My old 93 magna has been having a few issues as of late:

1. The battery light has been coming on and off in the last few weeks. I've noticed when the battery light is on, the stereo sometimes cuts out then back on as well. Car still starts strong, first time every time. Could this be a battery, alternator or wiring issue?

2. Car also makes a weird rattling noise under heavy acceleration / load. This noise only starts when the car is fully warmed up and is most evident between 1900-2300 rpm in each gear and seems to reduce considerably above 2300rpm. I've tried higher octane fuel and this did not seem to reduce the noise much if at all. Any thoughts?

Cheers

"Could this be a battery, alternator or wiring issue?"

If it starts well, not the battery. I'd measure voltage output from the alternator - when the brushes wear out the battery light flashes. Should get a steady 14.4 volts at the battery when running.
Could be wiring if the radio cuts in/out.

Rattle? Exhaust leak, not cam chain (2.6L) rattle as that is most obvious at hot idle, exhaust rattling on body work? Broken engine mounts? You really need to get someone to rev the engine while you stick your head under the bonnet and look for problems.

You really need to get someone to rev the engine while you stick your head under the bonnet and look for problems.

The noise only occurs when the car is moving such as accelerating up a hill so its very hard to look under the bonnet for the noise.

And ill grab a multimeter and check the voltages.

The noise only occurs when the car is moving such as accelerating up a hill so its very hard to look under the bonnet for the noise.

And ill grab a multimeter and check the voltages.

About the battery light, mine was doing that, the brushes on the regulator were just about worn out, I bought a new regulator off ebay and replaced it myself, very easy to do.

The noise only occurs when the car is moving such as accelerating up a hill so its very hard to look under the bonnet for the noise.

That would be the drive shafts then. Do a few figure 8's in an empty car park and see if they go CLUNK CLUNK, or RATTLE RATTLE.

About the battery light, mine was doing that, the brushes on the regulator were just about worn out, I bought a new regulator off ebay and replaced it myself, very easy to do.

Or if your a cheapo like me you can buy the brushes and replace those yourself aha

Also not a hard job, no worse than a starter motor atleast ;)

Ok, slightly confused. These are the voltage readings across the battery terminals:

Car off: ~13.8 V
Car on and no battery light: ~14.8 V
Car on and battery light on: ~17.8 V


That would be the drive shafts then. Do a few figure 8's in an empty car park and see if they go CLUNK CLUNK, or RATTLE RATTLE.

Theres no clunking noise, it just rattles. I drove it just before and the rattling noise was gone even after the car was warmed up. I then turned off the car, let it sit for 10 minutes and then drove it again and the noise was back.

My old TM Magna years ago done that, it was over charging and it was the regulator, which has just to screws that hold it onto the alternator, easier to replace the regulator with the alternator out of the car. cheers


Ok, slightly confused. These are the voltage readings across the battery terminals:

Car off: ~13.8 V
Car on and no battery light: ~14.8 V
Car on and battery light on: ~17.8 V



Theres no clunking noise, it just rattles. I drove it just before and the rattling noise was gone even after the car was warmed up. I then turned off the car, let it sit for 10 minutes and then drove it again and the noise was back.

Car off: ~13.8 V
Car on and no battery light: ~14.8 V
Car on and battery light on: ~17.8 V



Over voltage on the last reading. Sounds like the regulator is stuffed, but check your alternator leads and battery connections, there might be a high resistance somewhere.

Rattle = some heat shield? 2.6 has a big one on the front of the exhaust to protect the radiator from heat, that one can rattle if you have lost some of the 5 bolts.

(But honestly, you are on your own with tracing this rattle, I'm in SA and you are in Tasmania, I can't quite see your car from here - it needs a close-up eyeball to find it.)

But honestly, you are on your own with tracing this rattle, I'm in SA and you are in Tasmania, I can't quite see your car from here - it needs a close-up eyeball to find it

aww i thought youd already booked your flights! but yeah, im about to order a new regulator off ebay see how that goes. and the rattle, its annoying but tbh the car still goes fine and its been rattling for months.

cheers youve been a big help :)

go to the last post djb made

after some checking it isn't an engine noise

a guess

it will be timing chains and cogs

could be tappets

if the motor has high kms could be worn balance shafts

well the odo says 315k. i have no idea wether its an original engine or not though. are any of those things you mentioned reason for immediate maintenance? im just hoping it lasts for the next 2 years im at uni!

well the odo says 315k. i have no idea wether its an original engine or not though. are any of those things you mentioned reason for immediate maintenance? im just hoping it lasts for the next 2 years im at uni!

Probably original engine - but check the engine number against the registration details, engine swappers never update the rego info.

Will it last? Or do you fix it?
Your choice . . . . . . A lot of them at the wreckers with 315,000 km or less on them, because the owners didn't think they were worth keeping on the road.

i got the car to make the noise at a standstill! it wasnt in gear and had handbrake on. i revved it hard and quite rapidly from 2k - 3k rpm and very briefly it made the rattling noise each time it was revved up.

i also looked under the car and i think ive found the noise location. its coming from underneath the car, just behind the front wheels. i can guarantee it is not coming from the engine.

does this narrow it down at all?