So my car wouldn't start the other night. A year ago I have put in a new alternator, new belt, and new battery. I had charging problems for a while because the belt was worn down. After I replaced that things were good.

The belt is nice and tight so I don't know what could be wrong. Any thoughts?

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1982 MB 300D Turbo 360k daily driver
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (only goes in reverse)
1947 Dodge pick-up (has old 6v(?) system and won't start)

Need more specific info.
Starter would not crank engine at all?
I tried to start but only could hear a click?

Started cranked the Engine OK but Engine would not start.
Is your Battery Dead?
When the Car was running was your Charging Light glowing Red?

Here is a situation that happen to me:
After driving a Realative to the Doctors I started my Car and drove to a local Restraunt to eat.
Afterwhich, I got into my Car and turned on the Ignition to start and nothing happend at all.
By dumb luck I had a Voltmeter (Multimeter) in my Car and was able to find out the my Battery voltage was abnormally low and droped to zero when I turned the ignition key on.
(I had no charging problems or a charging light come on to indicate my Battery was not getting charged and I had started the Car including using the Glow Plugs each time; 4 times that day with no indication of a problem.)

I walked across the street and bought a new Battery and installed it; started the Engine and tested with the Voltmeter which showed good charging; and drove home.

Something inside of my Battery must have gotton old or Damaged.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Pleas note the text in the Yellow box at this site:

http://www.aa1car.com/library/2002/cm10220.htm

Charging system stuff is further down on the page.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

If you're near an AutoZoo, they'll check the system for free, it may be something as simple as replacing the voltage regulator.

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83 SD

84 CD

The only light that goes on and stays on is the parking brake light (I think).

The belt was constantly too loose so I ended up getting a new belt. I recently tightened it and now something is making a lot of noise when I throttle the engine. This happens both in idle and drive. I think it's either the alternator or water pump because the sound only happens after I tighten the belt.

It didn't even turn over when I tried to start it the over night. Before that time the starts kept taking longer and longer. I have a feeling that my alternator can't handle the load of both the lights and the radio because the no-start happened on a night that I drove around a lot with both of those power zappers on.

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1982 MB 300D Turbo 360k daily driver
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (only goes in reverse)
1947 Dodge pick-up (has old 6v(?) system and won't start)

The idea to have the Chargeing System Tested for free was a good one.

The noise could be a lot of things. If the Pulleys are Oily the belts will slip.

Some members have had the Nut that holds the Alternator Pulley come loose.

If you have a Harbor Freight store near you they have Volt/Ohm Meters for less thatn $5. What type of voltage you are getting when the car runs is needed information.

When you first turn your ignition key on all of the warning lights should light up. It is set-up this way so that you can see if there are any light bulbs burned out on your warning lights.
If the charging indicator light is not lighting up when you first turn the key you need to check and see if the Bulb is burnt out.
The reason for this is that you Alternator needs that Bulb to complete the circuit. Without that bulb your alternator will not charge.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I have a lot of oil leaks, so is it possible that the oil is making the belts slip? If so, how should I fix this issue. This car was running fine throughout the summer but now I have all these problems.

My battery light does come on, but only after I have taken the key out of the ignition and the engine has not yet shut off.

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1982 MB 300D Turbo 360k daily driver
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (only goes in reverse)
1947 Dodge pick-up (has old 6v(?) system and won't start)

If the belt is oily, that may be your problem. If so, fix the leaks and clean or replace the belt.

That's normal.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.