Ok, I'm sure this has already been discussed, but not knowing what to search for, I'm at a loss as to how to find the answer. The past couple of days my car has been sqeaking slightly, sounded to me like a loose belt. Today however, the squeak turned into an earshattering squeal, that scared me so bad I pulled over and had AAA tow the car to my house. Now I'm trying to figure out what could be causing it and how to fix it. The squeal was accompanied by the smell of something burning, as well as the instrument cluster lighting up like a Christmas Tree. The instrument cluster actually started doing this several days ago intermittently so I assumed it was a short and simply hadn't traced it yet. At about that same time however the ride suddenly became rough at idle. Please tell me that it can be fixed, and that I didn't destroy something. I will try to answer any questions that may help in the diagnosis. Thanks in advance for any help I get this time, and many thanks for all the help I've gotten from the archives before.

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Doug

1984 300D 130,000 miles "Silver Blue Metallic"

dont know why it would affect the dash but it sounds alot like an ac comp. locked up.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Possible alternator due to the electrical issues????

Pull the belts and turn things over by hand to see if they are locked or close to locking. I had an A/C idler pully lock and unlock over a weeks time in the SL. Ended up cutting the belt since it didn't have working A/C anyway.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

Thanks. As soon as I get home from work tomorrow (I hate having to get a ride) I'll start pulling belts and checking everything to see if it's locked up. I'd been thinking about upgrading the alternator anyway, so if it's that, I guess now's the time. If it is the A/C compressor, I guess it's time to look into dmorrison's A/C rebuild, since it's not cooling well at all anyway. Hopefully I'll have her back on the road before too long. If there are any more ideas or suggestions from anybody, let me know, I'll take all the help I can get. Thanks again.

I guess I should probably explain what I meant about the cluster. I'm still thinking it's a short, b/c it didn't get any brighter, but half of the warning lights came on at once. All the warning lights on the left side came on, the ones across the bottom, as well as the reserve fuel indicator, they would then flicker in unison, then eventually, go out. Still sounds like a short to me, but I will check the alternator, just to rule that out. Thanks.

My fault sorry. Thought everything in cluster was far brighter than normal so ignore my post. Some seized accessory sounds much more likely.

It certainly wasn't your fault that I didn't explain things more clearly. I'm thinking the cluster is a separate issue, that'll have to be looked at on it's own. If it is the compressor, anybody have any idea where I can get a new one? Don't want to buy a rebuilt one, after reading the A/C threads, I've figured out that's a bad idea. Thanks

i had the same problem... when you alternater
belt breaks all the lights come on on the dash..

there are 2 belts... if they did not break then perhaps the alternator
sliped out of its adjusting guide...

or perhaps the alternator went bad...



when this belt breaks it breaks the hose from the tranny to the raditor
and when the car runs hot the radiator blows apart where the top hose connects to the radiator... both these happend to me..

You might want to have a look on ebay. Some like it and some do not but if the part is right, the vendor has perfect feedback or close, and the price is right why not? If I remember there were lots of pumps up the last time I looked. Does not hurt to have a peek after you know the going price elsewhere.

if the lights come on and there in the cluster its your
alternator...

a diesel will run without an alternator for a number of days but
the problem is that your fan is not turning as well so it will run hot..

the squeeling indicates a belt problem.

Tried to start it today, to just pull it into the driveway where it's more comfortable to work on. The squealing could apparently be heard inside the house, and there was white smoke. I'm beginning to think I need to have it towed to the mechanic, as I don't feel comfortable removing too many things myself.

start it up and look at the belts. something is locked. if it is the ac compressor, just cut the belt and drive it wherever you want to go.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Did you check your belts? Could be one is loose or worn down to a frazzle. If you look at the engine when it is idling you may be able to see which belt is not working correctly or which part is frozen up. Try squirting a little water on the belts one by one, if that stops the squeeling that's the one that is giving trouble.

the lights coming on shows an alternator or battery problem but
your ac could be froze and it could be causing the belts on the alternator
to messed up some how...

before you go to a mechnic just cut the belt to the ac...

if that don't solve the problem


then cut the belt on the power steering.....


if that don't solve the problem cut the belts on the alternator..

eventually it will be quite....

a frozen ac or frozen alt or frozen powersteering or perhaps a bad fan clutch... or any of these could have sliped out of place and a loose belt could be causing this...


after you cut them all and if your not able to do the repair you can still drive to the shop if its not to far away... the only problem will be that it might run hot.... so turn the heater on....


once i had a volvo and the ac froze up and it cause the engine to seize.... so i got out and cut the belt and it worked fine again.....

Well, I called the shop, (It's going to MPH here in Houston, one I've heard good things about here on the forum) and have it scheduled to be towed in the morning. I'd rather not cut the belts just so I can drive it to the shop since I have AAA and they'll tow it for free. The guy at the shop agreed that it's probably the alternator, but he'd like to take a look at it. I figure, if there's more to it, I'd rather let him find it and fix it, than just try to do it myself. Besides, this is my daily driver and I'd rather have it done soon, so I can drive it again instead of my old FORD Tempo. I'm the greatest procrastinator in the world, so it wouldn't get fixed for a while if I were to do it myself. I appreciate all the responses, they're the reason I frequent the forum. Nowhere else on the internet can you post a question and have so many people really try to help you solve your problem. I'll post updates as I find out what's wrong. Thanks for all your help.