hey all i own a 99 th exec manual with a 3.5ltr
i was driving down the freeway tonite and i hit sumthing i pulled over to see if wot ever i hit was still attached when i got under the car with engine running i heard a knock coming from the motor i thnk maybe bottom end that im not too sure on it.
you only hear it wen ur standing out of the car and it only does it at idle if u give it rpm you cant hear it, the car runs fine i dont really give it a hard time either, oil level is fine, 1st thing i checked wen i restarted car after a hour or so it wasnt really noticable until it was at operating temp then i tought lifters?
its not loud it at a mod level of sound

Is the car manual or auto?

If it's manual, does it go away if you push the clutch in?

My car makes the 'slightest' of knocking like noises, think its just a pulley.

Won't be a knock sensor problem - 3rd Gens don't have these.

I do remember a mitsu manger telling me something about an issue on some 3rd Gen's regarding the stock exhaust headers or exhaust piping knocking at idle. Can't remember exactly but I was having an obscure noise on ignition that use to s*%t me to tears. The Manager suggested that it might have been a problem with the exhaust headers but it turned out to be ignition related.

Good luck tracking it down.

i've got the same knock noise but its apparently not detrimental to the engine since i've heard other Magnas make the same noise. It's annoying because it makes it sound like a friggin diesel sometimes. People seem to think its the tappets, personally I don't think so, the tappets are suppose to have a tinging noise not a 'knocking noise'.

The sound is louder with the clutch engaged since the vibration is transferred to the driveline as well. But if the clutch is disengaged (pedal in) then the sound can't really be heard from the inside, but still exists if you are outside.

And its not the exhause flex pipe thats making the noise because I have that problem too and it makes a different sound.

Could be a few things.
It's probably been there for awhile but you only just noticed by steppin out of the car. Could be lifters, exhaust manifold, a belt/tensioner. Best bet would be for a mechanic to take a look at it.

You said it's just after you hit something, are you sure you haven't done something really nasty like dinted your sump?

i put it on the hoist today at work the noise wasnt there till i got home i had it on a stethascope and everything i cant hear it in the car so im dnt think it the clutch i know it makes at slight knock sumtimes when u press the clutch but thats not the knock i hear the sumps fine i dont see any damage.
it will only do it after its been running for a while at operating temp
i only noticed it last nite before i got under the car it was niticable yet not loud that it can be heard down the street
it sound like behind the timing covers or in motor
1 of the boys at work said sumthing about a modified timing belt and also the balence shaft of sumthing that have been known to go ???

a modified timing belt? lol
Well we'll soon find out when I replace my overdue timing belt with a Mitsubishi geniune one.

It definitely sounds like a bottom end noise to me, and its not the gearbox (noise goes away upon clutch disengagement) and it can't be the clutch because I had that replaced 2 months ago (noise has been there for over a year now).

It's not the idle pulleys or accessories belts (pwr steering, alternator, a/c) because I've taken them off as well and did a test run.

I was thinking something to do with the crankshaft bolt or pulley, but I never thought about the balance shaft, so you may be on to something.


You can read about my problem here: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14816

i put it on the hoist today at work the noise wasnt there till i got home i had it on a stethascope and everything i cant hear it in the car so im dnt think it the clutch i know it makes at slight knock sumtimes when u press the clutch but thats not the knock i hear the sumps fine i dont see any damage.
it will only do it after its been running for a while at operating temp
i only noticed it last nite before i got under the car it was niticable yet not loud that it can be heard down the street
it sound like behind the timing covers or in motor
1 of the boys at work said sumthing about a modified timing belt and also the balence shaft of sumthing that have been known to go ???
they don't run a balance shaft, and its not a modified timing belt, it was a shorter ancillary belt (not sure which one) an the removal of one of the ancillary rollers, i am aware of it on some 3rd gens, not 100% sure which models, i know some 3ltrs had it done.
Get to work early tommorrow, when the car is warm and i'll have a proper look and compare it to mine.

they don't run a balance shaft, and its not a modified timing belt, it was a shorter ancillary belt (not sure which one) an the removal of one of the ancillary rollers, i am aware of it on some 3rd gens, not 100% sure which models, i know some 3ltrs had it done.
Get to work early tommorrow, when the car is warm and i'll have a proper look and compare it to mine.

Hey Jake, you've got the noise too, remember we were comparing it one night :D

Just a thought, maybe its the oil pump.

i thought maybe oil pump

I've got the same thing in my TS. Nfi what it is, but it only happens once the car has been running for at least an hour or so.

if u know tell me cause it only seems to do it wen it feels like it when its hot

You might have a worn bearing or possible piston slap.

piston slap??? i never thougth that it could be that

You might have a worn bearing or possible piston slap.

Our commodore had a fun deep noisy knocking noise at idle, turned out being bottom end bearing. Sold and it died a few weeks later :D

piston slap??? i never thougth that it could be that
piston slap is more noticeable when its cold