Is it normal for the air pump to come on while at a red light or stop sign? I know its supposed to come on on cold starts and then shut off but occasionally I hear a vacuum cleaner under the hood. It stays on for less than 5 seconds.

Could this be the relay needing to be replaced?

 

If it IS the air pump, and it comes on then goes off, then probably not the relay.
When the relay contacts go, one of 2 things happens :
1. the air pump NEVER runs.
2. the air pump runs till it burns up. ( you can usually hear and smell this )

Pull the big orange 40 amp fuse out of the RCM and see if the air pump is really what is running.

Where in Alabama ?

 

Alabaster. You're in clay co right? Im positive its the air pump but I dont know whats making it come on. It makes the same exact noise as on startup but its only sometimes when stopped. The headlights dim also and the car lurches forward just slightly.

 

Read my post here about this. I know you said you are sure it is same sound, but double check.
Either way, it is typical. The surge is from idle drop from the high amp load.


https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...tml#post857746

 

The system is tested first time you stop after your car has warmed up. If you hit the gas before the test is finished it turns off the pump and tries again later.

 

Interesting, is there any documentation on that? That does make sense, I'll pay more attention on my car as well.

 

I've heard my ssb rescue srt do the exact same thing..only once at the first red light after warm up and figured it was the computer performing a function.

 

I had option 2 happen to me. I was lucky enough to find a used air pump on ebay and it was still $250 i think is what I paid for it. New they are going for like 900 and the srt-6 is unique to it. You can find plenty of base xfire air pumps srt6 NOPE.

That was the most expensive failure Ive had happen on this car.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the feedback. The situation everyone else has described is what is happening. So working as intended?

 

Mine did this on every drive, for the entire time I owned it.

Cold start, pump would run for a bit.

First stop after car was up to temp, pump would run for ~5 seconds and shut off.

Totally normal

 

Now that I know it is totally normal, I need to find out why my black SRT doesn't do that. Reminds me of my AC/Heat instructor who once said, "How do you know if it has a problem when you do not know how it runs when it is running properly?"

 

Is this a manual transmission only process? I have been paying more attention to it, and I notice it a lot now that I am looking for it. I see it happen when the temp gauge is maybe 25% over Cold, and when at a full stop for a couple seconds. It only does it once per drive as described, and not when stopped soon after driving and it is very cold, but it does not need to be at normal temp. I wonder if it is tied to a distance driven?

 

No, my SRT did it as well.