Hello all, its been a number of years since i have been on the brickboard. (that is because volvos are so trouble free!)

i have a 1992 245. Yesterday, the instrument panel stopped working (no fuel, temp gauge or speedo. the speedo is driven off a sensor in the diff on 1992s). wiggling the ignition switch didn't work. then the radio started cutting out. the LCD display of the radio was on, but no sound on any channels, not even static.
then, about 20ish minutes later, the car starts having problems at an idle, then losed power and dies. it felt like running out of gas: sputter, then goes, sputter, then dies.

i tried starting it, and not a sound from the starter or solenoid. fiddled around a little, and then tried starting again. the starter this time attempted to turn over, but didn't have enough juice. all this time, interior lights and door ding work.

it took a jump start, ran fine at idle, drove for another mile (made it to friends house luckily) and then died.

i was thinking alternator or voltage regulator. but, there was no battery idiot light, and additionally, a charging problem would not explain the dead instrument panel. any ideas?

thanks for your knowledge!!