All Cars, All the Time

2004 Honda Odyssey Whistling Noise


Whenever I have a problem with one of my cars, I like to post the solution here just in case it might help someone else.

Our Odyssey started a whistling noise whenever there was a strong crosswind. The noise sounded like it came from the passenger’s side of the windshield. I took it to the dealer, but they couldn’t replicate the noise and told us to bring it back when it was actually happening. We brought the van back in on a windy day and the technician who rode along heard the noise. The tech said that he was going to order a molding that goes around the windshield and a replacement windshield incase they break the original when working on the car. Honda sent us on our way and called us a couple of weeks later when the parts arrived. We dropped the van off early in the morning and got a call at the end of the day: “Sorry, we couldn’t replicate the noise. We can’t replace the parts of we can’t hear it.” I was shocked because the tech had heard the noise before and ordered the parts, now a different tech couldn’t make it happen so he didn’t want to “Throw parts at the problem and they didn’t want to replace the windshield if they didn’t have to because it’s never the same as the factory after they replace it.” I thought that last bit was a nice touch and highly confidence inspiring. I told them tech that the noise wasn’t happening because it was a windy day, but all I got was a blank stare and a repeat “If I can’t hear the noise, I can’t replace the part.”

Honda kept the van an extra day and then adjusted the right door and applied adhesive to the windshield molding. We were told to drive the van and see if the noise still happened. Sure enough, the noise came back. Another test drive and more mechanics came for the ride. After hearing the noise, the technician pulled over and applied tape to the gasket/molding on the top of the windshield. The noise went away. While the other mechanic drove, the tech leaned out the window and pulled the tape off and the noise came back. This time the all agreed that the molding had to go. Back in the shop they cracked the windshield and had to replace it as well as the molding.

We just got the van back, but so far there is no noise. I’m told that the whistling noise is common on new body style ‘05/’06 models, but far more rare on the ‘04’s. Just my luck! I’ll update this article if the noise reappears or if I suddenly now have water leaks because “The windshield’s never the same as when the factory installs it.”