Question for those with SCs

[psixix]

I may be overreacting but...

How much/what-kind-of noise are you hearing inside the cabin?

For mine I can hear the expected whirl/whistle/whine from mine, but when I have a load on the engine, there's a noticeable rasp/rattle. Almost like an RC car with loud gears.

A friend of mine with experience with 4Runner SCs gave me a wierd look when he heard it and convienced me to take it back to the dealership (I had them do the install). But the tech there shrugged and said it sounded alright.

Any opinions?

[happy_aggies]

I just got the a moderate whining noise from inside.

From outside, it's pretty scary. In a good way of course
http://www.alexfigliolia.com/solorasc.mp3

[cdssolara]

Mine sounds like HappyAggies described. It's just a whine when the SC kicks in. Now that I have a lighter flywheel and smaller pulley, it kicks in a little earlier in the rpm range, and is maybe a little louder, but it's still a good sound. I don't hear any rasp and rattle under load. Sometimes, there will be a little bit of a rattle at idle, but that's about it. Sounds like something isn't quite right with yours.

[happy_aggies]

Yup, just a bit rattle at idle or when you start moving from idle.

[Yanks0114]

I'd have to say mine is pretty annoying at idle, but I have gotten used to it. I find it goes louder as the rpms drops down to 6-700RPMs. Once it gets going it gets quiter but its still very noticable

[Danny]

i think i might have the same problem as the guy that posted it only starts the like rattle during moderate acceleration and hard accleration, i mainly only hear it in 1 and 2nd. let me know if your ahving what sounds like the same problem... also it sounds louder when that windows are up does that sound right???

[cdssolara]

Most of the time, I don't have any rattle at idle. It happens maybe 30% of the time, and isn't so bad as to be annoying. Even when it occurs, it goes away as soon as the car starts moving again. The rattle doesn't happen at all when the car is in motion.

My car is a manual, if that makes any difference.

[psixix]

i think i might have the same problem as the guy that posted it only starts the like rattle during moderate acceleration and hard accleration, i mainly only hear it in 1 and 2nd. let me know if your ahving what sounds like the same problem... also it sounds louder when that windows are up does that sound right???

Yes, to Danny's statement. It's pretty constant as long as I am moderately pressing the gas pedal.

Although I haven't tried listening with the windows down as it's cold and I don't want to eat road slush!

I have the impression it's a bad bearing (plz dear god no! ) or som'n is just loose. The sound alters if I hit rough spots in the road.

I think I'd be happier if everyone would just say, "Yes! That's exactly what I hear too!"

[psixix]

Oh, I do know about the Idle Rattle... that seems expected from what I've heard of superchargers in general. (or at least from what I've heard from those with SC'd 4Runners)

[CrazyCraig]

If you check out the TRD website, you'll see right in their FAQ section that a "slight" rattle is normal at idle under load ........... it scared me a little the first time I heard it too, but it's all good.

[Danny]

the problem with the rattle is it doesn't sound normal, i altualy think mine slowy is getting worse, most likely the bearing.. how many miles have you had it ??? i have a hard time hearing it in 4th and 5th and also . dont hear it everytime im more like 70 % of the time i hear it. doesn't sound normal i have had my s/c for almost a year and it just started doing this within the last month

[psixix]

Mine's a week old today, ~250 miles.

The similarity I have with Danny is that the rasp/rattle fades at 4th (O/D for me). But still noticable. I was think'n something was wrong with the fuel delivery since I have to press on the gas pedal to get the noise when I'm on the move.(??) I don't have to be accelerating or mashing the pedal either... just so long as I'm giving some amount of gas.

I think I'll try to find a second opinion from another tech in town.

Just hearing everyone's opinion here has helped tho. There's no one else in Colo Springs with an SC'd Solara to compare to... yet.

[psixix]

Just in case anyone comes across this problem again, there was a solution:

The noise I was hearing was the low-pressure AC line rubbing against the SC. I had finally taken my car to another dealer w/ a registered TRD specialist and practically begged him to believe me something was wrong. (Actually, they service guys were really cool about it, specially since I hauled my ass 80 miles to see them... they already thought I was serious.)

It took them 20 minutes to find the problem. It punched a hole in the AC line and basically knocked out the AC. (Aug 2003 I noticed it was dying.) So they said for me to take it back to the install-dealer and have them "do it right." They sent an invoice to that effect also. No re-installation charge... fixed SC rasping and AC. (Mar 2004)

[JoeB]

My sc wore a hole in my low pressure AC line. It cost me $430 to get it fixed. Toyota wouldn't make good on it even though they did the sc installation. That's the first big ding against Toyota for me. -JoeB