4: The rods don't "tick", and piston scuffing is definately a deeper sound also, sounds like lifters. Many of us run Mobil Delvac 1 / Turbo Diesel & Truck synthetic oil with good results in reducing/eliminating the tick after a few-thousand miles.

5: Most common cause is the OVP relay, do a search on OVP, it would affect ABS ASD and A/C also IIRC (does on the 124).

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff