Blowing Noise

This is not so much a problem as much as it is an annoyance but I am a fairly new owner of a 2008 Cayman S so please forgive me if this seems like a dumb question but I would like to know. What is the loud blowing noise inside the cabin that I am hearing while cruising down the highway. When I am driving it sounds like it it coming from the right side and sometimes seems really loud like my A/C is on full blast. Oddly enough even though it sounds like its coming from the right, the other day I had my wife drive and I sat in the passenger seat and could barely hear it if at all. She was then for the first time driving it on the highway was like what is that freaking noise. I know this is a sports car and I love the nice hum of the engine and tires while cruising down the highway but the noise is a little distracting to me. I just want to know what it is and if there is a way to tone it down. Are all Cayman's like this? I had a Boxster some time ago and don't remember that.

Well, there's a loud blower in the right side air scoop on the outside of the car but you can't hear it while driving. Was the windshield recently replaced? I just had mine done and they pinched a seal when they installed it leaving an air leak that was very loud over 40 mph.

Yeah I have heard the blower before when in park before in the garage or something so its not that. The windshield has not been replaced or anything to my knowledge. Its just sounds like the A/C running on full blast out of one vent or something yet my A/C is off. I keep thinking its just wind noise but why would it be so much quieter sitting in the passenger seat when in the drivers seat it sounds like its coming from that direction. So weird....and is my biggest aggravation with the car. You know I sold this car back to the dealer 2 months ago. I drive a BMW 335i which I like a lot but I went back and bought it again because I missed it. That being said I have been teetering with the idea that I made a mistake. I seem to have a love/hate relationship with this car for some reason. I will need to sell the 335i because we have and X5 as well that suits all purposes so we don't need all 3 but this noise is driving me batty. I know it will never be as quite as the BMW and its not supposed to be but it is a little annoying driving down the highway with a vacuum cleaner running beside me.

No similar problems with my 2008 so here are some thoughts.....check all the rubber seals on the doors, windows and trunk lid to make sure they are intact and good, including the rubber seals under the doors, ......check to make sure your windows are closing all the way after you close the door....and finally check to see if it gets louder/quieter with speed. Sounds like a bad rubber seal somewhere or a window open ever so slightly. Good luck.

Thanks...I checked all of the seals and everything seems to be ok. It does get louder with speed for sure. The odd thing is the sound seems like it is behind the dash. I don't understand why it sounds like it is coming from the right side but when you sit on the right side you barely hear it. I had thought about doing a ride along with a tech from the dealer but was not sure if they would just be like my BMW dealer on things and say...I don't hear anything or could not duplicate so figured it might be a waste of time. I also thought about test driving another one just to compare. This is the only Cayman I have ever sat foot in.

How about one or both cooling fans associated with the front radiators. They can be pretty loud and have been known to fail by not running, running too often or continuously, or one running too often because the other has failed. Don't give up. There's a problem there and you just have to keep searching.:cheers:

Ok I have looked everywhere....the only thing that made me question is this. I looked under the front end of the car and noticed this rectangular hole in the front bumper assembly which ironically does not exist on the left side of the car. I attached a pic.....is there supposed to be a cover for this hole? Looks like an access panel of some kind...If there is a cover for it I obviously don't have it but am considering covering it with some tape just to go out and see. Anyone want to check their car for similar? It also remember that when it rains I always hear a little bit of a gurgling type noise as well on the same side.

Since my car is in PA and I'm currently in FL I can't look but I believe that hole should have a cover. It appears as though something else is hanging down under there too.....or am I seeing things?

It looks like one or more of the underside panels has come loose. You need to get it on a lift for a closer look. Loose panels would certainly contribute to the noise you're hearing.

Budman is correct. That opening should not be there (shouldn't be open).

Looking under the car there is nothing else hanging down. It could just be the weird angle of the picture. I tried covering it with tape and took it for a drive and that did not take away the sound. Thought maybe air was channeling up somehow but no go on that one. When I drive it sounds like rushing air directly behind the dash on the passenger side and increases as the speed increases. I am not sure if this is normal but I am assuming not. It it were wind noise I would think I would also hear it in a similar way when sitting on the passenger side. Most I have spoken with that have Caymans say there is very little wind noise since they are so aerodynamic.

Sitting in the passenger seat with my wife driving and putting my ear to the noise it seems like all of the sound is in the A pillar on that side. I drove another Cayman yesterday for fun and it was like night and day. I tried taping the seal outside on the windshield to see if maybe that could be the problem but didnt really make a difference. It is not an outside mirror or anything.....its really weird....sounds like air blowing through the a pillar but i cant see how that is possible. Any thoughts?

A real puzzler for sure......any difference when the side window is lowered a little or a lot? I'm thinking at this point you'll need a stethiscope (sp?) to zero in on the exact spot. Keep us posted and good luck.

My 09 has the same opening under the front bumper. My service manager said it is for the horn.

Here's a shot in the dark.......my window regulator was on its way out, so every time the passenger side door opened and closed, the window wouldn't lower and raise properly. Every once in a while the window would catch against the seal and not shut properly. Driving it over 40, made it sound like a wind tunnel on the passenger side. I had to close the door at the top of the window to avoid it. Try that?

...what about the cabin air filter? Is it in correctly? Swing in the dark..... ...Roof rack bolt missing? Swing in the dark without bat...

I have the same problem with my 2013 Cayman. is there a solution to the problem ?

Was there a solution to the blowing noise? I recently purchased a 2020 cayman and it is making a loud humming wind type noise sometimes. It get really loud at times. Took it back twice now and they say it is normal. I’m still not convinced. many suggestions?

Not sure if anyone else said this but how is your windshield cowl? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Just checked the windshield cowl it seems to be fine. I just had a idea. I got a small number plate in front and it is stuck on with 3m double sided tape. Itstill has sharp edges. I’m wondering if this is not doing it. I’m going to remove the number plate and take it for a drive and see. Will revert back.