

Skoda Elegance 1.4TDI '15 plate.

 

Thanks

 

Matt

Edited 11 March, 20179 yr by Matthew48

I honestly thought this happened to all cars. I remember it happening when in my parents cars some 20+ years ago. 

I've never noticed it in any other cars, perhaps I haven't been in so many! It's almost like being buffeted in the ears by speaker vibration. Really bad, I just can't let the kids open their windows, its unbearable.

Quite common. 

It is caused by the draft from the open windows increasing the air pressure in the rear of the car.

 

 

 

Thanks. Thought it was a Skoda issue, clearly not then.

Range rovers , freelanders( probably the worst) e class mercs all do it in my experience surely that's why we have air con - keep them shut except to pay the car wash man 

Seconded. All the cars I've owned/driven in the last 45 odd years have done that. That's why those who drive around with open windows fit those little plastic visors on the side windows. Front quarter lights were the quietest source of ventilation (and theft) though in olden times.  Me, I think aircon is great and keep my windows shut.

Had a golf before the octavia and the kids loved winding the missus up by opening the back window and making the sound of a chinook taking off

I get a bit of buffeting from the rear bootlid even with the windows up, as documented at

 

 

Before it went a bit off topic. I was wondering if there was a rear vent that was blocked/stuck, someone suggested under the rear bumper, I'll try and get a look today. Could help with your open window issue.

Yes happens in most cars - especially with the rear windows open past a certain point,can usually get away with a small opening ok,but after that it gets uncomfortable LOL

I find opening the window diagonally opposite sorts it, e.g. front passenger window and rear drivers side.

I thought it was all cars and i thought it was the car acting as a Helmholtz resonator  https://people.seas.harvard.edu/~jones/cscie129/nu_lectures/lecture3 /ho_helmholtz/ho_helmholtz.html  its the same effect as blowing over a bottle opening and getting a note.   I find opem a second window and it stops, although i usually just use the air conditioning.

Diagonally opposite windows open works for me too especially at urban speeds.

 

i was never aware of buffeting on old Leyland cars since they possessed little or no aerodynamics.

New more 'slippery' cars all get it to a greater or lesser degree.

I thought the Princess was an aerodynamic design?

It possibly was but I never drove one.

I meant the earlier generation of Mini, Maxi, 1100 and 1800.

the external welded seams on the Mini in particular added about 40 sq in of drag and must of deflected the wind away from the windows.

1 hour ago, gregoir said:

That's why those who drive around with open windows fit those little plastic visors on the side windows.

 

Sorry gregoir, but not in my case and I suspect not in most other peoples cases either.

 

They may be called wind deflectors, but I suspect a huge amount of folk have purchased them simply to add to the looks of their cars.

 

 I suspect a good number of others have purchased so that they can have their windows open a little, even whilst it is raining, without rain getting in. (becoming common in taxi's nowadays).

This similarly helps prevent the windows getting steamed up inside, especially if your air con doesn't work and / or you have a dog.

This is the reason as to why I purchased mine.

 

If people have purchased them for the reason you think as above - then they have wasted their money as they do not overcome this problem.

This issue does seem way worse on my estate than on the A4 (saloon).

 

I used to have a Honda Accord 1.8 3 door 1986 - a quite unusual 3 door fastback style, (I never saw another of these in my life) which had rear windows in the similar style of quarter lights as gregoir mentions, which just opened like a flap, at the rear (hinged at the front edge).

 

This made driving with the windows fully open a pleasure. Also had a sunroof too and no noise issues so long as the rears were flipped open.

 

Just looked on wiki - it would be second gen hatchback probably 1985 but defo 'C' reg. If you see the one with the brown interior, that was my interior (albeit a manual - 5 speed) 5hitty brown, but not a bad motor at all. Happy Days .

 

You can see the windows as mentioned.

Edited 11 March, 20179 yr by Tilt

3 hours ago, Tilt said:

 

Sorry gregoir, but not in my case and I suspect not in most other peoples cases either.

 

They may be called wind deflectors, but I suspect a huge amount of folk have purchased them simply to add to the looks of their cars.

 

 I suspect a good number of others have purchased so that they can have their windows open a little, even whilst it is raining, without rain getting in. (becoming common in taxi's nowadays).

This similarly helps prevent the windows getting steamed up inside, especially if your air con doesn't work and / or you have a dog.

This is the reason as to why I purchased mine.

 

If people have purchased them for the reason you think as above - then they have wasted their money as they do not overcome this problem.

Ok. I've been in a Skoda taxi with those deflectors fitted and the lack of noise was noticeable. I assumed wrongly then. Adding to the looks? Err no imho.

Edited 11 March, 20179 yr by gregoir