Last night my wife was in construction traffic on I-77 in SC. The 300SD she was driving stayed under 80 degrees the whole time until after she got out of traffic. Then, the battery light and brake light came on. The temp gauge started to move above 80 and then she pegged to 120! She called me and asked me what to do, so I told her to pull over now. I left to get her and the car. Two hours later I was there and loaded the car on my trailer. Got home at 2am this morning. Upon inspection, both alternator belts appeared to have come off. One was shredded and the other hanging. I assume one threw the other - hence the warning lights and overheat. Pulleys look good, water pump ok, etc. So I am assuming they were loose, as the power steering pump is slowwwly leaking and beltswith slight oil film (they have not been changed since I have had it approx 4mos). It will be a good time to change out the P/S pump with the extra one in the trunk. She probably never heard the flapping sound they made prior to all this. My question is, How probable is it that this OM617 engine will have suffered long-term catastrophic failure? It usually runs under 80 degrees all the time - even with the a/c chilling cold and 98 degrees outside. It has 300,000 miles on it and runs strong.

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Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi