Over the weekend the wife and I toyed with the idea of a RED Roadster to match REDCROSS .
BUT.......................it happened to start raining on the extended "Test Drive" (kept her overnight)...............AND...................... ..................
up went the top and on came the wipers.
AND THEN...........Every time the wipers moved back and forth there was a noise across the top like something with BIG Fingernails was scrapeing the surface to get in!! LOUD!!
At first (on intermittent) I wondered what was loose and then I realized that the flow of air up the windshield and over the top was causing the noise.
Everytime the flow of air was interupted the scraping noise was heard.
I know it was not really scraping, I am just trying to describe the sound we heard.
Try dragging your fingernails across the top of any convertable........that's the sound!!
COMMENTS!!!?????

 

I very rarely drive my roadster in the rain, the times that I have been caught in the rain I have never heard any sounds from the wipers. About 90% of my driving is done on the highway at at least 70mph. Please let us know what the dealers say's is the cause.

 

I've never noticed anything like that, and I've been in the rain several times.

 

Why drive a roadster with a top anyway!!!Leave it inside until the weather clears .I hate to rain on your parade but almost all ROadsters are noisey exceptions are the lined top ones like MB or Porsche BMWs. Their called convertables. Myself I've never liked them to drive .But they are SEXY to look at.

 

REDCROSS,
I believe it's the wiper wing that's causing wind turbulence and hitting the ragtop.
You must of been doing about 70 mph to hear this.

I've haven't heard it yet, but then I haven't been in the rain at highway speeds yet.
Another thought is the wipers are not installed properly. Driver side is a 20" wiper, passenger side is 21". They could be "crisscrossed". That's all it takes because the 21" wiper reaches all the way up to the top windsheild trim on the passenger side.
It could be rubbing???


Vic

 

I ALSO would not choose to drive in the rain...............
But Dan, I said that I got caught in the rain...........
NOT.......went for a drive in the rain. Yes, I know convertables are less soundproofed with single layer roofs. I've owned 160 cars in my life and have had 20+ with soft tops!!!!!
Thanks for reminding me though.
Anyway, I didn't check the wipers since it was a test drive.
Noone at the dealership knew what I was talking about.
I'm sure there was no contact with the top and the wipers. It wasn't that kind of sound. I think it was wind/wiper interaction.
I thought you folks might have heard that noise before.
The next time you are out (on a dry day) driving @ 65-70mph with your top up and windshield clean (don't want any scratches) turn your wipers on for ONE sweep. Let me know if you hear anything.
It's no big deal I was just wondering if it was just my old ears.
-JD

 

No - your ears are fine - have a roadster as well and heard the same sounds when the wipers were on during a rain storm. Seems to me it is the air going over the roof. Thom
2005 Roadster Limited/6 speed/Navigation
Graphite/Graphite interior/illuminated door sills

 

I finally figured out what's causing this. I should've known since I'm a pilot!!
When the wipers are vertical, they create a a sort of vortex and channel the wind between the two vertical wipers. That turbulance goes over the windshield and rams down onto the raptop roof.
I noticed it today. I was in the rain with the radio off and noticed the frequency coincided with the wipers in the vertical position.
The driver's wiper wing helps create this channel of wind as well.

I've noticed this wind noise in my LHS if I have the window cracked open and the radio off. You'll hear a whoshing sound when the wiper is all the way over near the windshield trim/door jamb.

It's nothing to worry about......it's all about aerodynamics.