Alrighty, the dreaded noise which appears from time to time on the car has come back and i have narrowed it down. First off, the noise is like a rock being blown around inside a pipe (bad description i kno) , it is very hard to describe. I have narrowed down that it only occurs in the low rpm range, specifically 1600-2100rpm. I have also gathered that it is a wheel/suspension issue as i was testing to see if it would specifically occur in a turn and i spun the wheels quite rudely (2 seconds) and viola it occured. It is quite strange noise and im pretty sure its not mechanical ,altho i am probably wrong. My magna is a mostly stock 98 TF, it seems to be happening when the car is warm and when it is cold. I take it may be my CV joints possibly, but im not sure that they would make a noise like this and the car does not behave differently in turns and/or acceleration.

SO, what i was thinkin is taking the car to get a wheel alignment? or wheel balancing? to see if it sorts the issue out? I would really appreciate some input on this as i kno im not going to keep driving the car if that noise goes on.

Cheers

Does it only happen whilst the car is moving ??? if its a suspension/wheel issue you should be able hear it regardless of the revs ... more about car speed ...

A few of us have had a problem with the 'flap' in the exhaust coming loose -- where the front and rear piping joins. Gets fixed by installing extractors or cutting it out. It occurs at about 1500-2500rpm ... and sounds super metalliky (like pebbles on a tin roof).

Does it sort of sound like a sharp clunk? almost a "crack" (Like baning your knuckles on a really hard surface?)
My TE has a noise like that that only happens every now and then and I have no idea what it is.

-Dan

Exactly like that Tooslow. You have described it perfectly and im sure it is definately that! How would i go about repairing/replacing it, because i will not b installing extractors. Does any one have information on cost also, and places in sydney which perform the job (im guessing any exhaust shop).

Cheers, thanku so much!

Also if anyone knows the actual name of the part/technical procedure that would b great as id like to do some research into this.

So this noise only happens when you accelerate sharply at low speed?

If so, it could be your engine mounts....check them for cracks, etc.

A warn or cracked engine mount can create strange noises in your driveshafts, etc.

Could be the noise you are hearing...

Also if anyone knows the actual name of the part/technical procedure that would b great as id like to do some research into this.

The cheapest fix is to cut the flap out and throw it away.!!

Any good exhaust shop will be able to do it for you. My mechanic did it for me (good mate so it cost me nothing) ... should'nt take more than 30 minutes. Basically have to cut into the exhaust at the join, remove the flap (if you want you can clean up the welds in the pipe) then weld the pipe back up again.

Or you can get new pipe from mitsi ... but then it would be cheaper to have extractors installed !!!! :)

It happens at slightly higher revs, if you have a trailer or a car full of people and the engine is loaded up.... I thought at first the CAT was stuffed, but the noise sounded way to far forward to be the cat, we spent ages with a stethoscope trying to find the bugger ...

Here's another thread on engine noise:
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6887&page=2&pp=10

A few checks you can do whilst the front of the car is on Jack stands: (If you have em')

whilst the car is on the ground, go to each corner and apply a downwards force directly above the strut towers, you got to use your whole body weight. Pump it down and release it and repeat it a few times and listen for any clicking or knocking sounds that may or may not be audible. Also your hands should try to feel for any sudden sharp vibrations on the strut towers when you're pushing down and letting it come up. As any clicks or knocks will point towards drive shaft and/or shocks/spring.

checking for tingy/pebble metallic sound:

1) *EYE PROTECTION IS NECESSARY* while the car isn't too hot for you to touch, reach underneath the Cat and hit it hard with something soft(eg your palm), try to listen for the sounds that you are hearing when you're driving.

2) Try hitting different parts of the exhaust (eg your Flex pipes, intermediate resonators, etc...).

3) Check that your CV boots are in good condition, eg no cracks, holes, fluid, etc... and feel it by squeezing on it, try to feel for something that out of place, eg sharp edges that shouldn't be there.

4) grab hold of your drive shafts and try to shake it about, listen for knocks or clicking sounds, as they shouldn't be that loose.

5) visually check your shocks for fluids or worn shaft, check that your spring is seated properly in the strut.

Slayer had similar, tinny, rattling noise and it was fixed under warranty by replacing "engine piping" ie the exhaust pipes after manifold and before Cat. I presume it's the flexible joint.
I have similar prop with headers, and I'm quite confident it's coming from the flexi joint.
It only rattles under load around 2000 RPM and repeats at some 3700 etc. One cannot hear it on idle, hence impossible to check when car jacked up and gear engaged - not even when applying brake to increase load. Sigh. Annoying.
I'm still pondering what to do about it. Big enough to bother but small enough not to take the car out for another 2 weeks.....

Alrighty well the noise has sort of smoothed out at times, but is definately still there. I wil check the engine mounts (anyone kno how to properly do this????) if not im thinking that if i take my car in for a service (150 000km) they might find it (not mitsu), or should i just directly take it to an exhaust shop (anyone kno any good shops in Sydney, dealt with magnas before).

Cheers

I had a similar intermittent rattle at a low rev range. Found a piece of glass had fallen between the exhaust pipe and the metal heat shield cover plate underneath the pipe. Worth checking. The covers are easy to remove and replace.

Thanks for the response.

Strange things are indeed happening with the noise as it started making it again this morning in the cold (the car was cold too) for about a minute and a half while driving, then kaput, smoothed out and have not heard it since. Very strange i thought. Not sure if this is it but i filled up with bp petrol late yesterday and since then it had slowly gone away, not making it as loud and only sometimes. Possibly the petrol is smoother or i filled up with low grade petrol which aggravates the nosie.

Just glad that the annoying ***** is gone lol Now i hav to concentrate on my front bumper, which someone backed into today and left no note. grrrrrrr :rant: i wil probably be leaving it, just touched up the places were the paint has fallen off (scratches and dent look a bit ****ty tho). I kno it wil happen again so il just wait until it does and a note is left so i can gt a brand spanking new one! lol wishful thinking....

Soz for being a bit off topic,

Cheers