Hi all

I have a w reg v40, battered but loved, but I am having a few issues suddenly with it.
1. It rattles when it's idle, sort of a rhythmic rattle for a few seconds, then silence, then it rattles again. Years ago, I would have called it 'pinking' but maybe I'm the only one!!
2. A few times in the past week, all the dashboard lights have come on at once, and the car has slowed to a stop; power steering is gone and all power is gone. If I turn the engine off and on again, it's fine, but I now only drive the car locally cos it's really disconcerting.
3. The level of power has dropped (it feels like I suddenly have four flat tyres). It's not all the time and I've never got the car much above 60 anyway as it complains, but it happens more often these days!

I just want to know what I'm up against before I try and find a mechanic. I would rather fix it than scrap it but I also don't want to waste money if the car is, well, jiggered.

All advice is welcome but please be aware that I only know enough about cars to be dangerous, so stuff will need explaining to me!!