To the Doctor:
I enjoy reading VehicleMD, as it's down to earth and reads so that most anyone understands any particular article.

I have a problem I've tried to figure out myself—as I don't think it's going to be hard to remedy—but haven't been able to determine the actual cause. I thought I'd see if you had any ideas to solve this.

I have a 2005 Chevy 2500, 4x4, four door, short bed, Duramax diesel pickup truck. Only when it's cold outside (below 30 degrees) and when driving into the wind above 45 miles per hour on the speedometer do I have a crackly rattling sound that seems to be coming from about the center of the right side corner post between the windshield and the passenger side door. The sound resembles hard plastic rubbing against something, or electrical wires shaking against plastic (like inside the plastic over the metal corner post). I've had a buddy ride with me and try to figure it out but no luck—only the location of the sound is for sure.

The windshield seems to be tight and sealed in this area, as there aren't any apparent air leak sounds or leakage from rain or carwashes. The truck has done this the past couple of years only in the winter when it's cold enough and only into the wind. I never hear anything when it warms up a little, even when driving into the wind.

The Doc Says:
Without being able to hear the sound firsthand, it sounds like the cold temperatures are causing part of the plastic trim around the windshield or the passenger's side mirror to contract, which possibly allows a crosswind or headwind to get inside the plastic trim and shake either the trim itself or the wiring that controls the power mirror. My dad would probably get out a tube of silicone sealant and go to work, but then again he's of the opinion that anything can be fixed with enough silicone!

I'd suggest making sure all the plastic trim pieces are securely in place and the factory fittings aren't broken or missing. If this isn't a repair you care to try yourself, you might try taking your pickup to a local body shop. They'll likely have the tools to safely remove the plastic trim and make sure everything is shipshape. They might even be able to identify the problem and fix it permanently.

The advice described above is for informational purposes only. It cannot and should not be used in lieu of an actual, physical inspection and diagnosis by a trained mechanic or automotive technician. The opinions and advice offered herein are not intended to diagnose automotive problems or component failures; they are simply intended to provide information on what could be transpiring. VehicleMD accepts no liability resulting from actions taken as a result of this advice.