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  #1  
Old 11-08-2007, 01:00 PM
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Instrument panel warning lights now on??

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.

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  #2  
Old 11-09-2007, 01:10 AM
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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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  #3  
Old 11-09-2007, 06:01 AM
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Doesn't sound like the alt, a short of some kind behind the dash.
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  #4  
Old 11-09-2007, 09:22 AM
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Simple first

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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  #5  
Old 11-12-2007, 11:44 AM
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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?
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Old 11-12-2007, 11:49 AM
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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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  #7  
Old 11-12-2007, 12:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
My 77 300d had those symptoms when the alternator quit. I've never heard of oil causing a short in the ignition switch.

maybe it's both
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Old 11-12-2007, 06:48 PM
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Does sound vac pump related, a rebuild or replacement maybe. Check there first. You may want to clean out any lines, if you get most of the oil out, should be OK. Brake cleaner is my choice, but may not be practical.

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