The "rubber" you're looking to replace is more commonly know as weather seals or weather stripping. Cracked, damaged, or (gasp) missing seals would most definitely be the cause of your leakage and highway speed whistling, unless you've been in an accident and your doors just don't close properly. And yes, depending on the make/model of the vehicle and how much of the seal you need to replace it can get expensive, but not prohibitively so. Armed with the proper terminology, you should probably check with your dealer's service department.

Fortunately, the seals are quite easy to replace in your driveway if you want to save a few buckaroos. The first thing you'll want to do is determine the make and model of your car--there were a lot of vehicles built in '97. Next, you'll need to find out where the leak is coming from by inspecting the rubber strips around your windows and doors. Look for cracks, discoloration, or wholesale missing pieces.

Once you've determined where the leak is coming from, pop over the JCWhitney, AutoZone, Advanced Auto parts, Kragen, Pep Boys, or whatever your shop of choice is and look for the proper replacement part. If you can't find a specific part, often times universal stripping will work as well, so measure out how much you need and purchase accordingly.

Once you've your weather strip in hand, return to the vehicle and carefully remove the old strip, paying close attention to how it attaches to the body of the car. Oftentimes, it just hugs a metal ridge in the doorsill. Once you have the old strip removed, clean the area with a mild detergent and warm water, then dry. Now apply your new stripping into place, making sure that it is secure all around.