new to me 300TE died. help please

[djugurba]

Last week I bought an 89 300TE, all records since new. I spent quite a bit of time looking through the records, making sure that most of the 'typical' stuff for this car had already been done. Oil changes were religious, head gasket/valve job already had been done, a/c serviced, etc.

So, today, I was driving around in traffic, all gauges normal, and then traffic sped up a bit. I passed a car at 30mph, and then the dashboard warning lights lit up like the proverbial christmas tree. The car was still running, but it seemed like the engine and transmission were not connected. (!)
Then, after about 10 seconds like that, it stalled. I was already pulling into a parking lot, and I got it parked ok. I popped the hood, and there were no signs of catastrophic failures- a bit of steam from where there is a drip or two falling on the exhaust, but no new fluids anywhere to see. Looking underneath revealed nothing as well- oil level normal, coolant a little bit low but not unusual for just having stopped at op. temp.

I tried to start it, and it cranked, but wouldn't turn over. Not wanting to cause further damage, I quit and towed it to the shop. So, monday I'll get a diagnosis. What is yours? What a crappy April Fools joke on me!?!

thanks in advance,
Kevin