Well, my check eingine light has been on for a couple weeks now, but it turns off after about 5 minutes of driving, so i thought nothing of it. Now the last couple of days, there has been an intermittent screaching noise that happens in the first couple gears then goes away in the higher gears, and will eventually just stop after a little driving. So today while driving, randomly all these warning lights on my dash turned on, The service light, wipers, broken light, battery, brake, parking, and ABS. What is happening to my car? It drives perfectly fine. Is it time to bite the bullet and take it to a shop? If so, any recomendations for a good shop in the chicago burbs?

Linas,

Regarding the weird warning light display. A loose or slipping alternator belt, or less likely but possible, alternator/wiring problem, is causing the battery not to charge to the proper level. It's likely you have only a loose belt, but what ever the problem, you aren't getting enough juice to the battery.
Low voltage at the battery will cause those warning lights to start coming on. If it gets low enough your Brick will shut down and the battery will be completely dead. So you need to get this attended to before you get stranded.
As pointed out already, you can check and change the alternator belt relatively easily.

Dear Linas,

Good a.m. and may this find you well. You can change the alternator drive belt yourself, if you have a basic set of socket tools. If this is the case, let me know, and I'll post a detailed procedure.

With the engine OFF, you can test drive belt tension with your finger. Go to the center of one side of the belt. Press down with your index finger. If the belt is properly tensioned, you should be able to depress it by 3/16" (4 mm).

Further, if the belt has cracks or is shiny, then the belt needs to be replaced. Generally, the hotter/drier the climate the shorter is driving belt working life: heat speeds-up rubber's loss of flexibility.

If you alternator belt has worn out, chances are the other belts need to be replaced. The only one even slightly difficult to do is the airconditioning compressor drive belt. It is short and so gives you less wiggle room.

Hope this helps. Post back with your findings.

Happy Holidays and a Good, Healthy New Year!

Yours faithfully,

spook

That would be your alternator belt - not sure of the exact name - but its the one that attaches to the alternator. The screeching was probably the belt slipping. The belt has either broken now, or perhaps it could have slipped off the pulleys from being too loose. Make sure you don't drive the car, as your alternator is not charging your battery.
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'93 Volvo 945 w/128K miles