The SDL died while my wife was driving it. She was slowing to a stop sign when it quit running and would not start. We towed it home, and it would only crank very very slowly, not enough to get going. There is smoke coming out the tailpipe when cranking. Inside the car I could hear a faint squeaky noise. When I stood outside and she cranked it it was ear piercing.

I took the serpentine belt off, hoping that it was a siezed alternator or AC compressor. No such luck. It still cranks really slow, but the squeak is not as loud as it was in december.

I know I have to take it apart and find out what is going on, what I want to know is where to start. My plan is to just start at the top and go down. Valve cover, head if needed, and keep going till I find something.

Does anyone have a better plan? any guesses as to what/where I should look for? 240,000 on the car, no signs of anything wrong till it quit.

any help appreciated. -Andy

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andy t
'78 300d
'95 volvo 850, wagon
'86 300sdl - engine out, maybe I'll have it rolling by June

whole bunch o' bicycles