OVP question
 

Wife just called about her E300. The A/C quit blowing cold. The lights on the dash were glowing, not on but faintly glowing. All other gauges were working according to her.

I have noticed that the tach will take a min or so to get going once in a while after start up.

I have been reading a few threads on here and the tach and A/C seem to indicate a possible issue with the OVP. Not sure about the gauge issue.

Does it sound like a OVP issue or am I barking up the wrong tree.

Before anyone asks, I have not seen the car yet as she is at work so I have no idea and have not looked at anything. If it is an OVP I want to run out and get it so I can put it in when she gets home.

Second issue.

She said when she has the wheel cranked all the way over there is a "crackling" noise. Handles normal on the freeway just on a hard turn (parking). Any idea what to look at first?

Check the voltage at the battery with the engine off and then running.
I'd look more at the voltage regulator in the alternator if the readings are low.

Also check serpentine belt/tensioner. How many miles are on it?

Mileage is about 160k.

what readings am I looking for?
 

What readings am I looking for.

11.5 to 12 off, 13+ running Iirc. How does serpentine belt and tensioner look? If you pull on belt how much slack do you have?

Cars not home till 730 tonight.

OK. Not the OVP or the regulator. The spring for the belt tensioner popped off. It was laying in the belly pan.

I took the belt off the PS pump and was able to get the spring back on but now I cannot figure out how to relieve tension to get the belt back on. I thought I remembered to stick a cheater bar in the little hole on top where the spring hooks onto and push it toward the driver side. I took the wheel nut wrench to it but it won't budge. Do I have to loosen the nut? Whats the trick?

I assume this means the shock on the tensioner or the tensioner itself is bad. I did discover that I need a new belt.

Look closely at the part the spring hooks on to at the top. There is a 13mm fastener there that you need to remove the nut and using a 3/8" ext through the hole in the part pivot it up till you can push the bolt back towards the car. This will allow the part to swivel down allowing you to mount the spring. Inspect everything closely. Sounds like there may be an issue that caused the spring to pop off.

I got the belt back on by removing that bolt. thank you.

I am pretty sure the shock is worn out. Seems like there are only two main parts the shock and the spring. the pensioners its self seems solid.

A question about the lower bolt on the shock. if I loosen it, is there enough room to slide the bolt out enough into the pully to remove the shock or does the pully need to come off?

Iirc you can romove the bottom shock bolt without removing the pulley. You will need to remove the belt, spring and upper shock bolt. With them removed you should be able to move it up enough to get clearance.

On my gold 95 e300 I have just had to replace the tensioner itself at 265k miles. Seems the bushing was worn which was causing the pully to be misaligned causing the belt to run off towards the front of the car.