New MCS owner - need pulley advice

[bigcat]

Just acquired a 2003 (built April 2004) Cooper S. We love the car, fully loaded including NAV, PDC, Auto Dim mirror, heated seats. It's blue with after market stripes across bottom of doors and center strip over hood and trunk.

Just one small issue the first few days, the fan belt squeaks for the first few minutes after start up. No problem thinks I, still under 50k bumper to bumper, just have the dealer fix it.

WRONG....!!! Turns out the car has a aftermarket supercharger pulley and the dealer says this is why the belt squeaks. Their recommendation is to put the stock pulley back, which they will happily do for $1800 ..... WRONG....!!!!

They even found record of the car having a JCW belt fitted by a Mini dealer after the car stopped because the stock belt 'jumped' the pulley ....... oh s...t, now I am worried.

So my problem, I don't even know what make or size of pulley I have. Dealer doesn't want to help other than put the stock one back, so I don't know who to turn to.

Anyway I can find out what pulley I have without stripping the engine down? right now I don't even know where to start to look. Anyone know what might cause the JCW belt to squeak? (only does it when engine is cold, but it's pretty loud, kind of embarrassing when trying to show off new car to friends and family)

I am in Milwaukee WI, anyone know a tunning shop or even a good enthusiast who could help me figure this out.

One more question. Car seems sluggish below 3000 rpm (I drove a stock '05 and it seemed much quicker) yet my pulley should be giving me more BHP. Is there a chance the Super Charger Boost is down somehow?

BigCat

[XTREEM]

When you look at the end of the pulley does it have "allen key head screws" coutersunk into the end? Dont suppose it is possible to get a photo?

I dont know what Milwaukee is close to as I am in Australia but I'm sure somebody can point you in the right direction to Randy Webb, Helix etc etc.

The 05's are faster than a 03 because of the better graring, but you are probably not getting full boost either with the slipping belt.

Better be careful the belt doesnt snap as it can do more damage!!!!!


John.

By the way make sure you guys look after Our Andrew Bogut while he is there.

[bigcat]

Quote: Originally Posted by XTREEM

When you look at the end of the pulley does it have "allen key head screws" coutersunk into the end? Dont suppose it is possible to get a photo?

I dont know what Milwaukee is close to as I am in Australia but I'm sure somebody can point you in the right direction to Randy Webb, Helix etc etc.

The 05's are faster than a 03 because of the better graring, but you are probably not getting full boost either with the slipping belt.

Better be careful the belt doesnt snap as it can do more damage!!!!!

Thanks for the reply Xtreem, I have been to Randy Webb's web site, but his shop is a long way from me, not that I wouldn't enjoy the drive in my mini, but it would take several days each way and I don't have the vacation time available ....

I got a photo of what I think is the SC pulley, this is only the second time I have opened the bonnet, so I am not real familiar with the layout yet. Yes is has six countersunk allen keys, and there is a name that looks like 'PROMINI' can't be sure of the last few letters, could be ProMin. OK, now how do I attach an image.

The belt looks OK, (can't see much of it) except for the fact that the pulleys look kinda rusty. Thanks for any advice you can give.

Anyone else know a Mini tuning shop near Milwaukee

Thanks, BigCat

[XTREEM]

Yeah definatly a very early Promini which looks to be a 15% So there shouldnt be any belt problems as long as the thing is installed properly. "lined up properly"

I would imagine it only needs a new belt or the tensioner spring is failing.

No need to put the stock pulley on.

John.

[xianqi]

My suggestion... if you wanted to go back to stock.. (not that i'd really advise it since if you're not happy with accelleration under 3k rpm, you'll be more dissatisfied with it after removing the pully) is to find someone who has done the jcw upgrade and has the old supercharger with stock sized pully, that'd be a LOT less expensive than going the dealer $1800 route...

Sometimes squeeky belts can be related to the belt being too tight, as well as too loose. Checking the tensioner sounds like a good first step to me.

[bigcat]

Quote: Originally Posted by xianqi

My suggestion... if you wanted to go back to stock.. (not that i'd really advise it since if you're not happy with accelleration under 3k rpm, you'll be more dissatisfied with it after removing the pully) is to find someone who has done the jcw upgrade and has the old supercharger with stock sized pully, that'd be a LOT less expensive than going the dealer $1800 route...

Sometimes squeeky belts can be related to the belt being too tight, as well as too loose. Checking the tensioner sounds like a good first step to me.

Thanks for the replies guys. I am understanding my car a lot better now and no I don't want to put the stock pulley back. I think I fixed the under 3k power problem by reseting my ECU using a 'Test 21' procedure I found in the FAQ section. The car had been sitting on dealers lots for 4 months so I am guessing the ECU and 'learned' how to do most of it's driving in 1st.

But my problem still is that I don't know who to take my squeaky belt too. I don't have the knowledge or tools to work on it myself and the dealer refused to do anything other than put the stock pulley back.

Anybody know where I should look? How do I find someone in the Milwaukee area who will understand my modified car?

Thanks, BigCat in Milwaukee

[minigolf]

BigCat, have you tried www.northamericanmotoring.com. The forums there may be able to point you in the direction of an experienced tuner in your area???

Good luck.



Cheers Liam

[SalemMINIDriver]

... The same belt turns your water pump via mechanical linkage to the supercharger. Depending upon the extent of the slippage, the loss of coolant pressure could be a real problem. Coolant pressure loss can result in severe engine damage even if the temp gauge reads normal. This is assuming that the belt is slipping around the crank or SC pulley vs elsewhere.

[XTREEM]

I doubt it is slipping that bad? Just a squeak isnt it?

[bigcat]

Quote: Originally Posted by XTREEM

I doubt it is slipping that bad? Just a squeak isnt it?

Yep, it's a squeak, squeak ... not a screech. And it only does it for the first couple of minutes. I also think I have all my power back after reseting the ECU, so I think I have full boost.

Tried cleaning the grease of the belt tonight using Gunk, (as suggested in another post) but that actually made the squeak worse, at least so far. Have to see how it is on the way to work tomorrow.

BigCat