Answer
 

I tweaked the title, as this type of mechanical issue is fairly common.

Thanks Jimmy! I just happened to be on at the time. Reminded me of when that happened on my old '73 Grand Prix. Bearing on the alternator went out...lots of white smoke :eek:(not from spinning tires :D), and noise. When I got the car runnign again, I could see the alt pulley spinning in an oval. Belt was toast so I cut it and hit the local Chief Auto parts for a ne alt and belt.

This also happemed on the MB when the A/C compressor clutch bearing went out. Grinding at first, then smoke and sqeal, and broken belt, which managed to miss all the other belts, but managed to wrap around the clutch fan resulting in a very loud fan... That was fun...NOT!!!

:thumbsup2:

Thanks for the title change, I looked to see if I could do it last night.

Loosened up the alternator belt, and that turns freely by hand. I noticed that when turned to 'glow' the blower motor comes on ever so slightly regardless of what temperature setting its on. with the hood open I heard a pretty loud 'humm' coming from the alternator.

I just recently put the aux fuse in to get the blower working. I switched the dial all the way to blue since it warmed up. Now I have not tried to run the a/c in two years so my next guess is the ac compressor. I'm not seeing exactly how to loosen it, but I'm sure I could. Is there any reason I can't just cut that belt? (Need car soon, don't need a/c soon) Even if its not that and I can't get ac no loss.

No problem cutting the AC belt, it doesn't do anything else.

Success! I read in another post that even if the compressor is seized, if it is disengaged it will still spin. So I disconnected it, set the climate to hellfire, and the vehicle ran just fine.

I'm still going to cut it, just to be sure. Going to Michigan this weekend.

Now to find how to get the right tension for the alternator belt I loosened.

on the alt tension, loosen all three bolts (17 or 19mm) on the back side of the alt, then spray PB blaster, AeroKroil, or lastly, WD-40(if you use WD, let it soak a day or so...) on the 13mm funky looking bolt in line with the belts, then gently tighten it until the belts have 13mm of flex in them pushing with your finger in the longest part of the path. then tighten up the three back bolts. simple.

Recycled
 

for new members

1981 300SD. When the AC locked up, it killed the engine. I cut the AC belt and drove home fine. Replaced the AC a week later. If locked up, it will absolutely kill the engine.