83 turbo diesel. driving on the highway and the three warning lights (ebrake, brakes, battery, as well as the low fuel warning) all popped on and now remain on.


it's been raining a ton here and i was really low on fuel (can't see how this would matter). there also seems to be feedback coming from the radio when i give it more gas. so i figure there is an electrical short. in my searches i've come up with the alternator should be checked as well as the grounds...

am i on the right track?

thanks.

You may be running on the battery at this point. Alternator brushes may have lost contact. Could be several other items as well, so you need to check battery voltage when engine is idling, then at a very fast idle, and when turned off.

Lots of threads on this topic, just use the search feature.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

Doesn't sound like the alt, a short of some kind behind the dash.

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83 SD

84 CD

Sounds like your charging system may not be working. Put a volt meter on the batt and find out how many volts. You say it's been raining that may be enough to make the fan belt slip causing the no charging. so check that first. Looking is cheep

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

I think I found the problem, well I know I have and it's a bit of a panic stricken one...

had vacuum issues with shutoff so I isolated where I thought the problem was (door locks) about a month ago and just plugged them off and the car would shut down but took a few seconds. Finally had some time this weekend (I work too much) and looked under the dash and sure enough oil was leaking from the ignition switch so I apparently have oil migrating through the vacuum system which must have caused a short in the switch causing the lights to go on.

This is really freaking me out. I had vacuum tested the IP and it worked with just one pull of the vacuum so I didn't think that's where the problem would be. I suppose it could be from the vacuum pump itself so that will be where I test next.

Is this catostrophic to have oil in the lines? My brakes work fine

How can I get rid of the oil in the vacuum lines? by sucking it out?

My 77 300d had those symptoms when the alternator quit. I've never heard of oil causing a short in the ignition switch.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13