hey all .. wow had no idea there was a dedicated Magna forum !! Talk about being in the cave too long...

Anyway.. Im glad I found this site because my Magna is dying (I think) and was hoping some Magna docs here would be able to offer solutions.

I have a 98 TF Executive. I have had an oil leak issue for about 2yrs now.. haven't done an oil change either in that time. She has been making a growling noise on start up in that time as well .. sounds like a loud GRRRRRRRRRR until engine warms up.. noise seems to go so I never bothered looking into it. drove fine.. no power loss.. no warning lights.. no smoke out my exhaust.. I just topped up the oil every 6 months or so.. there's also oil in the spark plug hole..

now Melb city got flooded a few weeks ago and i got stuck driving through a flooded street.. made it through and got home no prob.. but water was high up.. didnt get in .. but i saw dirt and debri around the sides in the engine bay .. not sure what happened but from then on.. the grumbling seems to have faded .. replaced by a continuous growl .. its rather loud and you can hear the car from 20m away..

its not going away.. even after warming up.. when I turn the AC on.. the noise quietens.. not completely but by 50% .. when AC fan stops.. noise growling comes back..

what the hell is it? how can I fix it or temporarily fix it? I am a handy man but dont know enough about this engine.. If I knew what was wrong, what to get, where to get it, how to fix it.. i could.. right now im in the dark..

Umm some more details on the car.. 230ks on the clock, auto, ? anything else you need to know just ask..

Help? lol ... :hmm:

Call Malcolm at Mits Fix - the best place in Australia for any Magna issues.

He's in Heathmont on Canterbury road. 0428 105 282

Actually his website says 0437 225 852. Must be a new phone (I know the first number works though).

http://www.mitsfix.com/

P.S. His account on here is "Madmagna".

i had the same thing when i drove in a bit of water,turns out it was my ac compresser gone

You're going to have more problems than that if you haven't been changing your oil or servicing the car :P

Get Mal to check it out :)

Mals the man :P

No service for 2 years?:eek2:
Madmagna (Mal) is your man! He's the best around here!

sounds like aircon compressor or idler bearings.
go see Mal. you'll get a kick up the bum for not changing your oil though!! neglect is the best way to make a car cost more money than it needs to..

Take it to your local mechanic and get it looked at ASAP.

Sounds like either your aircon idler bearing or your actual aircon bearing, I am more than happy to have a look if you want me to, my contact details are in the mitsfix contact section if you want to call and make a time. I am located in Heathmont

hey all .. thanks heaps for all the tips.. after taking it on board and reading a fair bit on the forums.. I have now done an oil change and when I got under the car.. found drive belt in grave need for replacement.. which I did.. and thanks to the forum.. i was able to isolate where the noise was coming from.. with the belt off, when I spin the air con pulley.. it makes a loud grinding noise..

@madmagna.. thanks so much for your offer of help.. and i have stored your number.. i live in west melb and its a fair drive to where you are.. is it safe for me to continue driving the magna? I know i have to get this fixed but do i have to park my magna until i do or is it ok to drive around with the noise?

also, can you possibly offer diy solution for it? ie.. how do i replace bearings? what do i need to do? where do i get parts? etc etc..

im actually having fun with this :)

awesome awesome forum!!

Someone posted recently on removing and replacing the magnetic clutch assembly on the A/C compressor whilst in the vehicle - description seemed pretty simple is you have a suitable puller to remove pulley and replace the bearing which will also need a vyce/press. But if it was me and I lived in Melbourne, I'd take it to Madmagna based on his reputation and save all those hassles. Just for info I've added the link to the Sanden Comp service bulletin: http://www.sanden.com/images/SD_Service_Guide_Rev.2.pdf