O.k. So I took my own advice and just now called the mechanic. He didn't remember me but knew the problem I described. However, he didn't know what gasket it was either. He heard about the problem when it first started happening but never acutally fixed one because of the cost involved. He said he could do some research to find out exactly what it is but I didn't ask him to do that since I wouldn't have him do the work. So it looks like I'm back to square one. :rolleyes:

Scott

And you are sure that it isn't a exhaust/intake gasket leak where the manifolds meet the head?
Mine had a wistle to beign with and by the time I was ready to change it, it had turned into a full fledged exhaust leak with the "put put put" at mid throttle and the old beater truck "boom boom boom" under load...
Also..it whistled something firece as long as it was making boost.
This is a cheap repair so you might check to see if it is the cause of your noise.
Easiest diagnosis, listen for RPM dependent exhaust popping...
If that isn't it...try looking for soot marks on things...between things...etc.

Brandon

It's the seal behind the turbo at the exhaust manifold. Verify that you don't have excessive exhaust back pressure (a plugged trap oxidzer will cause that seal to blow and whistle like crazy on cars equiped with one).

The surging cruise control is fixed by installing some extra hoses and a restrition in the boost control line. It is caused by the air recirc valve opening and closing (boost is vented off for light throttle cruise conditions, switched back on when throttle is opened more or load goes up), and the cruise amplifier has already opened the throttle up -- oscillation yank-yank-yank and zooming up and down on hills. Very irritating, and can be cured by pulling and plugging the vac line to the air recirc valve.

Some cars are much worse than others -- the 300D used to surge 5 mph or so on hills until the vac acutator blew and I disconnected it. Milage dropped, though....

Peter