UPDATE: With the engine running, I grabbed the fan and stopped it from spinning. This didn't make a difference in the noise I was hearing. The noise really sounds like it is coming from the Alt. area I used a pair of mechanic's stethiscopes (sp) and the alt. doesn't sound too good. Also I took out the reg. and one of the brushes has a serious groove cut into it and the plastic part that the brushes sit in is chewed up, from a spinning object. I swap the reg. from my wife's TD and this didn't fix my lights on the dash problem. I then removed my wife's reg. to put back in her car and there is evidence of it getting worn just like my original reg. I put her's back in her car and luckily there aren't any problems. I am fairly confident that the alt. bearing inside in gone, rounded out, whatever you call it. It is Sunday, I can't get a new alt. from Fastlane TODAY, but also don't want a Mcparts alt. from Autozone.
Advice, opinions?

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member