Car is '84 300D.
Wife goes to start the car this morn. and engine won't turn over.

Symptoms when ignition turned on:
1. Lamps in instrument cluster all dim (battery, seat belt, foot brake, brake pad sensor, glow plug, etc.)
2. Tachometer spins to max
3. Fuel gauge acts normal
4. Screaching/whining/buzzing sound coming out of engine compartment

Battery is about 2.5 yrs. old. Up until this morn. car had no such problems.

Searching archives, I'm suspecting the voltage regulator and/or alternator. Both units have a lot of mileage on them incidentally.

When I get off work, I'll diagnose further.

What say Oh-Wise-Ones?

Unfortunately you wound up posting this under wheels & tires. You might repost it in Tech. Until better advice comes along, check the battery terminals and ground site for cleanliness and solid connection. Next I would suspect the battery, regardless of age. Next is up to the pros. Ed

Thanks Ed. Finally I found the message - don't know how it got into Wheels and Tires...

I'm suspecting battery: 45 mos. old and voltage is 7.55VDC across terms. Could be alt., however, it was replaced w/a Bosch about 50,000 mi. ago. That doesn't seem like long for an alt.

I may have thought it was the battery - but how come the tach. meter spins to maximum??

Thats rather baffling.

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

voltage regulator would be my first check

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