I was driving down the high way and had my hand resting on the drivers side arm rest on the door, I felt a breeze shooting upward from the window and lock control buttons on the door. I thought I had the fan on so I double checked and the fan was off. Sure enough the outside air was blowing through the buttons on the door. I noticed any time I went over 50 mph I felt the air coming in. My wife noticed it on the passenger front door buttons also.

Can anyone confirm if this is normal please let me know or if I have some kind of gasket missing in the doors. I have a 99 GS400 with 16k miles on it.

Tony

 

Used to notice the same thing with my SC300. Haven't paid any attention in the GS but I suspect that it's present there, too. Lots of holes in the door and frame, so not too surprised. I'd bet that's why you've got drain holes in the bottom of the door (and maybe even the cause of the air flow).

 

This happens on my 95 Es300 when I open the sunroof (and keep the windows closed with the vent off). The difference in air pressure causes a vacuum to form in the interior. I think if one could seal the back side of the door panel, it would probably fix this. This happens on a lot of vehicles. But, it shouldn't happen on a Lexus!!!!

 

this happens in every car air comes in by the door handels and buttons. I was told this was done so the car wont be air tight but I dont know if this is true or not

 

Yeah, every car I've been in does this...some MUCH worse than others...Fords for example are MUCH worse than any Lexus I've been... (hehehe...and in SO MANY ways!)

 

Litfuse I think you are right I did have the sunroof open and the windows up when I tested it. Ill try to test it with the sunroof closed. If anyone can do the same to their GS cars and see if you can feel the same thing I would appreciate it. Im glad to hear that this is some what normal in cars and not just mine.


Thanks

Tony

 

Got the same problem, really weird.....

 

Yeah mine Too!!!!

 

Yeah, happens in my car as well.
I think it's normal for all cars.

 

Ok guys I took all the door panels apart and it was pretty easy to do. Inside each door is a yellow membrane that seperates the drainage side of the inner door from the inside part of the door where the buttons are. The yellow membrane on my car somehow did not get pressed down into the tar that holds it on so I resealed it.

All test drives were done at 80 mph.

I test drove the car with the sunroof closed and all windows closed with no fan on and there was no wind coming in at all through the buttons.

I test drove the car with the sunroof open with windows closed and fan off and decreased wind coming in through the buttons on the door.

I test drove the car with sunroof closed with windows open and fan off. No wind coming in through the buttons.

I test drove the car with sunroof open and windows open and the fan off and the wind was not detectable through the buttons in the door.

So it looks like Litfuse was right by opening the sunroof and having the windows closed you create a vacum effect and the air is forced through the buttons on the door.

I know this sounds **** but I was just wondering if it was normal to feel such a thing and it looks like is.

Thanks guys for your input.

Tony