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 (not from spinning tires ), 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!!!

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

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.

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1981 300D 205,000 mi.

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.

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1981 300D 205,000 mi.

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.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

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.