Anyone ever notice their Tesla making a high pitched noise when going at a high speed? I usually get this sound at 80+ today and since I don’t often go this fast it never really bothered me and I treat it like a warning sound that I am going too fast anyway - but I would like to know what it is or if it can be fixed.
I figured out this problem, at least for me.
My 2021 Model S makes a high pitch whistling sound around 80 MPH when it is cold outside. On some days it is so loud it drowns out the music even when the volume is up at 9. I called Tesla about this and they said they cannot not verify the problem, because they aren't allowed to speed.
So during a trip down the coast a few days ago, I brought a roll of painters tape with me. I figured since it only happens at high speeds on cold days, it must be a window sealant that is retracting when it is cold, leaving an air gap. I pulled over on safe areas of the highway and started taping different zones of the windshield, and then getting back up to speed. I started with the top of the windshield, about 18 inches at a time. It took about 10 stops, but I finally found it.
The whistling at high speeds for me is caused by a gap in the sealant at the bottom center of the windshield, When I taped over the bottom of the windshield gap, to the plastic trim in front of it, the whistling vanished. I drove another 6 hours that day and no whistling.
Now I have to replace the painters tape with something less visible. It's under the hood, so you only see it when the car is parked, but still...
I have to see if Tesla is willing to reseat my windshield now. I'm betting they are going to tell me no. We'll see.