no fault with the starter will cause the battery light to come on, the only thing that will ever cause the battery ight to come on is an issue with voltage due to the alternator, or a wiring fault. it COULD be that youve shagged the blue wire taz is on about when youve been playing around with it, 20 years getting blasted by heat from a turbo couldve caused it to become brittle, and when youve moved it, youve broken it.

if the noises started at the same time the battery light came on then id say its deffo something alternator related. have you checked the belt tension etc?

even without seeing the car ill put money on the issue being with the alternator or belt somewhere along the line.