The gear disintergrates from lack of lubrication, from the oil seeping through the seal from the vaccuum pull that the boosting S/C creates across those seals.

I'm not clear how changing the water pump from the supercharger drive to electric drive effects that at all. It only ensures that you won't damage the engine when the supercharger freezes up from lack of lubricant which would also seize the water pump. By that time that happens if the loud gravel growling noise isn't a tell tale sign that the S/C is going, you're kind of a doofus.

 

CarGuyNeil,

Once the water pump drive gear fails, the gear is not sold separately and requires the replacement of the supercharger. I suppose if you routinely added oil to the reservoir, you could avoid having to replace the whole unit, but it does require a fair amount of work to get access to the port.

GotMINI

 

Back on post #33 of this thread I described what I plan to do at about 50-70K miles. I still think it is a very viable option. If the loss of lube is caused by an external gasket, then I can replace it at that time.

If the cause is oil leaking through the shaft seal into the internal chamber, then I can't do anything about it, but I will be able to monitor the oil quantity and keep it filled until I am ready, both financially and conveniently, to replace or rebuild.

YD

 

I happened to come across this thread after dropping my '04 MCS off at Grassroots Garage yesterday evening for what sounds like this exact problem. If it's an idler pulley, then I'll be happy. Considering my MINI has 140K+ miles on it, I'm not betting on the less expensive route.

I'll know in a day or two what the verdict is, and pass along the anecdotal info - if Dan hasn't already posted himself by then.

 

dotBob - sorry to hear your troubles.

Yo's Dad - I MIGHT have Dan do mine... or not... I'm really just hoping my SC lives long enough for Jan B to perfect the TVS900 replacement SC (probably 12-24 months away)...

 

I just got off the phone with dotBob, and I have got a supercharger on the way for him. Here is a pic. --Dan

 

Mmmm. Tasty. Lots of minerals, too.

Sorry dotBob... but you're in good hands.

 

I'm considering myself lucky to have gotten to Grassroots Garage in time before the whole SC/water-pump mess erupted in a violent explosion of twisted steel and steam!

Ok, so it wouldn't have been that dramatic, but my own temperature sure would have been up there. I'll be dropping off some bits of mod goodness to go on Sly by Thursday morning, so I'm already supporting a local MINI vendor since recently arriving to NC. Hopefully the next round of funds will be for pure pleasure, and not triage!

 

Well, Welcome! Join the Tar Heel MINIs, if you haven't already...

 

Thanks for the welcome. I joined Tar Heel MINI a week or two ago, but I haven't had a chance to meet many people yet. I was going to try to make it to a Monday evening dinner, but that's when I brought Sly in for service.

It doesn't take long to go through MINI withdrawals, so I'll be happy to have Sly back.

 

A lot of this going around, eh?

Anyone have a pic or diagram of how to remove the supercharger? I'm trying to remove mine for inspection, but she's giving me a hard time. I'm sure I'm missing some bolts somewhere that I can't see.

 

There is at least one underneath that can't be seen. Did anyone see the article in MC2 about supercharger replacement?

 

Yep. I looked at the diagram on Real OEM and saw it.

 

FYI, my supercharger (and MINI) had >140K miles on them. The chattering was loud enough that people would turn their heads to look at the front of the car as they were walking by or as I pulled up (if they had their windows rolled down). Hoping to get Sly back tomorrow with a "new" supercharger and some other new goodies installed.

 

Hmmmm.....

Our bone stock 2006 MCS recently started with a high pitched ringing sound also. I can make it happen on demand by applying slight throttle at 2-3,000 RPM. After that the ringing sound starts to get overpowered by regular road noise and engine noise.

For those of you that had the dealer replace the supercharger under warranty, what symptoms did you have?

Thanks.

 

I also posted this message in another forum but it seems that the discussion is happen here.

My 02 has 100,000 miles on it and i noticed fluid on the front of the block. Reading all the post regarding known issues with the SC, I tore it down this past weekend.

The water pump side of the SC was low in fluid. However, there was some left in (maybe ½ an ounce) and nothing appeared to be damaged. I will send it off to get rebuilt b/c of the high mileage on it. The drive side had more fluid (close to the fill level) but the fluid was darker in color. Anyway, my question is that I am still not convinced that the fluid on the block is the SC lube. Has anyone seen anything similar? See pic. Any ideas or comments?

Oil is "caked" on the front of the block at and around the top of the oill pan. It seems to be coming from the connection between the SC air intake and the air duct.

 

The seal at the green gasket for the supercharger intake duct will become compromised with time. Most of the oil is coming from that interface. I’ve had a leak at that gasket causing idle issues before, so I replace it every time I have access to it. High mileage also brings with it the possibility of excessive blow-by across the piston rings, thereby increasing crankcase pressure (there’s positive pressure even when new). The O-rings on the dip-stick tube will harden over time and allow some pressure induced seepage there, along with seepage from the sensor located above it. I had an oil trickle from the crankshaft position sensor at less than half your miles.

 

PenelopeG3:

Mine failed under warranty at about 15K. Symptoms were obvious lubricant leak, rattle, and squeal, all of which increased in severity over the course of only a few thousand miles. Took it into the dealer one Saturday morning and they diagnosed it, ordered a replacement (didn't have one in stock), and sent me on my way, saying it would be OK to drive until the part came in. Less than 5 miles later the s/c seized and engine would not run. No additional damage done, fortunately. Flatbedded back to dealer. Upon disassembly they claimed it was 'foreign body ingestion' but I doubt it; I think it was loss of lubricant at the water pump end. No problems in the 60K since then, but I am distressed by the inability to readily check (and top up if necessary) the lubricant level in the water pump end of the s/c.

 

Here is my 03 with 108K, 17% put on at 68K FYI
After reading this thread and having a few SCs in my club go down, This is my #1 priority. This is teardown, I went the route of flushing the coolant to get the radiator out the way, and pulling the SC off the car to do the job.




Radiator in position...
Now for the intercooler horns, Alternator, TB, BPV, dipstick (make sure you protect this!) all coming off...



When you pull the SC with the water pump, coolant fianza! Look at the leak at the block off plate, thank god I bought 2 new O-rings...maybe the cause of the "mysterious coolant leak"

EDIT: The block off plate is a different Gasket than the WP O-Ring... Dealerships may not keep this in stock, therefore plan ahead!



And wala were here! There were 2 flakes of metal, but all in all, VERY GOOD! seems the oil may have been slightly low, and obviously merky.
I think I got here just in time



The otherside seemed clearer and more, you could see the bottom in what seemed a full 4or5 oz... Also, beware, this stuff seems like "it takes paint off bumpers!" (Note my not wearing gloves at this moment...was getting slippery and untorquing those bolts w/ grime is fun...)

Anyways, im at a standstill now, waiting for the intercooler gaskets (figured since im here, should replace for the 35 bucks) Ill post more at time goes...
Hope this helps.

 

My 06 MCS also has a high pitch whine that I can make happen in 6th gear and apply throttle to achieve -6 to -2 psi on the boost gauge. Sounds like a bad soleniod hum or a stuck small electric motor hum.

This is a vid to show the sound of my supercharger rattle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XamsvvuRk3U

 

Wow this scares me. No noise from mine yet, but I did notice just a tad bit of that scum where the intake tube connects to the supercharger. The scum looks a bit ash-like, and less like oil residue. I cleaned it up the best I could with some brake cleaner, and I have yet to see the scum build up again.

 

Soooo, the job is done, It took me 3 attempts to be rid of a coolant leak at the waterpump hence no more photos... GREASE the WP O-Ring... GOOD! and if you take off the plate...replace that O-Ring...and grease it... and Grease the inner part of the plate so that the O-Ring doesnt score on the way in... FUN! Anyways, got it back and running. Anyways, had another buddy do his at the same time...an 04 with about 90K and his WP oil was just about GONE! and the SC oil was black...and about half gone... Now I have a line of people who want this done... lol. PREVENTIVE MAITNENCE!

 

So which gaskets need to be ordered when you perform the inspection?

 

You'll need atleast one of each

PROFILE-GASKET


11610020836

GASKET17511520044
O-RING11517509186

 

So one of each of those 3 Part numbers? Which goes where? Also does anybody have any helpful diagrams? Thanks in advance.

And Azblackout, about how long did that take you?