I'm in Atlanta looking to possibly buy a 2006 Jaguar XJR and when I took it for a test drive I found both tie rod ends were shot and I can't hear the supercharger whine. They are working on get new tire rods fixed by tomorrow sometime, but the supercharger worries me.

I had bought an 2005 Jaguar XJR but only owned it for one day when a mile deer in Utah decided out wasn't the case for me. That car I could clearly hear the whine of the supercharger.

i checked the belt and it's on, grooves on both sides of the belt so not installed upside down or something weird, and I can't visually see it slip when they give it gas, but I hear no whine.

It doesn't feel underpowered but I don't really have any xj experience to compare it to. The 05 I owned for one day had a broken motor mount so i drove that like Grandma would, so that didn't really give me a reference to go off of.

Any way to tell if the supercharger is working? I have the harbor freight scanner, Zurich pro, but I'm not a mechanic and not sure what to look for. All DTCs are currently pending, so I'm guessing they reset them and it hasn't completed the drive cycle yet

 

You don't really get much SC whine because the resonator in the air intake damps it down. If you use an aftermarket intake pipe then you will get the whine.

 

The 2001 XKR I had Very little whine. My 99 Ford Lightning whines a bit as the blower is more exposed. You will not hear the whine as from an old racing blower.

 

Check control arms and rear toe adjusters. All are due to start deteriorating.
When I accelerate rapidly I hear the whine. Not when driving normally. Flushed the oil in mine at 100,000 miles. It looked okay. Smelled okay.

 

Definitely a whine from mine when I floor it and it's all stock under the bonnet

 

I could be mistaken but I don't remember a custom intake pipe or airfilter setup on my first one and I could hear the whine. Regardless, what would indicate the supercharger is actually boosting? Would short term fuel trims increase when revving the rpm? Is there a trick like disconnecting a vacuum line to notice the lack of the boost from the supercharger?

 

If the supercharger was on the fritz your service engine soon light would be on with a hose of codes...