So I just managed to adjust and fix my alt-belt tension and thus recharging problem, which then started a little belt squeeling new problem which seems to have died down now.

It's hard to imagine that this is related, but right after fixing the above problem, I am now getting a weird hum/whine sound from what seems to be right behind the gauge cluster. It's def. related to speed of travel also. Another factor is that it only seems to crop up in the morning (cold, in 30's) while going to work, but then does not exist on the way home (high 40's low 50's?). I am thinking that it is somehow the speedo cable, and it's somehow sensitive to cold? Theo only other thing I can think of is perhaps the slow-idle knob and cable connection?

Any ideas out there? Common proboem perhaps? I've pulled gauge clusters, so I'm hoping it might just be something easy I can oil...

What kind of car?

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'83 300D 198,000mi Howard
'03 Saturn Vue CVT 75,000mi(wifeys)

1979, 300d, w123

Might need a new speedometer cable, but you could shoot some silicone spray down through the cable to lubricate it.

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'83 300D 198,000mi Howard
'03 Saturn Vue CVT 75,000mi(wifeys)

I've had that before on a couple of vehicles. Can vary from a low hum to a blood curdling screech.
On each, I have been able to stop the noise by applying a light coating of white lithium grease to the gears in the speedo assembly. A squirt of silicone down the cable won't hurt either.

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

... that seems to confirm my suspicion.. I will pull the cluster and do some lubrication and see what happens. It's weird that it's so temp sensitive. Did you find that your problem was that way as well?

Yes, absolutely related to temperature. I suspect that the old lubricant in there gets dirty and then thickens when cold.

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD