Tin Roof Rain noise.

[rootfan]

I signed up just to be involved in this thread. The moonroof makes no difference with this noise. I have one and have this rediculous noise. It seems worse when I am driving under trees/lines as I can only assume rain pools up and bigger drops fall and hit. It sounds like hail, BB's.. just pinging away. The phone is impossible to use when it is raining as people can't hear me.

 

[dencan]

I signed up just to be involved in this thread. The moonroof makes no difference with this noise. I have one and have this rediculous noise. It seems worse when I am driving under trees/lines as I can only assume rain pools up and bigger drops fall and hit. It sounds like hail, BB's.. just pinging away. The phone is impossible to use when it is raining as people can't hear me.

This has been my experience, too. It is not too bothersome in a rainstorm, but when a drop falls from the tree it sounds like a ping - like it is hitting a tinroof.

 

[Explorer209]

Has anyone had a problem with the rain noise on the roof I hear about in other forums?? What do you think causes it & can something be done?

Dude its a car not a sound proof room...

 

[striker310]

Explorer209-I am very aware this is a car and not a soundproof room. I am also aware it is not supposed to sound like a steel drum.

I think the real issue here is the quality of the sound versus any other vehicle I have ever owned or ridden in. It is many times worse. Everyone whom has ridden with me when this sound happens (big rain drops while car is parked or large bugs hitting the roof while underway) is amazed Ford did not do something to deaden this sound.

I think this new Explorer is an amazing vehicle in many ways. But had I known this steel drum roof was part of the new design I would have not purchased it. The sound, in my opinion, is that bad. If Ford comes up with a fix I will be very grateful. Until that time I would never recommend this vehicle.

 

[donm527]

I haven't had a chance to drive in heavy or any rain yet.

Anyone know if the Explorer uses any noise cancelling system in the vehicle?

My friend has a Honda Pilot and I didnt realize that they use an active noise cancellation system to cancel out bad vibration/sounds in the car. One of his mics in the car went bad and the car was emitting an annoying resonance. Interesting use of technology when you can't design your engines/cars to run quietly/smoothly. If the X uses it, maybe they can tune it for rain?

Wondering those that don't find it that loud what their build date is... any April builds that are experiencing this issue?

 

[beach]

Dude its a car not a sound proof room...

Then explain why a new 50k refined truck is a lot noisier in the rain then a 10 year old Explorer lol?

Sorry but this is a big mistake by Ford, having experienced how annoying it is to driven an 11' Explorer Limited in the rain myself. All the test they do, and i swear they forgot to test these trucks in the rain.

 

[boss377]

Then explain why a new 50k refined truck is a lot noisier in the rain then a 10 year old Explorer lol?

Sorry but this is a big mistake by Ford, having experienced how annoying it is to driven an 11' Explorer Limited in the rain myself. All the test they do, and i swear they forgot to test these trucks in the rain.

I think you should sell it.

 

[donm527]

or could always put a thick vinyl on the roof to help absorb the noise.

that would be sweet... an Explorer LTD Landau.

I think you should sell it.

 

[boss377]

or could always put a thick vinyl on the roof to help absorb the noise.

that would be sweet... an Explorer LTD Landau.

That would also be great for hail storms.

 

[GTMD]

MYself,I don't find it that annoying.I live in southern Ohio and we just went through the wettest April on record.It has rained most every day in May and like I said ,I am not annoyed by the Ex roof.Could it be Quieter,Yes,but so could alot of other vehicles.We have a metal roof over our deck and I enjoy setting there during rain storms and listening to Mother Nature.
Unless you are one of those poor individuals,that walks under a rain cloud his whole life,I don,t think it that big of deal.

 

[chimoman]

Yes, everyone who has rain noise should sell their Ex to me. I would pay you top dollar. Say 5 bucks. Then I will start a band in the rain. The steel drum band. I can stretch and bend the roofs to give me the different tones required. I will call my band FORD

Forever
Obnoxious
Rain
Drum

 

[olaverty]

Living in New Mexico I haven't had the chance to hear the rain yet, and rarely will, however I noticed when drying the x after washing it yesterday if you tap your finger just above the windshield compared to just behind the curve of the metal there is a big difference in sound, and I can see how the rain would be loud there.

 

[Terry H]

drove in very heavy rain a couple days ago, it's noisey, but it canceles out the wind noise from the A pillar.

 

[ATLcanuck]

Beaten (to death) like a steel drum

Surprised this thread is still going on and on and on...this is a known "issue" (not to the level of a TSB, mind you ) and it has been nailed by many people. The 6-inch or so section of angled roof right above the windshield makes a decidedly different "pinging" (steel drum) sound compared to the rest of the roof, which sounds normal. Take one of your knuckles and tap that section of roof, then do the same to the rest of the roof. Perhaps they used different metal there. Perhaps in the bending/fabrication process the metal was changed somehow to make it sound the way it does. Whatever the cause, it is a louder sounding percussion, and if you get larger rain drops it does sound odd and a louder than you would expect.

 

[vfral1]

1 month into ownership and it finally rained on me. Wow, what a crazy noise! After a hundred years of making cars, NEVER thought they would miss something like this.

The drought should start up in a few weeks, maybe they'll decide to fix it before it rains again ;-)

 

[lookgoodn43]

I have had my ford explorer for one month now and it has rained for 28 days since, I haven't heard the noise you people are talking about, but tomorrow they are announcing one more day of heavy rain..... will go try it on the highway and see if I can hear something. Still feels like I'm driving a lazy-boy.......I will report tomorrow.

 

[janskim]

Thats why they put the Sony HD radio in to drown out the drum on the roof and A pillar farting away. Cranck up your radio or down if you want to hear these two lovely sounds brought to you by the Ford design team.

 

[gdecamp]

Thats why they put the Sony HD radio in to drown out the drum on the roof and A pillar farting away. Cranck up your radio or down if you want to hear these two lovely sounds brought to you by the Ford design team.

Actually the roof in that area is like a touch screen, when the rain hits it it automatically turns up the radio.

 

[SilverBack14]

I got my 1st sample of the loud roof yesterday. Agreed, too loud. Sounds like an old bus without a headliner inside!

Remove headliner and Dynamat the roof?...

 

[SilverBack14]

Actually the roof in that area is like a touch screen, when the rain hits it it automatically turns up the radio.

Ah yes, the iRoof!