Hey guys,

I can't for the life of me figure out whats wrong with my Magna!

This morning I started it up and everything was fine and running smooth. I drove it onto the hoist to do a service, and also to replace the engine/transmission mount closest to the radiator (because last time I serviced it I noticed it was broken).

I also removed the fuel filter to blow through it to see if it was blocked (which it is), so I will be replacing that by the end of the week.

Anyway, everything went smoothly, it all went together perfectly. I put oil in the engine and started it up, then all of the sudden the dash, console, etc started rattling really bad. And when I gave the engine a rev, there was a horrible noise throughout the whole car.

To describe the noise, it sounded like the exhaust system was removed from the cat - back. I took it for a roadtest and the noise just gets worse the faster you go, or more revs you give it.

I have lifted the car back up and checked the engine mount was fitted correctly and made sure the exhaust system was ok. I even got my dad to have a look while I got in the car and revved it.

I have removed all the heat shields from the exhaust system but nothing has changed it.

Has anyone else had a problem like this before? The noise is really loud in the car, and just makes everything rattle.

Thanks in advance.

Just got off the phone with someone I work with, they said that maybe the balance shaft belt has broken.... I doubt that it would have broken because I fitted the whole timing belt kit (with both the timing belt and balance shaft belt) at 243,XXXkms (November 2011), the car has now done 269,960kms and has been running really good with no problems in that period of time.

Only code that was in the system was 14 (TPS out of adjustment), but that has made no difference.

Ok, doesn't look like anyone else has had this problem before.

Replaced the fuel filter today and didn't notice a difference in power and still had the vibration/noise problem. Let me just say that the vibration was so bad that it made the electric mirror switch pop out of the dash.

Anyway never mind, I have an idea of what it might be, I just don't know how i'm going to fix it.

Since no-one has come in on this, I will. You refer to a balance shaft belt. As far as I know, ther is none on the 3rd gen magnas. Only the 4 cyl 2nd and 1sr gen Magnas (Astron engine) had the balance shaft.

As to the vibration, I got a vibration (not as bad as your sounds to be) when I did a timing belt job at 100000 km. I think that the wooden chock on the top of the jack may have been partially under the exhaust pipe when I supported the engine to remove the top RH engine mounting. This probably caused the splitter in the exhaust pipe junction to be dislodged. Since then it has had intermittent growls from the engine somewhere. I have never found the cause. It is worse when it is cold, and normally goes away completely as it warms up. The noise is nowhere near as bad as you make it to be. Mine is a 6 cyl magna though.

No balance shaft on the 6cyl. Check all exhaust bushings to make sure they haven't come loose.

Are you all <censored>? check his signature, he's got a 4g64 powered TF - which would have balance shafts as the sirius family used them.

Anyways, I have seen a balance shaft bearing shit itself of a 4g63 (HH galant - ended up ruining the timing belt and benting the valves), plus i've heard an incorrectly installed balance shaft belt (ie was 180 degress out - was in a 2.4l express) - really just made a heap of noise and a bit of vibration through the whole vehicle.

If you think its the balance shaft belt, take the timing cover off and check it.

i dont think the timing marks will line up though. the usual way to reset the balanceshaft position is to get everything back to zero, take belts off. there's an inspection hole on the left side of the motor. stick a screw driver in the whole - the screw driver will fall through if the shaft is in the right position. if its not, keep turning it. mark the line up ready for timing belt. Second balance shaft (behind the oil pump) just needs to be lines up with marks from memory.

tbh, i ended up deleting the shafts in my sonata (4g63)... one less belt, and you dont need to bother lining anything up except the cams + crank.

There is a balance shaft belt on the 4G64 1997 TF Magna, I replaced mine so I know it has one haha. I know that the V6's don't have one but the 4 cylinder does.

Anyway, today I noticed that when I was revving the engine from the engine bay, the engine wouldn't move at all, not even 1mm. I think that the rubber in the new engine mount must be too hard because it has made it more solid.

I replaced one of the exhaust mounts because it was broken but that didn't make any difference.

Are you all <censored>? check his signature, he's got a 4g64 powered TE - which would have balance shafts as the sirius family used them.

Anyways, I have seen a balance shaft bearing shit itself of a 4g63 (HH galant - ended up ruining the timing belt and benting the valves) and i've heard an incorrectly installed balance shaft belt (ie was 180 degress out - was in a 2.4l express) and really just made a heap of noise and a bit of vibration through the whole vehicle.

If you think its the balance shaft belt, take the timing cover off and check it.

Thanks for pointing that out mate. I was simply asserting what erad said, then adding my own input. For the record, no I'm not a <censored>. Thanks for the compliment.

The problem seems to be with the new engine mount. I removed the centre bolt and the vibration stopped and everything was smooth again. Except for the knocking noise from excessive movement. I may have to try a different brand engine mount, or if that fails, just refit the old one. Only problem with that is it will be a roadworthy issue.

If you have both engine mounts out, can't you compare them with just the force from your hands. Unless the new mount was vertually solid, it seems strange that a mount alone would give such a problem.

Is it possible that by removing the mount you are only stopping the vibration from the balance shaft being transmitted to the body? If so, it's still a balance shaft issue.

Was it a genuine mount? I had a Nissan Pintara once and tried about 3 different aftermarket mounts but they were all different to the original one. I ended up having to buy a genuine one. The companies that make them are hopeless.

Was it a genuine mount? I had a Nissan Pintara once and tried about 3 different aftermarket mounts but they were all different to the original one. I ended up having to buy a genuine one. The companies that make them are hopeless.

It was an aftermarket mount and I think you are right, I will have to get a genuine mount. For now I have refitted the old engine mount because I couldn't stand driving it because the vibration was that bad. All nice and smooth again now.