June 1990

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DEAR TOM AND RAY:
I HAVE A 1986 HONDA ACCORD WITH ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT. MY PROBLEM IS THAT IT WHISTLES. IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN I GO OVER 50 MPH, ALTHOUGH ON VERY WINDY DAYS IT WHISTLES AT 40 MPH. THE WHISTLE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT'S VERY LOUD INSIDE THE CAR, AND IT'S WHISTLED SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
JANE

RAY: IS IT WHISTLING ANYTHING YOU RECOGNIZE? YOU MIGHT CHECK THE ORIGINAL DEALER INVOICE TO SEE IF YOU ORDERED THIS ACCORD WITH THE PICCOLO PACKAGE.

TOM: ACTUALLY, JANE, THE PICCOLO IS A VERY GOOD ANALOGY. PICCOLOS AND OTHER WOODWINDS WORK BY CHANNELING AIR THROUGH A CYLINDER. THE AIR VIBRATES VERY RAPIDLY, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE MUSICAL NOTES. A SIMILAR THING IS HAPPENING ON YOUR CAR. AIR IS UNINTENTIONALLY BEING CHANNELED THROUGH SOME PART OF THE CAR'S EXTERIOR. IT COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THE PART MOST LIKELY TO CREATE A CHANNEL AND CAUSE A WHISTLE IS A DOOR THAT'S SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

RAY: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS YOU CAN TACKLE THIS PROBLEM, JANE. YOU CAN TAKE IT TO YOUR MECHANIC AND LET HIM PLAY WITH IT. OR, IF YOU'RE FEELING ADVENTURESOME, YOU CAN EXPERIMENT WITH IT YOURSELF.

TOM: TAKE SOME DUCT TAPE AND TAPE ONE OF THE DOORS CLOSED. THEN DRIVE 55 MPH AND SEE IF THE WHISTLE GOES AWAY. IF IT DOES, HAVE YOUR MECHANIC ADJUST THAT DOOR'S ALIGNMENT. IF IT'S THE PASSENGER DOOR, AND YOUR ACCORD IS SILVER, THEN YOU'RE REALLY IN LUCK; YOU CAN JUST LEAVE THE TAPE ON IT!

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© 2006 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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Auto repairs can be costly! Save money by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet: "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.