Update: inspecting the supercharger; 1 whiny boi

"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53) 09/15/2020 at 18:15 • Filed to: Mini, wrenching

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Update: as per AMGTech’ s advice, I removed the rear cover of the supercharger to look at the PTO drive gears. The oil seal on the supercharger side gear tends to give out and leaks all the oil which mean the gears burn themselves off.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the gear looks pristine. Furthermore, there was ample of fluid in there and it wasn’t all black and burnt. There was also RTV around the edges of the back cover so I’m thinking that the supercharged has been rebuilt sometime in the car’s life :D I can safely make it whine now

And 1 naked Mini

Water pump to block seal is leaking so im replacing the water pump. The water pump is driven by the supercharger, so out it comes.

Also gonna change the supercharger oil and crank position sensor o-ring (known weak point)

Guess I got to enjoy the new headlights for 2 days :P

Now I gotta daily this thing:

Cash Rewards > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/14/2020 at 20:35

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Reduction pulley? Or do you already have one?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Cash Rewards 09/14/2020 at 20:37

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I already have a 15% reduction pulley on it

HammerheadFistpunch > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/14/2020 at 21:20

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“ The water pump is driven by the supercharger”

Oh Germany...

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > HammerheadFistpunch 09/14/2020 at 21:37

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More like “oh Detroit”

Its a Chrysler designed and developed motor :)

HammerheadFistpunch > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/14/2020 at 21:49

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Is that how they designed it?  or was the issue one of packaging I wonder.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > HammerheadFistpunch 09/14/2020 at 22:12

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What ive read is that they decided to make a “S” variant of the car quite late into the design cycle, so this location of the water pump was more of an issue of “where can this fit and be okish"

Cash Rewards > HammerheadFistpunch 09/14/2020 at 22:18

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Considering the battery is in the trunk where the spare tire goes, and there is no spare tire, I'm gonna say space considerations

Cash Rewards > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/14/2020 at 22:19

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WHINY boi !

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Cash Rewards 09/14/2020 at 22:24

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<3

Warning, its very WHINY!!

Urambo Tauro > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/14/2020 at 22:46

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Interesting. So I imagine the NA versions of the engine have the water pump where your supercharger is?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Urambo Tauro 09/14/2020 at 23:00

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I believe so, I haven’t looked up pictures...but there is a plug on the left of the block (as seen in my image, its the white trapezoidal plate ) thats blocked off on my motor. I think thats where the water pump connects to on NA engines and is driven by the serpentine belt.

Urambo Tauro > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/14/2020 at 23:09

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Makes sense. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when they came up with that idea. Kinda reminds me of Project Binky and the “flexi- shaft ” thing they used to relocate t he alternator. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Urambo Tauro 09/14/2020 at 23:11

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Hats off to those engineers tbh, they packaged everything quite well aand made a fairly reliable motor.

I don't think there is any other FWD supercharged car from factory (maybe an old Lancia?)

Urambo Tauro > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/14/2020 at 23:40

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Cobalt SS and Regal GS come to mind... I’m sure there are more .

CRider > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/14/2020 at 23:41

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ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Urambo Tauro 09/14/2020 at 23:44

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Aaah, you are right! I wonder how they did the packaging in the Cobalt...

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > CRider 09/14/2020 at 23:45

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Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/15/2020 at 00:12

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SO MUCH WHINE!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Urambo Tauro 09/15/2020 at 01:02

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Yes.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/15/2020 at 01:02

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Make sure to have a good look at the water pump drive gears in the back of the blower.

CaptDale - is secretly British > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/15/2020 at 01:38

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Oh NO! Daily the perfect daily car, how sad.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/15/2020 at 07:15

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Are you suggesting to remove the rear cover  of the blower? I'm not sure if it takes a gasket there, will do some research.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/15/2020 at 09:13

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https://images.app.goo.gl/u2bTjrtV9z2bSPhM6

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/15/2020 at 10:19

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Yep, that’s what I meant.

Idk if it has a gasket there but if there isn't I'll use gasket maker. I'll definitely be checking it since the SC has 220k miles on it...

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/15/2020 at 11:49

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RTV should be fine, just don't use too much. There are plenty of how-to's online, they should have solid advice. I haven't taken one apart in ten years.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/15/2020 at 11:57

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Thanks! Will do, more pictures will be posted today evening of the PTO gears

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/15/2020 at 13:50

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I do not hear the exhaust while driving it ever, its only supercharger whine :)

My friend was autocrossing my  Mini once and I was working the course. Could only hear whining as it was coming towards me and then exhaust going away, I was very happy lol

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/15/2020 at 16:25

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What did you do besides the pulley to make it so whiney?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/15/2020 at 17:05

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Cold air intake and a performance bypass valve. The BoV means that it’ll put more boost into the motor at lower RPMs...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/15/2020 at 17:09

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Does that seem to generate faster wear on the engine much?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/15/2020 at 17:23

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Doesnt seem like it so far...It’s been on the smaller pulley for 10k miles now and I do send in the oil for analysis, nothing worth mentioning has showed up so far...I’m gonna go inspect the PTO drive for the water pump now, see how bad those gears look like.

ClassicDatsunDebate > HammerheadFistpunch 09/15/2020 at 18:45

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Makes sense...a waterpump is just a supercharger for water...

StudyStudyStudy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/16/2020 at 15:59

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Ugh not looking forward to that. Car has been in the shop 4 or 5 times this year.

I’d say to look at replacing the coil on the AC compressor while it is nice and accessible. 

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > StudyStudyStudy 09/16/2020 at 17:20

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Isnt the AC compressor removable from the bottom without taking the whole thing apart?

Whats been wrong with your R53?

StudyStudyStudy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/16/2020 at 17:35

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You can if you can snake a small wrench and undo the bolts behind the radiator, then feel around for the plug, then impact it off while on the ground and deal with the snap ring and such on your back, Mod Mini does one that way . W here as right now it is pretty readily accessible. Granted it doesn’t look like you are against putting the car into front end service mode, where as I dislike to very much.

I guess whoever had it before me liked to do aftermarket replacements with the cheap stuff. Cheap alternator went bad, had to be towed to be replaced. Aftermarket axle was too short so it popped out and ripped the seal so has to be replaced. This is all after I decided I was going to spend some money on it for fun and  installed a coolerworx shifter and an air tec intercooler. Bummer is in the middle of moving so can’t spend time to do it myself.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > StudyStudyStudy 09/16/2020 at 23:20

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Aah that sucks man...I fitted aftermarket driveshafts too and they kept popping out. Seems like if the liquid engine support is going bad, aftermarket shafts just dont work :\

The AC comp can be taken out without going full front end service mode, you can use long bolts to move the rad and AC condenser assembly forward about 6 inches, it gives you a decent amount of space to remove the AC comp...Mod Mini shows how its done in his front end service vid.

I’ve used this technique to change the cooler fan without disconnecting the lower rad hose when my low speed resistor died.

StudyStudyStudy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/17/2020 at 03:11

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Bummer is I have the vibra technics mount. Looks like factory may be the way to go though, no more groaning on turns and I’ve lost a high speed vibration. I think W ay only does axle rebuilds now after bad experiences with aftermarket.

Oh, that does remind me  I’m worried about my low speed resistor, what were the symptoms?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > StudyStudyStudy 09/17/2020 at 08:22

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I have an ultragauge to track coolant temps, so if the temp goes above 221F and doesn’t come down immediately, that mean the fan is not coming on at low speed.

The easy way to check is to turn on the AC, pop the hood and see if the fan come on or not. It should always start at low speed if the AC is ON

StudyStudyStudy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/17/2020 at 12:02

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Gotcha, the ultra gauge is a neat bit of kit. I got it for coolant and boost.

Thanks for the chat, h opefully the Mini comes back together soon!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > StudyStudyStudy 09/17/2020 at 12:12

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No problem! Hopefully you'll have your back so that we can spam Oppo with R53 kontent :p