is this usual too?

[TheMackinator]

when i fire up my maestro it makes loads of bang noises from somwhere under the bonnet i aint got a clue what it is and where its coming from

[Simon]

Engine mountings are slack, exhaust hitting crossmember. Is your car a 1300 because if so that would rule out power steering.

[TheMackinator]

no its a 1989 1600 if that helps

[Simon]

Look under the bonnet, if the cambelt cover on the left hand side of the engine near the antifreeze tank is long and extends rearwards towards the bulkhead, leading up to a sort of black horizontal cylindrical tanky thing with an upstanding chimney and a serrated black cap on the top, then you have power steering and that could be the root cause of your problems. Also your steering rack could be loose on its mounting bolts on the bulkhead.

[TheMackinator]

yeah i have got that black thing