OK. My 06 R53 has a strange rattle. I don't think its the SC because it doesn't sound like gears grinding, plus i haven't loss boost nor does my car overheat. It sounds like its coming from the passenger side. Guess it could be the tensioner, crank pulley or timing chain tensioner, sound right? So my question is simple. Anyone have a link to what any of these sound like or are they all similar. Help me find out what ails my little devil.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_QIUm8zC0I

 

As the supercharger ages, it will get a bit noisy up to the point where it could fail, which results in a horrible shrill. The SC will usually last 100K miles, but various circumstances can shorten its life. I have 65K on my MCS and at idle the SC makes a soft rattle sound. This is normal for the mileage on the car. Once your SC develops the "death rattle", it never goes away; it just increases with engine RPM and mileage just like the video posted by djmuka. A new SC costs about $1,500. Fortunately the new M45 Eatons are better built than the earlier design found on the 02-05.

 

You can get it rebuilt r a lot less. Search on supercharger rebuilding fou the names of the companies that do it....

Matt

 

But first be sure that's what's rattling. There have been several recent threads on identifying rattling sounds under the hood. Look around

 

I'm not sure if its the SC. I want to believe it has something to do with the belt. Its a low milage car I think (32k). Its also developed what sounds like to me belt whine. Do these sounds go hand and hand with a certain parts failure?

 

Scroll down to superchargers and there is a list of rebuilders that might help your search. Good luck.

 

Find a long screwdriver (over a foot and a half) with a wood handle. touch the metal end to various points on the motor (supercharger, valve cover on passenger side etc.) with the wood handle in your ear you'll have a stethoscope of sorts. If the previous owner neglected his oil change schedule your timing chain tensioner may be sticking and not properly tensioning the timing chain. You'll hear this loudest on the passenger side valve cover at the rear (directly above the tensioner).

Not all rattles are supercharger death rattle. Although if left unrepaired the timing chain tensioner will have you getting towed home just the same.

 

I have 110K miles on my 03 MCS and the SC had a 15% pulley for the last 60K miles. Based on the "they are good for 100K miles" statement, should I expect to have it rebuilt sometime soon - especially since I've been running it with a reduction pulley?

What other symptoms a dying SC will show in addition to the rattle? What happens when it seizes completely? Does it create "extra damage" if not replaced before hand?

Thanks!

 

In mine when the s/c seized the engine would not run.

 

Hank, I had this same issue. Would have called it a rattle too. Turned out to be a bad belt......

I made a youtube clip of it.

BTW: My original supercharger with some 88+K miles on it and a 17% Alta SC Pulley almost since day 1, had plenty of SC oil lube inside and gears were pristine like new......I had a new JCW SC in storage and put that in for the HP, but other than that my original would have gone another 88K miles for sure.

 

I have a video somewhere I think of the timing chain tensioner rattle I'll try to find it. It would be good if both vids were in here then people could maybe tell those two apart.

When it first started I thought it was the s/c and picked up a rebuilt for $360 only to find out at 80K mine was perfect internally

 

This was the noise the belt was acutally making....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUMCkeDSsqs

 

Thats what it sounds like but slightly louder. Dont think its the belt, i just had a pulley swap done and its made the sound since before that. Thats another reason i dont think its the SC. When the motor was up and the belt off, I rotated the SC. No grinding, no slop, rotated smoothly. Im begining to think its the timing chain tensioner. If only there was a vid with the sound so i could know for sure. A check of youtube yields a bunch of videos with similar sounds but ppl not knowing wht the sound was. Fingers crossed to finding out whts wrong.

 

On my 04 JCW the harmonic balancer just flew apart and tore up my belt and CV boot. I am having similar noise sounds like it coming from the passenger side. But mine is only at high RPMs, usually under full throttle. Sound like an exhaust leak,but I am pulling my hair out trying to find it.

 

Hankfrum, I just bought another mechanic's stethoscope. Gimme a PM and I will help you diagnose the problem. Perhaps sometime this weekend.