We have a 2005 STR6 which we recently drove over 5,000 miles on a cross country fifteen western state vacation. The car is "like new" with only 21,000 miles. It worked perfectly until just at the end of the trip as we approached home. Then I noticed that the boost started cutting out. In other words, when I pressed the gas there was no supercharger boost, only the power of the engine, no throaty supercharger sound. The automatic transmission would downshift as with any car and the RPM on the tach would jump up noticibly, but there was no added supercharger power (or sound). It was very noticible. Then after a while of driving the supercharger would kick in again when I pressed the gas. I started timing this and it happened regularly about every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. That is to say, the supercharger would work for about 2 minutes, then nothing... and it would go with the engine only power for about another 2 minutes... then the supercharger would work again.

Upon return I took it to the local Chrysler dealer in Springfield, Missouri and explained the problem. I told them about the 1 1/2 - 2 min. intervals and told them that when the car is first started it works perfectly and they would have to drive it for some distance to observe the problem. They kept it a week and then called and said it worked perfectly and they couldn't duplicate the problem. However, I drove it home and the problemm was still. Obviously, they didn't drive it for any period of time or they would have noticed the problem of the supercharger cutting in and out -- because it is very noticible because the car not only sounds different, but there is no power. It's like a day and night difference in performance.

Now I don't know who to turn to or what to do. The problem is still there, the supercharger only cuts in part time... about every 2 minutes. This could be potentially dangerous, for example, if I were to pull out to pass someone and press the gas expecting to be rocketed ahead... and nothing happens (except for regular engine power). When this happens at 60 mph. it feels like I'm driving our Ford Windstar van... the transmission downshifts and the RPMs go up, but there is no kick in the pants acceleration.

Because it happens regularly at apx. 2 min. intervals both ways -- i.e., it works or it doesn't work -- it seems to me like that would indicate some sort of electronic malfunction rather than a mechanical problem. It would seem like a purely mechanical problem would be irregularly intermittant or full time not working. But I don't know anything about superchargers or how this car works. Obviously, the local Chrysler dealer mechanic doesn't either. Of course, they don't get a lot of the rare STR6s to work on. (In fact, in Spokane, Washington when we took it in for the regular synthetic oil change the mechanic came out as we were ready to leave and thanked us for letting him work on our car. He had always wanted to see and work on the supercharged Crossfire.)

I would really be grateful for some ideas, suggestions, solutions to be able to take back to the dealer and tell them what the problem is, or what to check, or where to look or what to do. I was tempted to tell him, "Would you mind just calling the Mercedes service manager and asking them what to do?"

I should say also that it doesn't matter if I'm driving slow in city or fast on the highway... or if I'm driving at a steady speed or accelerating... every apx. 2 min. it just stops working. No boost. Keep going for another apx 2 min. and press the gas and suddenly it works again.

Thanks for your help.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Before someone tells you to search "Supercharger pump" or something similar, you will probably discover it is the intercooler pump that is going/gone out. I had to take my car to a dealer in Kansas City twice before I told them to check the IC pump. They asked why I thought that, and I told them to just do it. A day later they called all pleased with themselves and said they discovered the problem was the pump to the turbo! After I told them that I hoped my car did not have a turbo, they admitted that they have never seen an SRT6 before, let alone work on one.

You will just have to take it back and demand they check the pump.

 

It sounds like it's time for a new intercooler pump. If you have a warranty take it to the service manager and tell them it needs a new charge air pump.(IC Pump)

 

Yo Larry if yer a DIY'er type of guy there are pics of the IC pump in the Super Cooler How to Thread.
The steps there will assist you in getting access to it. Replacement pumps can be found at some of our vendors and on the WWW (Ebay).

Pic of the pump for ya here. Go for it!

 

I lost my pump at 23,000 miles.
Acted just as you described your situation only I never took mine to the dealer even though I was under warrenty for I knew where I wanted to go with the replacement.
Truly it is an excellent first DIY repair for an SRT owner with MINIMUL tools and experiance. A couple nuts and bolts a couple hose clamps (which you should replace with new), wire snips, connectors and you just saved money while making a repair decission on your own and cutting your teeth on an SRT.
Good Luck
Montana

 

Good Morning Larry D. , With the support you've just been given you know you just have to give it a try. You can do it. After reading everyones replys to you; I'm actually looking forward to mine punking out so I can bolt on a new one. Here's another place to get the stock bosch one. Bosch Intercooler Fluid Pump

 

Hi Larry, if for any reason you do not want to do this repair yourself, I suggest you print out the instructions and picturs from the forum and thake them with you to a shop you trust. Thats what I did and the shop qwner said it was a time saver and made working on a car they were not familiar with an easy process. Now when I do mods I can actually get estimates based on the forum instructions and pics.

 

Thank you everyone!

Larry
from the beautiful Ozarks where we can't wait until the leaves change so we can put the top down and drive those wonderful rural, roller coaster curvy roads in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas to look at all the Fall color.

 

If I had one of those little computer cameras hooked up here you would see me typing flat on my back. I called Chrysler Parts to see if they had an Inter Cooler in stock or how long it would take to order one... and the price. After a long delay he said what I heard as $30,000. "$30,000!!!" I live 45 miles out in the country away from Chrysler. He didn't even need a phone to hear me repeat that! "No", he said, "About $3,000, not $30,000... $2,7-- and change to be exact."

So, I thought I'd better re-read these emails more carefully and I saw that everyone was saying to replace the "Inter Cooler Pump", not the Inter Cooler. Checked the Bosch price and it was more like $129.

 

Yes, the inter cooler would be a bit pricey..... not sure about $3K though....

The pump is what you found for the factory Bosch.... you can upgrade to a Johnson CM30 for a little more...check Needswings or ebay.... The DIY replacement with either is pretty easy as mentioned.....

 

Larry D, That is pretty damn funny. I really laughed when I read this! Laughing with you, not at you! Sounds like you're attacking it, good luck. Bob

 

It is the Inter cooler pump. I had mine replaced under the Certified used warranty. So if its Warranty go with the stock pump. If not get the Johnson Pump. Bosch seems to have issues with their products. The Bosch High pressure Fuel pump in all of the BMW twin turbos is a pos.I went through 3 in 18000 miles. It was a 135I I was glad the lease was up and I could give it back to BMW its their problem now.