Thread: Supercharger Noise

Popped the hood today just to look a few things over while it was running and immediately noticed a noise coming from the supercharger. It sounds like the rotors were grinding. Not like a TERRIBLE grinding, but it definiktely sounded like there was more friction between them than there should have been.

Any suggestions on what needs to be done? I also manually ?opened? the boost bypass valve just by pushing the metal rod into the housing and the grinding would stop until i released it.

Sure it is Supercharger? Use a 15mm and take the belt off to be sure. Start it without the blower and if the sound is gone than it was coming from it. Maybe your coupler is bad...then again you have a GenV and they are known for getting noisey and clacky over time...something normal.

So if it's known for it, should I be worried? Do I need to replace the S/C oil or anything else, or just let it do it's thing?

Based off your description it sounds like when the blower I bought had bad needle bearings. Without hearing it myself I can't tell you for sure.

Might need a new coupler and a oil change

I also noticed that my boost has decreased by about 1.5psi

it happened the same time the noise started.

Well after driving my car around for a bit this morning it seems like my boost levels are lower when the motor isn't as warm. For the first 20 or so minutes, the most boost I would see was around 7lbs. I stopped at a friends house for 5 minutes, left the car running and left. I got back on it 2 more times (both were all the way through 1st and 2nd) and peaked my boost around 9.8lbs. I'm going to order a coupler and s/c oil tomorrow to see if it fixes the noise im getting, But I'm still curious if the difference in the boost levels is being caused by this as well or if its normal, or something else.

it's got just over 60,000 on it, im running a 3.4" pulley. I'll pull the belt tomorrow after work to see what I get.

Thanks for the info on the S/C oil.

Not to beat on a dead horse here, but you have a GenV'ed car with a 3.4" supercharger pulley...you got mods?! Those things have issues handling a 3.6" knock free...sure it is the blower making those noises now that I think about it...take the belt off to see if the noise stops...if it doesn't, I'd be worried elsewhere...but that is just me.

yeah I've got mods, I've also got an aeromotive scan gauge. I've got very minimal knock retard and it's at the VERY end of each gear.

I just finished pulling my SC belt and the noise stopped. Put it back on and the noise came right back. So am I safe to assume its the coupler? I just got one ordered so it should be here by the end of the week along with SC oil. I also tried spinning the SC by hand, when I rocked it back and forth rapidly I could hear a slight tick like the holes on the coupler might be slightly worn, not sure though.

This will be the first time I've changed it so I'll update this thread when I get it done. On another note, anyone have any idea on my boost situation I posted above, or if it would be related since it started the same time as the noise did?

I don't think the boost problem is related to the coupler. From what you have described it sounds like the coupler. I am not sure on your boost problem tho.

who knows, I could just be paranoid about this whole coupler deal. we'll see once I get it swapped.

Just make sure you go buy a turkey baster and have a container to put the old oil in you don't care about b/c you'll never want to put anything BUT S/C oil in it again

It's easy...don't worry...just take your time...I did it without pulling the alternator, but I would advise you taking it off lol Makes life a lot easier

I've already got a syringe and hose to remove the oil and plenty of ziploc disposable containers i can use to hold the oil. thanks for the info on removing the alternator