Sup fellas,

Some of you may know of my case already but if you dont, heres the "skinny"! Got my V2 less than a year ago, it worked fine for about 3 months then started to make a grinding sound (I still got boost though)that progressively got louder and worse. Even though I still got boost I naturally wanted to get it fixed before the SC froze up on me or worse! I had to pay to get it taken out to send to Vortech and pay to have it re-installed after "they claim" they fixed it (im not a mechanic). Paid for install and when we cranked it up again, it was grinding and screeching just as loud as before! I called them up beefin' and told them they didnt fix it and had to pay my install costs because they admitted they dont test the blowers just put new parts in and send em back out...so they baically told me no way they wont pay anything for install but we'll fix it again...Luckily this time I had to send it back, Delio (thanx again...I owe you one man) came and helped me take it out about a week ago to send back to Vortech a second time for repairs. I sent it in along with a letter to the manager expressing my dissapointment with their product and level of service. They basically treated me like crap on the phone and were very indifferent about my case throughout the entire ordeal. Anyway I could continue about the nightmare I've had with Vortech but heres a copy of the email the manager sent me today...seems like he wants to help but I'm not sure what I should tell them to do for me because I'm not too sure about the schematics of the blower and what to ask for. I want to make sure they repair the right things and end this dispute with them. In Vortech's defense this manager Steve is he first one that has contacted me and has been willing to help and not been rude....here goes:

We received your compressor, number 18327, on R.A. Number 14398JR. It has been disassembled and all parts have been sent to our Q.C. Department. They inspected the parts and found no abnormalities in the gearcase, gearcase cover, gears or bearings, that would cause any noise issues. I do not know exactly what you want done? We will have to replace the bearings and seals, no matter what, because we cannot re-use them, after the unit has been disassembled. As I stated previously, the Stillen Maxima kits are not necessarily known for being quiet, unlike our compressors. You are not the first person to have some noise issues, that were erroneously thought to be
the compressor. We did not design the kit, or help them design their
bracketry. The mounting plates that are on the vehicle, may be causing some sort of resonance, that may be contributing to your noise issues. There may also be another unknown source of the noise? By taking the belt off the compressor, you not only eliminate it as a possible source, but every other part that is being driven by that belt and any parts that those parts are attached to. If you could somehow just by-pass the compressor, that would be a better test. It still does not isolate a possible problem with the mounting brackets/plates. It is your call though, I will replace whatever
you want, to make you happy, but I really do not feel that the compressor is the main source of your noise.

Thanks.

Steven M. Boychuck
Production and Product Support Manager
Safety Coordinator
Vortech Engineering, LLC
1650 Pacific Avenue
Channel Islands, CA, USA 93033-9901
805-247-0226 x237 / 805-247-0669 Fax
www.vortechsuperchargers.com
sboychuck@vortechsuperchargers.com


Tell me what to do guys....I'm going to write him back tomorrow or today so I'd like your opinions ASAP! Also I wanted to share my experience with you guys so if you need to deal with Vortech in the future, you'll be on the ball and know what to do and ask for by learning from my ordeal. Thanx in advance.

Deac

 

This would be hindsight but... I would have been nice to VIDEO TAPE the S/C on the car at idle and perhaps when you blip the throttle.

I should make a video tape of mine... don't know if that could help you, though.

I would doubt that the 'other' component that run share this belt would/could be mistaken for the noise eminating from the Vortech. Come on... Some people would kill for that sound... If only we could market a $50 kit to get this sound... we'd make a fortune

The bracketry? If it wasn't there originally, why would the simple mounting bracket resonate after 'wearing in' (if that's possible). I assume you didn't find any loose fasteners...

I would just keep records of your correspense/receipts with Vortech and when it is returned... just use it as is (if the noise is still there, even)... If it breaks down later... you have a good argument... Make this known to the Manager...

FYI - I've called Vortech a few times before for advice and part#s and they've always seem very courteous and helpful so far... Hopefully they will work with you on this one.

Good luck...

 

Chunger has a great idea of the video tape.

and as soon as you get your blower back on start the tape. record 5 minutes of it.

Then if a noise shows up record it and try and isolate it.

Email it to Steven M. Boychuck and show him what your hearing that way he might be able to help.

and as chunger said keep all records of all communication with them.

it will help if something breaks

 

We've briefly talked about video tape but not seriously. That is a good Idea and I guess that would be the next step. We always assumed that the problem was so bad/obvious, that Vortech would open up the blower and see it had a problem right away.... guess not. Anybody have any ideas as to what to tell them to fix? I'll get new bearings obviously, maybe the impellor blade neds to be replaced too? Any insight would be very helpful.

Deac

 

let them put new internals in your old case... that would satisfy you..

and maybe replace your idler/tension pulleys as a side note

 

Thats my first instinct to have them replace/rebuild the whole thing. I already changed the idler pulley to the aluminum one... I think thats a must. I want to tell him to just do the whole thing over but I want to mention particular parts to him to check also.

Deac

 

FWIW

Since I have switched to the 2.62" pulley my idle grinding noise on my V1 has gone away. Its still noisy but not grinding, more whining. Also I have noticed that idle RPM and oil pressure has a big impact on noise at idle. When the motor is cold and oil pressure is high the noise was much less when I had the 3.125" on. If my idle is ~850 the noise was less then if my idle was at ~650, I think this has to do with oil pressure.

 

I can't believe they can't run the unit before sending it out. That's just nuts. How hard is it to set up an oil supply and a jig to run the unit?

 

I dont mind the whine thats cool, I'm taking about heavy vibration and a grinding coming from the blower itself. Oddly enough, when oil pressure does increase, the noise stops...but at Idle, if you put your hand on the blower itself, you can feel this heavy vibration and you hear a peculiar ginding nose. Delio can vouch for me that somethings definately not righ with the SC and I dont think its the brackets. What should I write them to replace? Gutting the whole thing would be ideal but I've heard the impellor blade cause a grinding noise at time too?!?!


Deac

 

Could they give you another rebuilt V2 instead? if you're open to that idea.

I think the noise goes away with S/C rpm not really oil pressure... That's why a smaller pulley quiets down the S/C as engine idle remains the same. It just so happens that oil pressure does go up as the engine rpm goes up, obviously.

 

They did it for me... Ask them to do it for you... we can test all the other stuff when we re-install

 

Ok... I'm about to write back now so, I'll ask him if rebuilding it would be out of the question. Hopefully they will. I'll keep everyone posted ans as soon as I get it back, I'll video-tape it as well. Wish me luck!

Deac

 

Wrote Vortech back and asked them to rebuild the blower and they responded already! Heres what the manager wrote:


Again, there was nothing found wrong with your compressor. Our Q.C.
Department passed all components and there were no visible irregularities in any components. What I am going to do for you is this, I am going to replace all the components that could possibly cause a noisy compressor. That would include the gears, bearings, gearcase and gearcase cover. The compressor housing and impeller could not cause any noise problems. I am going to do this at no charge to you (keep in mind, we found nothing wrong with your unit) and I am going to pay for FEDEX, next day air freight back
to you. It will receive "in-house expediting" and your compressor should leave on Monday 072202 and arrive to you by the end of the day, Tuesday 072302, barring any problems (I do no anticipate any). I hope that this is satisfactory for you? I understand that you feel you have been treated unfairly and I hope that this "goodwill" gesture will help to mend some of the wounds?

Thank you.

Steven M. Boychuck
Production and Product Support Manager
Safety Coordinator
Vortech Engineering, LLC


Excellent gesture on teir part and to Vortech's credit, Mr Boychuck here has been the only one who has expressed any interest in actually helping me. I'll have the blower back in a few days and we'll test it out and see what the story is... WITH VIDEO TAPE!!!

Deac

 

 

I would also video tape segments of the install where the blower with S/N is very visable is going into your system.

Its good to see that Vortech is trying.

 

I will tell you that you might just have to deal with the loudness.

Back in the day when I used to be runnin' with the Ford guys, I had one of the loudest vortechs around. I mean this thing was high pitched grindin' and everyone heard it as soon as I pulled in a parking lot. There was a group of about 8 of us that all had the same blower set up and we all had different sounds and pitch.

One guy was actually running an obscene amount of boost and his blower was the most quiet all of our cars.

I know thats not what you want to here but I thought it might help.

 

This was Vortech's argument as well but.. did yours start off really quiet and then gradually get louder and louder? Thats what happened to mine. First few months there was just the gentle cricket sound which I thought was cool... then after a while came this little/annoying grinding that got louder and louder... this made me believe that something was going wrong with it that needed to be fixed before the blower completely went on me! So I sent it back andall the mechanics and other Maxima guys that heard it said tere was soething wrong with it so...this is too big an investment to let somehing like that fly. I had to get it checked out....


Deac

 

Cool~!