Hey all,

I just picked up an SRT-6 w/23k miles as my "play car" for a steal from my local bimmer dealership. I've always been a FI fan (previous boosted cars: 2 wrx's, sti, evo9, gti 1.8t, s/c'd 4runner) and I'm thoroughly enjoying the srt, but I have a few concerns.

-The car sometimes surges right when I get on the throttle. I'm assuming that it's the s/c engaging. Is this a sign of the ic pump failing? I'm planning on ordering a lightning ic pump asap...
-there's a fluttering noise that occurs at part throttle when the engine is under load...almost like internal wastegate flapping noise on turbo'd cars or an exhaust leak. The noise goes away if I downshift with the autostick and also when the car is at speed >70mph.
-the car feels pretty sluggish at part throttle and the tranny won't automatically kick down a gear unless I use the autostick. Again, I'm guessing that the ic pump is dying. Is this just characteristic of mb's? (I read this somewhere awhile back on mbworld). It hustles along perfectly fine at WOT though.
-Oh, and do you guys think I should get a warranty? It seems like the srt6 is pretty reliable besides a few issues that aren't too expensive to fix.
-Finally, any Cali bay area SRT owners want to have a get together sometime?

Thanks in advance guys/gals.

James

 

Welcome to the forum. I don't notice a noise at part throttle on mine. It should down shift with a push of the go pedal down to the switch on the floor. Mine hasn't shown pump problems yet so I am not sure on the rest.

 

If your car surges then dies off that sounds very much like the intercooler pump. these crappy boch units die quiet often many avoid getting another stock unit and get the Johnson pump which flows better and lasts 10x longer. Do a seach for Intercooler pump opn this site you'll find lots of information.

 

Welcome new SRT owner! Glad to see you found us.

If the surging you are talking about is happening from a dead start, then yes it probably is the SC engaging. Comes on at about 1300 RPM.
While at speed and you get on it, you may notice a slight hesitation. That is the split second delay that it takes the throttle body to react to your foots input (electronic throttle).
As far as the IC pump failing, if the car runs like the dickens while cool and then falls on it's face once you abuse it for awhile, but then runs like the dickens again once cool. Then yes it COULD be the IC pump. I replaced a perfectly good pump only to find out that I still had the same problem. The fix was when I moved my heat exchanger higher up into the airflow.

Can't help ya on the fluttering noise. That's a new one on me.

Warranty can save you butt IF you need it. Well, do you feel lucky or not?

 

Welcome to the forum. You may want to do a throttle reset. Search threads. My car downshifts during regular driving, when not using autostick. That is because I regularly use autostick to downshift approachig a light. The car remembers your driving habits. Use autostick as much as possible after reset. It will take bit to synch with your driving, but eventually you will feel the difference. If the car hesitates a little when you get on it, try it with TC turned off and see if that takes car of it. You may have to describe the fluttering a little better. Doesn't ring a bell.

 

Welcome.... Im in Cali, but the LA area
If by surging you mean quick acceleration, hesitation, then acceleration again that could also be traction control..

 

I have two fluttering sounds also, but I cant be sure if its what you describe. Here are my descriptions, let me know if you're close to them.

At 40mph and above, I get a fluttering sound. Most would say its just wind noise, but it never happened before, you can trust me on that. Its loud and new. I haven't gone up to 70mph+ with this new fluttering so I'm not sure if it goes away.

I believe shifting into lower gear makes it less noticeable.

Which brings me to my point that I think its tranny related... I also get hard shifts and loud chirps from my tranny whenever accelerating hard, including if already moving fast in the first place.


The second fluttering is completely rpm related, at both idle and driving. Most likely a bearing in a pulley.

And about your warranty question.... Chrysler has done nothing for me with warranty except several "Thats normal" responses, so paying for an extended warranty seems pointless for me. Now my car is modded anyways. But remember, they can turn you away with a "Thats normal" all they want unless you're willing to take it to court. I'm not.

 

At 40mph and above, I get a fluttering sound. Most would say its just wind noise, but it never happened before, you can trust me on that. Its loud and new. I haven't gone up to 70mph+ with this new fluttering so I'm not sure if it goes away.


I may be a nit ***** but at the races at MIR, the guy next to me lost a most EXPENSIVE plastic top windshield trim piece. We were about 80 MPH at the time. To check I would use blue painters tape to cover the forward leading edges to block any air to see if that makes a change. Youve reported a speed related noise and it is easy enough to test this before you get a suprise.

Failing that drive by a wall - barrier to allow the external noise to be reflected back into the car as another way to determine if it is on the right or left or both to localize it a little.

W O O D Y

 

Haha, that would be I. Woody, I actually lost it further down the track though. Maybe 100+mph? Regarless, I didn't hear any flapping/fluttering sound prior. I did hear it when it came off! I was like, "WTF was that"?!?! I thought I ran over something. lol. Now it has to be repainted!