Hello All!
My name is Ryan (Panthera93) I recently bought this 03 r series from craigslist thinking that I looked over the car fairly well before buying it. I changed the oil on it shorty after, the dip stick reading was a little below the "MIN" indicator. After I changed the oil I started the car, here is where I noticed the "gargling" or low grinding sound. Unfortunately I'm unsure as to if the sound was caused by the change or if I just failed to notice it while I was buying the car. Either way it sounds like its coming from the supercahrger. I am no mechanic by any means so I'm clueless on how to go about this situation. The car still drives absolutely wonderful, but the sound can be noticed at an idle, and from within the car if the radio is off.
The check engine light comes on and goes off, sometimes during the same drive, but the sound is consistent.
ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO, OR MAYBE A LINK TO HELP ME OUT? I WANT TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN DO MOST, AT LEAST A GOOD BIT, OF MECHANICAL WORK ON THE CAR MYSELF, SO DON'T SWEAT THE DETAILS HAHA! ANY AMOUNT OF INFORMATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
- RYAN

 

Welcome to the forum Ryan,

I've moved your question from General Tech Help to S-Type forum. Members here with the same model will be able to help.

Graham

 

There is a good possibility that it is the supercharger drive
coupling. There are a few threads about it in the various sections.

The coupling itself can be purchased on ebay.

Some say it can be done on the vehicle, others disagree.

If it can be done on the vehicle, it is not a complicated
job. If the supercharger is coming off, then be sure to
replace the hoses under the supercharger. Best time
to do it.

I'll bet you could go a good long time in the present
condition with the only ill effect being noise.

Have the codes read to figure out why your check engine
light is coming on. That's more important than the noise.


One thing though, change the supercharger oil. It
might be low as evidenced by the engine oil also
being low. Obviously the seller was not right on
top of maintenance and there is no change interval
specified for the supercharger. Also threads on how
to DIY this one.

 

The MIL going on and off is a very serious worry. Find out why and fast.

 

mine has a small amount of back lash in the blower, if you pop the super charger belt off you can spin the top pulley back and forth to check how much it has .mine has less than half a mm at the od of the pulley,and i can hear mine too at idle only when hot and with no climate or radio . i thort it was a gudgeon noise until i went to swap the top pulley for a power house upgrade pulley and found the coupling play, there is no bearing play to speak of and it spins smooth as . i also bought the power house super charger oil change kit and done a oil swap on it and it made it a bit quieter but i can still hear it, the old oil that came out was filthy black at 150000km
the last owner probably should have done it at 100000km .it does not make a pepe when cold or above idle , planning to do the dreaded hidden coolant pipe in the near future so il be doing my blower coupling and bearings then too!! still has a healthy buzz under light execration
and a real healthy screem when floored , so i think not too much to worry about just yet . defiantly get your codes read to put the light to bed !