Bought an 04 Redline but is there a problem or is this normal?

[sorny]

I bought an 04 Ion Redline about 6 weeks ago. It only had 4500 miles on it and was in excellent shape. Bought it from a local Saturn dealership and got a decent deal (considering the mileage). Anyways, after having it for 6 weeks, out of nowhere, it suddenly starts a whistling noise. I've never had a supercharged car before, but I've had a couple of turbo cars and that's what it sounded like. The whistle increase with RPMs (and boost). If it done it from day 1 I wouldn't think nothing about it, but now it's pretty noticeable while driving around daily if I give it at least 1/2 throttle and it starts boosting kind of hard.

And today, for the first time, it also whistled and then made a sound like a blow off valve. Not a stock one (those are usually silent or just about it from what I've seen) but a loud "WHOOSH" really quick. Sounded like a boost line blew open or something! I dunno how a BOV for a supercharger works, but I figured it would be silent, like it has been.. This was as loud as the super loud aftermarket one I had on my WRX.

Are these normal sounds? Why would they just start after I put 3000 more miles on it (7500 now)?

Also, even with synthetic oil, I was told at the dealership that I should ignore the 15,000 mile or whatever changing interval on the oil jug and do it every 3000 miles.

I appreciate any opinions guys. I asked at the dealership and they said the supercharger was just getting "broken in". I really like this car. Pretty fun, really stylish (different), and handles awesome for FWD -- just making sure I didn't get a POS lemon. At the rate I'm putting miles on it my 36,000 mile warranty will be out pretty quick.

[Dallas]

Sounds like a vacume leak. Check your hoses!!

[CarNut]

no and no.
The SC should not make much noise at all on a stock RL.
Putting only 3K miles on 7 quarts of Mobil 1 is a waste oil and money.
And check your warranty in-service date. You may be running out of the 36 months soon. Hopefully you're still covered on the SC issue.

[mgm1979]

def a leak somewhere....check ALL three lines

[NoRemorse]

Originally Posted by sorny

I bought an 04 Ion Redline about 6 weeks ago. It only had 4500 miles on it and was in excellent shape. Bought it from a local Saturn dealership and got a decent deal (considering the mileage). Anyways, after having it for 6 weeks, out of nowhere, it suddenly starts a whistling noise. I've never had a supercharged car before, but I've had a couple of turbo cars and that's what it sounded like. The whistle increase with RPMs (and boost). If it done it from day 1 I wouldn't think nothing about it, but now it's pretty noticeable while driving around daily if I give it at least 1/2 throttle and it starts boosting kind of hard.

And today, for the first time, it also whistled and then made a sound like a blow off valve. Not a stock one (those are usually silent or just about it from what I've seen) but a loud "WHOOSH" really quick. Sounded like a boost line blew open or something! I dunno how a BOV for a supercharger works, but I figured it would be silent, like it has been.. This was as loud as the super loud aftermarket one I had on my WRX.

Are these normal sounds? Why would they just start after I put 3000 more miles on it (7500 now)?

Also, even with synthetic oil, I was told at the dealership that I should ignore the 15,000 mile or whatever changing interval on the oil jug and do it every 3000 miles.

I appreciate any opinions guys. I asked at the dealership and they said the supercharger was just getting "broken in". I really like this car. Pretty fun, really stylish (different), and handles awesome for FWD -- just making sure I didn't get a POS lemon. At the rate I'm putting miles on it my 36,000 mile warranty will be out pretty quick.

Super chargers don't have BOV's. On a stock intake, the SC should be near silent (but a modified one will WHINE like crazy with increasing RPM.) But nothing should amke a sound like a BOV.

Where are you, if you were anywhere me, I'd take a look at it for you and see if it's normal or not.

[Dallas]

There is a vacume hose that goes into the top part of the supercharger. It got so hot, it melted some of the hood insulation as was starting to melt so I re-routed it. It did that at 700 miles. Check your hoses.

[NoRemorse]

Originally Posted by Dallas

There is a vacume hose that goes into the top part of the supercharger. It got so hot, it melted some of the hood insulation as was starting to melt so I re-routed it. It did that at 700 miles. Check your hoses.

How the hell does it get that hot. Mine gets NO WHEREnear that hot, even after some MAJOR driving

If that did happen to you, it SHOULD throw a CEL

Because at idle it would be pulling in un-metered air and make it run leaner than expected, and at throttle, it would bleed air, making it run rich, thus the CEL

[SilverRedLine04]

could the woosh be a leaking flex pipe!

we should have realized that, i guess not many failed back then