Supercharger service? |
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Ammi
MINI Motorer Joined: January/27/11 Status: Offline Points: 56 |
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Posted: February/13/11 at 2:33pm |
Has anyone pulled their supercharger/water pump to get it serviced? I'm hearing some metal chatter coming from the engine bay whenever I press on the gas pedal. I'm thinking it's my supercharger. Anyone has any knowledge on how much labor is involved on pulling the unit to get it rebuilt?
Edited by Ammi - February/13/11 at 2:34pm |
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CORNERS
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: July/29/10 Location: Bothell, WA Status: Offline Points: 3733 |
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What sort of noise is it? Hollow or robust? I sort of doubt it is coming from the water pump or supercharger. I'd expect more constant noise.
Check your heat shields. They sometimes make noise. Also, the bracket where the power steering fluid and radiator fluid are mounted. Sometimes the downpipes hit the heat shield. If you've done anything to the car, make sure the intercooler isn't rubbing the bonnet (the engine leans forward when you accelerate). |
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kenru
MINI Motorer Joined: December/21/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1283 |
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NAM has quite a bit of information on this issue (http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/search.php?searchid=6613009 ) I did have Zantech access the drive gears for the water pump and basically “change the oil in there to keep it running longer. I forget now what I paid for that but it wasn't bad. |
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SuperCoop
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: October/19/10 Location: Portland Status: Offline Points: 1270 |
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Ammi, what year and how many miles do you have? Ken posted some good info, and it is possible as he said to service it or have it serviced.
I only know the basics about superchargers, but it seems to reason that like any other component, the sc would be under more stress when accelerating/stepping on the gas then when just sitting at idle. But people tend to report a sound like a rattle can when their sc starts to go bad. Ken, do you recall Zahntech saying that it was low or that the oil was dirty? How many miles did you have on the car when you had yours serviced? Edited by SuperCoop - February/14/11 at 9:20am |
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Jason - '05 PS/B Cooper S, most packages, 17%, Brisk silver plugs, IE fixed camber plates & Craven STD's, Powerflex trans/dogbone mount poly inserts, 20mm Whiteline rear sway bar, SprintBooster.
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Ammi
MINI Motorer Joined: January/27/11 Status: Offline Points: 56 |
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03 w/ 34000 miles, not babied or abused. The sound is constant metal ticking/rattling only when I'm on the gas pedal. I thought it was my tranny at first but it doesn't matter if my clutch is engaged or disengaged. As soon as I give it some gas, I hear it.
If it is my supercharger going bad, I would replace the water pump (Bosch ~$100) and belt as well. I'm thinking of giving these guys a call http://superchargertech.com/ Drove the car about an hour in the last 4 months... kinda getting tired of having to fix everything to get it running right. Edited by Ammi - February/14/11 at 11:40am |
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CORNERS
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: July/29/10 Location: Bothell, WA Status: Offline Points: 3733 |
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That is not a heat shield. Not sure what but it could possibly be sc related... Can you record the sound?
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johnf36
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: August/30/07 Location: Ephrata, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 8612 |
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Not sure why the link won't work for me?, Here is a few good sources
http://www.superchargertech.com/Mini.html http://www.stiegemeier.com/pricing.html http://www.autoxcooper.com/mini_cooper_supercharger_rebuild_service.html http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/74674-rattle-supercharger-water-pump.html |
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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Ammi
MINI Motorer Joined: January/27/11 Status: Offline Points: 56 |
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Definitely not a heat shield rattle... I wish it was. I'm in the process of trying to find out where my coolant is leaking from so I have intercooler, ecu, and intake removed.
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CORNERS
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: July/29/10 Location: Bothell, WA Status: Offline Points: 3733 |
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How does your oil look? Can you determine if it is an internal or external leak?
Oil will look milky if you have an internal leak. Since you say that you have a coolant leak, it raises my suspicion that rattle could possibly be the water pump. Just a guess. I don't know where the water would be going. Also -- use the stethoscope method to pinpoint the source of the noise. Get an assistant to step on the gas while you probe around. Best way to find the source of a noise. (This is assuming you can make the noise even when car isn't moving)
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johnf36
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: August/30/07 Location: Ephrata, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 8612 |
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Ammi: Most common coolant leak on the gen 1s is the thermostat gasket, it effect alot of cars
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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Rob N
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: August/13/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2020 |
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Also, in 2002 and 2003, there were issues with the coolant expansion tank. It leaked at the seam and had to be replaced on many cars.
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Rob, Vickie and Alice
COOPR-S The question is, "When you turn on your car does it return the favor?" |
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Ammi
MINI Motorer Joined: January/27/11 Status: Offline Points: 56 |
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At first I've noticed some coolant on the tubing connected to the throttle body. After removing my airbox, I've noticed puddle of coolant. I will post a picture later
If it is the thermostat gasket, could I just buy an OEM unit and just use the gasket? I'm currently running M7 thermostat |
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CORNERS
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: July/29/10 Location: Bothell, WA Status: Offline Points: 3733 |
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There you go. Thermostat gasket leak.
They don't sell the gasket separately? Couldn't you make a gasket with RTV gasket maker? I've always done that on other cars I've owned. None of them were to the tolerance of a MINI however. |
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SuperCoop
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: October/19/10 Location: Portland Status: Offline Points: 1270 |
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Well, this replacement part is plastic, so it's possible that it's best to replace the thermostat housing/cover at the same time of the gasket itself, in case there was some warpage to the material.
http://www.germanautoparts.com/Mini/2003/R53/C2/8041/25920899 |
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Jason - '05 PS/B Cooper S, most packages, 17%, Brisk silver plugs, IE fixed camber plates & Craven STD's, Powerflex trans/dogbone mount poly inserts, 20mm Whiteline rear sway bar, SprintBooster.
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CORNERS
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: July/29/10 Location: Bothell, WA Status: Offline Points: 3733 |
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Well there you go. I completely agree.
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johnf36
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: August/30/07 Location: Ephrata, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 8612 |
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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