SOLVED: It turns out both the high-pitched, chain rattling sound and the low-pitched, power steering pump type sound was the idler pulley. I was certain my SC was going out due to that video having the exact same sounds and the OPs comments/solution. I got my idler pulley in and decided to change that first to see how it would go. Got it in there and both sounds are gone. What a relief!

My car sounds exactly like the one in this youtube video. I see that the higher-pitched sound is the idler pulley and the lower-pitched whirring is the supercharger having issues. The car has not had any overheating problems as I see in other reports.

So my question is what exactly is going on with the SC? How can this be fixed? Is it a matter of servicing the oil or is this a for sure SC rebuild/replacement? The car has just over 70k on it.

Thanks,

-g

 

Hard to tell from the vid. Sounds normal to me or maybe some power steering whine

 

It does sound like a power steering whine except that it doesn't change or get louder when turning like power steering pumps normally do. Also, this whine (loudness, "speed") is directly proportional to the engine RPM, the faster the RPM the faster the whine. The creator of this video from 9+ years ago said he replaced the SC. I'm hoping there is a solution that is less $ than replacing the whole SC.

 

my understanding is that if a supercharger is making noise it’s game over. Rebuild or new.

that could be wrong.

if you go that far in maybe use it as an excuse for a refresh project…renew all the “while am in there” items. Depends on your plans for the car long term I guess

 

SOLVED: It turns out both the high-pitched, chain rattling sound and the low-pitched, power steering pump type sound was the idler pulley. I was certain my SC was going out due to that video having the exact same sounds and the OPs comments/solution. I got my idler pulley in and decided to change that first to see how it would go. Got it in there and both sounds are gone. What a relief!

 

congrats on the fix. Just a friendly reminder to change the SC oil if not done in the last 50k miles.

 

Whew, that was close

 

Indeed!