Supercharger noisy when warm

[DavidEdwards]

Hi,

The supercharger on my 2004 XKR is getting noisy when the engine has warmed up and this is especially noticeable at low speeds when presumably it's not drowned out by the tyre noise from my 20" wheels. The car has done 77,000 miles and a change of supercharger oil has made no difference. Disconnecting the supercharger 'resolves' the problem, with whine no longer present.

Is this a common issue, perhaps due to worn bearings? Does this indicate an imminent failure of the supercharger? Is there a different type of oil that might quieten it down, or should I just turn the radio up!

Many thanks in advance for any thoughts,
Dave.

[cafcpete]

It can be common with higher mileage. See here
https://www.powerhouse.uk/content/super ... d-kits.php

[JimMann]

Hi David,

A friend of mine has just had a similar problem, turned out to be the small coupler within the Supercharger and a relatively simple fix with the aftermarket part costing around £20. Note Jaguar do not retail the coupler separately, their response is to change the full Supercharger at an eye watering cost of course.

Jim

[C-main849]

Hi David,

As Jim mentioned below, I had a sudden supercharger 'knock' that appeared one evening after a gentle high speed cruise. To be frank it sounded ominous but was the 'isolator'. A small plastic (yes plastic) coupler with a spring inside it. its purpose in life is to reduce backlash at idle speeds and a way to establish if it is is it to increase revs gently and at 1500-2000 rpm the 'knock' ought to vanish. If it is the isolator that's gone.

As Jim said my experience was an entire new Eaton unit under warranty (no complaints here...) however a DIY fix is either a new isolator, or if the isolator broken spring has chewed up the end of the shaft in the supercharger snout, a replacement snout. Both more economic fixes (significantly) than an entire Eaton unit.

However you mention 'whine' ? Apologies If I've rambled on down a blind alley as a whine noise rather than a knock would indeed suggest something other than this isolator.

Colin.