100.4 Miles and NO supercharger yet

[FINALLY 13]

Hi -

I just bought a 2008 GT 500 and we seem to be having a problem with the supercharger. We were told by the service and sales people at the dealership, that the supercharger would kick in at around 50 miles. Well, 50-60-70-80-90-and now 100 miles and NO supercharger.

We called the dealer and they are now saying that it needs to be flashed on the computer. Is that right, or are they just saying this because they don't want to admit there is already a problem?

I may be a woman, but I'm not stupid and I definitely would know the difference if the supercharger had kicked in on its own. We just traded in a 2005 GT and the 500 feels almost exactly the same.

Can anyone ease my concern. I'm just wondering if any one else has had anything similar happen.

Thanks for your input.

Angie C.

[steele138]

are you driving just a few miles and stopping?the key has to be cycled so many times(quite a few) or drive a extended drive without shutting the car down before it will let you rip.
good luck
scott

[Brian K. Green]

Here is a letter that we received from Shelby Automobiles Inc. about a recall that has been issued and a possible problem if the dealer does not reset it right. It is possible that this recall has already been performed on your car and they made the mistake. I hope this helps, because there is no way that a GT500 will only perform like a 05 GT. It should run circles around it.


Letter from SAI...........
April 23, 2008



Attention Shelby Owners - IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Owners of Kenne Bell, Paxton, and Wipple superchargers


This information has to do with the Ford recall notice with respect to passenger side airbag. If you decide to take your car into your Ford dealership for this recall, they will need to tap into your vehicle's computer to correct the problem. They will need to re-program the RCM (Restraint Control Module). It takes them a very short period of time and you should be on your way without incident.

Here is where it gets tricky. If by accident the technician goes into the PCM (Power Control Module) instead of the RCM, they will essentially replace your existing power tune with whatever is in their programming module. If you have a Kenne Bell, Wipple, or Paxton Supercharger, then you have a vendor-unique tune. If the technician accidentally wipes out your unique tune, Ford cannot re-program it without obtaining the unique vendor program direct from the supercharger vendor.

If you encounter the worst case scenario, and your program gets wiped out, have your Ford dealer contact Shelby Automobiles Inc. directly. We in turn will work between the Ford dealership and the respective supercharger vendor to insure that they receive the tune needed to re-flash your PCM. DO NOT have the Ford dealership contact the supercharger vendor directly. The MUST contact Shelby at the following telephone number:

Shelby Automobiles Inc.
(702) 942-7325
Doug Sinclair (ext. 105)
Bud Mahoney (ext. 140)
Donnie Beson (ext. 145)

Please take this communication to the Ford dealer if you are intending to act on the passenger side airbag recall notice.

Donnie Beson
Director of Sales
Shelby Automobiles Inc.

DEALER TECHNICIANS -- ATTENTION:
BEFORE plugging IDS into the DLC of this vehicle, please be sure you have your IDS software updated to version 53.12 P20 or later. This vehicle is equipped with an aftermarket PCM calibration that will identify to IDS as a stock calibration. It is CRITICAL that you DO NOT REFLASH THE PCM of this vehicle under any circumstances. Engine failure WILL result, for which the dealer will be held responsible. If IDS informs you that a later calibration is available, do NOT flash the vehicle. Any PCM calibration updates necessary will be handled by Shelby Automobiles Inc. Also, if a PCM replacement is deemed necessary for any reason, prior authorization must be obtained from Shelby Automobiles Inc.

[Doug_GT350]

I don't know that much about them I have a Shelby GT but I have heard two different opinions first was that it had to hit 500 miles the other 50 starts Of course I could be all wet on both counts, just stating what I heard. Good Luck.

[Brian K. Green]

We took delivery of our '08 GT500 when it was still all wrapped up right off of the auto transport. The dealer prepped it and cleaned it up and we drove it away. The supercharger was working perfectly from mile 1. I have never heard anything about a break in period for the supercharger.

[Vinny]

I'm kinda' old school and don't know squat about PCM's or RCM's. But I would think that the supercharger,which is being constantly driven by a belt via the engine, should be working all the time, break-in or no break-in, one mile or 100miles. I would have to think that the computer(s) aren't allowing the engine to perform properly whether it's supercharged or not - or I missing something?
Vinny

[FINALLY 13]

Thanks so much for all of the information. I pulled it off the show room floor with 4.5 miles on it. We have probably done about 15 engine starts in the 8 days that we have owned it.
It makes me wonder if they did try the reset for the recall thing. I asked why the plastic and everything was off the seats on the show room floor when we were finalizing the paperwork, and they just said that they wanted the people to see the interior through the windows.
My husband works with a guy who just bought his wife a Shelby GT, and he said he had heard something about a computer reset also. He said they haven't really had an issue, but theirs is an automatic. I'm sure that wouldn't make a difference though.
We are going back to the dealership tomorrow morning, and our SVT mechanic is going to do the reset himself. I hope that does the trick. If not I'm going to be pretty pi****.

So for now --- Thank to everyone for the input. It really helped.

Angie C.

[Doug_GT350]

Originally Posted by Brian K. Green

We took delivery of our '08 GT500 when it was still all wrapped up right off of the auto transport. The dealer prepped it and cleaned it up and we drove it away. The supercharger was working perfectly from mile 1. I have never heard anything about a break in period for the supercharger.

Okay, you straightened my tie! Thanks like I said no authority on the subject.

I guess the old saying.... "Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than open it and remove all doubt!" applies....

Have a great day everyone!

[cobra_joe]

I picked mine up a couple weeks ago, it had 3 miles on it, I ordered one to be built it. The dealer told me the supercharger wouldn't engage until the car had 5 miles on it. Driving the car off the lot, it actually took exactly 10 miles before the super charge engaged.

It is unmistakable, you will know when the super charger starts whining - and you are kicked back in you're seat, that it is working.

If you have put 100 miles on it and no SC, the dealer needs to look at it, don't let them walk over you. Good luck.

[nt1m1d8er]

Originally Posted by cobra_joe

I picked mine up a couple weeks ago, it had 3 miles on it, I ordered one to be built it. The dealer told me the supercharger wouldn't engage until the car had 5 miles on it. Driving the car off the lot, it actually took exactly 10 miles before the super charge engaged.

It is unmistakable, you will know when the super charger starts whining - and you are kicked back in you're seat, that it is working.

If you have put 100 miles on it and no SC, the dealer needs to look at it, don't let them walk over you. Good luck.

Well, owners manual states 5 miles or 50 starts before the supercharger is FULLY operable. Dealer told me 500 miles or 50 starts. I've always heard about the 500 mile break in period for ANY new vehicle, so I'm being good. Currently 184 miles on the odie. I'll let you know if she kicks in at 501

[schmudlk]

Picked my gt500 in Michigan and drove it back to Wisconsin just short of 500 miles. At 60 miles I steped her down and saw 5psi on the boost gauge at only 2500 rpm. You should see you boost gauge go up if it is working. Maby go out and put 50 miles on it all at once and the give her some gas. Believe me it will be alot more than your 05 gt.

[FiaCobra]

Had boost just after the 50 mile mark.

Brian K. Green, how many miles on the odometer when you took delivery?
If you read the owners manual, i think it says "5 consecutive miles". I heard a few cars going at the 50 mile mark (mine included).
I would think your car got delivered with more than 5 miles on the odometer and someone at the factory had boost. My car was delivered with 5.2 miles on the clock but for some reason, i didn't get boost until after the 50 mile mark.

[Brian K. Green]

Ours had 5.4 miles on the odometer and as we drove it away the Supercharger was working.

[mjbarnet]

I drove mine home last week, had 7.7 miles on it when I drove away and roughly 14 miles by the time I got it home and in the garage. It felt slower than my 2005 GT. I step down on it twice and no whine and no boast according to the gauge. Guess I might have to drie it another 36 miles?

[gradona]

Very clear in the owners manual. Drive 5 consecutive miles and voila, SuperCharger.

[mjbarnet]

Originally Posted by gradona

Very clear in the owners manual. Drive 5 consecutive miles and voila, SuperCharger.

thanks for the info....my owners manual is still wrapped in plastic