Series I Supercharger... making noise?

I'm the second owner of my 1995 Supercharged Riv. My odometer just turned 62K. I'm hearing some unusual racket, and I think it's coming from the supercharger, but the alternator is right next to the supercharger, too. The best way I can describe the noise... a whirring sound with something loose rattling around inside... like small loose pebbles. Can anyone tell me if I've got something to be concerned about here? Will a supercharger go bad, and if so, does an offending sound announce the impending doom of a supercharger? Thus far, when I press the pedal to the metal, the supercharger will kick-in and do its job... I had the supercharger oil level checked at 60K (all appeared well and good, but that oil stinks!), along with the other prescribed maintenance procedures suggested in the owner's manual. My mileage seems too low to be having a problem with the supercharger... but then again, I had to have the transmission overhauled recently... the torque converter failed!

Any and all responses greatly anticipated and sincerely appreciated...

"Sounds" like the coupler needs replaced.

if so its an easy fix. try taking the belt off and turning the s/c pulley back and fourth, feeling for play before the rotors turn. (in other words, it will be loose for 1/2mm then you will feel resistance from the rotors)

Thanks, guys, for your input... I do appreciate it!

I probably should have done this first before jumping onto this site with my question. I stopped by my mechanic friend's shop AFTER I had posted my perceived problem. I explained things to him, cranked-up the motor and opened the hood. He could hear the noise as I had pointed out. He took out his 'mechanic's stethoscope' and poked around listening to the: Supercharger, Alternator, the Clutch on the A/C Compressor... and finally the Tensioner Pulley. He said THAT is the noise maker... not my Supercharger.

So... he's got a Tensioner Pulley on order for me, and while we're at it, we're gonna put a 180-degree thermostat in as well...

Aloha, gents...

That would have been my guess (tensioner pulley). Been there done that! Way too early for the SC. BE SURE TO CHANGE THE IDLER TOO before you throw the belt. One gave out about a month apart from the other. I shreaded the belt both times.

Get this fixed ASAP. You have about 70 miles before the pulley frags into pieces (and possibly your belt, too). I know this because it happened to be once... One day after I noticed the noise.

happen to me too. no noise, just ka-blew-i !! in the middle of a race the belt even tore a hole into my power steering pump resov so i had to replace that too. spend the money now on replacing all the pulleys and the belt and you will be good for another 80k miles. its not hard to do yourself and there may be a write up around here for the 95's.
btw your s/c coupler could still be making some noise. they dont break, but the 3 holes get reamed out allowing play in the rotor/pulley connection which causes noise.
most mechs dont work on s/c's even great certified mechanics dont see many s/c repairs unless their shop specifically works on them. the dealer will not even repair them, they just replace the whole thing thats where this forum comes in handy

I had a multitude of noises on mine.. Started out with a tensioner... then replaced the other one... The water pump was going so I replaced that.... Then decided to replaced the S/C coupler and oil... I eventually found that the culprit was the balancer, making the majority of the noise.

HirohataMerc wrote:

I had a multitude of noises on mine.. Started out with a tensioner... then replaced the other one... The water pump was going so I replaced that.... Then decided to replaced the S/C coupler and oil... I eventually found that the culprit was the balancer, making the majority of the noise.

Very interesting you say this... I just got home after stopping off to visit my mechanic friend. While he's still leaning toward my tensioner pulley, he did make mention of the balancer...

Doncha just love this bullsh..???

hi, when my 95 supercharged riv is at idle, its making a clunking noise and it sound like its coming from the supercharger(sound like stones or something clunking around in it), and its running like crap, is it possible that i need plugs and wires? or is my engine shot? also, when i floor it, it stutters for a while and then when it gets way up in the rpms, it shifts but makes a scrapping sound. any suggestions?

Sounds like a combination of problems, but the rattling from the blower is probably the coupler. You can fix yourself for about $30.

I agree, it sounds like a couple of different things. The coupler will make that sort of noise when it goes bad. As for the poor performance, I'd give plugs and wires a shot first, and if that doesn't fix it, new coils may. Did for me, anyway.

I think there is a thread on FAQ for changing the coupler. Do the plug and wires and then SeaFoam the top end (thread for that too) Be sure to check your tensioner pulley. They'll make noise too. If your pushing 100K miles you need to change the tensioner and idler pulleys. Easy fix.

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/Supercharged-3800-Tech-c2/Series-II-FAQ-f19/Riviera-FAQ-Website-t19.htm

Click on freespaces link...
That will tell you about the Coupler, Tensioner, and top engine clean. Do the engine clean last and lets get the noise stopped first.

yeah, im at 144,000, we figured out the noise is the belt tensioner, its moving back and forth at idle, and if you put your hand on it, you can feel it, it feels like something is inside of it. i just bought plugs, wires, and a fuel filter for it today. i'll let you know what happens.

If the noise is the tensioner pulley, change it out very soon. Those bearings will last a couple hundred miles at most.

That's true. When mine went, it shredded the belt which wrapped around the a/c compressor which led to it failure a couple days later. It was a $1000 lesson for me. CHANGE IT NOW.

does the supercharger use its own oil? or does it use the engine oil? if it uses its own, what should i use? and how do you change it?

and when u said seafoam the top end, you mean stick seafoam in my gast tank right? also, im going to mix it in with the oil.

It uses it's own. You have to use SUPERcharger earl. I think there's a thread under FAQ.

where do i get supercharger oil?

http://www.clubgp.com/cgi-asp/mods.asp?modid=13

Here's the link. I presume the dealer.

ok thanks man.

I have been using Synthetic 5W-30 in my M-62 supercharger (1995 Riv) ever since 70k miles....(has 112k now, original coupler and smaller pulley) with nary a problem. If you look on the eaton website they actually used synthetic oil for the supercharger during the initial manufacturing process back in 1994. IMO don't waste your money at the stealership for "special SC oil" One quart of Syn 5W-30 will last the life of your car.

Thanks Noah.

jax95riv wrote:

Thanks Noah.

Eh, I'm there fo yous' guys.... ....

so any 5W-30 synthetic oil will work on the stock supercharger?

and to do the engine clean, should i hook a hose up from the vaccum line and into the seafoam can? and do that process? or should i just pour it into the gas tank and oil?