I ruined my alternator with mud. Don't be like me. (1 Viewer)

[tbisaacs]

This weekend I explored the central Washington scab lands with my daughters. Epic trip, and a total mind-bender in terms of getting this kind of terrain in Washington.

In a foolhardy attempt to get just one more smile from the girls - I hit a mud hole on the way out. A big one.

Trouble started about 120 miles from home. The battery light came on and I watched the volt meter start dropping. My X2 power 27F got me 113 of the 120 miles before the truck sputtered and died. During that time, the AHC light came on, as did VSC, Airbag, and e-brake light. The center console also went dead.

I jumped the truck with my NOCO but it was too late. The truck wouldn't run. I ended up putting the truck on flat bed and dropping it off at my local indy shop. No surprise, the alternator was full of mud and had zero output. The X2 however did survive and held charge.

I get the truck back Thursday. Stupid expensive lesson to learn. For those of you keeping track, this is the second alternator I've paid for - first one died of natural causes though, not stupidity.

 

[mcgaskins]

Ouch that does suck! I honestly hate mud (not the forum), but sometimes it's unavoidable. It has a way of finding expensive stuff to destroy and is such PITA the clean! I feel like the alternator and even the engine is overly exposed to mud, water, etc. in the 200 which is frustrating especially how you can see the engine block from the wheel well. I'm sure it's designed that way, but it seems like an oversight to not have better splash protection from the tires specifically.

 

[Docboy]

Ouch, sorry to hear. Great pics of you and kids btw, and great weather this weekend for outdoor trips.

Which Indy shop did you decide to use? Greg's Japanese in Renton?

 

[M1911]

It's too bad we don't have an alternative like the water-cooled alternator for the Series 70. Pricey, but reliable: PDP Sealed Water Cooled Alternator

 

[tbisaacs]

Ouch, sorry to hear. Great pics of you and kids btw, and great weather this weekend for outdoor trips.

Which Indy shop did you decide to use? Greg's Japanese in Renton?

Yep! Anecdotally there was another dark gray 200 parked in the bay next to mine. I wondered if it was someone on this board, but they naturally wouldn't give me a name.

 

[kelly saad]

I did this last year at HIH. I was hitting every water puddle hard, it was so fun. I get to the top at Lake Como and there it is, the battery light. Last place I wanted to see a battery light at nearly 12k ft at the top of a pass in CO! Made it back to camp and we pulled the alternator, cleaned it out and it worked fine after that. Lots of mud in the alternator though for sure, it gunked it up.

 

[cmck]

I did this last year at HIH. I was hitting every water puddle hard, it was so fun. I get to the top at Lake Como and there it is, the battery light. Last place I wanted to see a battery light at nearly 12k ft at the top of a pass in CO! Made it back to camp and we pulled the alternator, cleaned it out and it worked fine after that. Lots of mud in the alternator though for sure, it gunked it up.

What @kellysaad said, clean it in the next “water hole” it really depends on the amount of mud..... my skid plate keeps some out I’m sure.

 

[bloc]

This is one of the design details of our trucks that I dislike.. that alternator is mounted quite low, putting it in the line of fire of mud and water if actually used off-road.

For those of you keeping track, this is the second alternator I've paid for - first one died of natural causes though, not stupidity.

How long did the original go?

And while water isn't good for an alternator either, it's a lot better than water plus sand. Do you think stopping the truck and maybe dumping some water on the alternator to rinse the mud out would have helped?

 

[tbisaacs]

This is one of the design details of our trucks that I dislike.. that alternator is mounted quite low, putting it in the line of fire of mud and water if actually used off-road.



How long did the original go?

And while water isn't good for an alternator either, it's a lot better than water plus sand. Do you think stopping the truck and maybe dumping some water on the alternator to rinse the mud out would have helped?

Original was replaced at ~ 110K. Rinsing it off might have helped. I've read similar stories on T4R/Tacomworld about people pulling alternator in the field, rinsing it out and being able to restore charging ability. But, was in the desert at the time, and pulling the alternator is a huge pain. In hindsight maybe I could have found a car wash along the way.

Lots of idiot tax paid on this one

 

[Fisher23]

Are you running after market skid plates?

 

[tbisaacs]

Are you running after market skid plates?

Just OEM

 

[Fisher23]

Looks like a cool trip, like the mojave with plants.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Good to know. Thanks for the heads up!

On another note, any chance you'd share the area/roads? PM is fine if you'd prefer. Always looking for new places to explore!

 

[VooDoo2]

Water cooled, completely sealed mine spec alternator... Works awesome!

 

[tbisaacs]

Good to know. Thanks for the heads up!

On another note, any chance you'd share the area/roads? PM is fine if you'd prefer. Always looking for new places to explore!

Happy to share!

GaiaGPS - Whiskey Dick - long loop

www.gaiagps.com

The west side of this loop is closed from February - April 30th for Elk breeding. The signage is pretty good. You can’t get lost. Most people refer to the trail as the “green dot roads”.

I’ll definitely go back to finish once it’s all open.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Happy to share!

GaiaGPS - Whiskey Dick - long loop

www.gaiagps.com

The west side of this loop is closed from February - April 30th for Elk breeding. The signage is pretty good. You can’t get lost. Most people refer to the trail as the “green dot roads”.

I’ll definitely go back to finish once it’s all open.

Wicked, thank you!

 

[M1911]

Water cooled, completely sealed mine spec alternator... Works awesome!

View attachment 1943422

Is that designed for the 200 or the 70?

 

[razzyrazz]

For those with aftermarket skids, do they go a long way in preventing this from playing in the mud? How effective are they at minimizing mud in the engine bay? Skids weren't on the list as not a lot of rock climbing trails out here, but I really enjoy mudding.

 

[TonyP]

1VD
Sold by Perth Diesel Performance.
No 3UR option that I know of.
Also, they're silly expensive, $1700USD. You can buy a lot of spare alternators for that much.
I'm not unhappy my L92 has a high-mount alternator.

Sealed Water Cooled Brushless Alternator | 70 Series VDJ

The PDPSA70B water-cooled alternator is designed for prolonged service in extremely dusty, wet and corrosive environments. The alternator components are completely sealed in IP68 rated housings. The alternator is water-cooled by connection to the engine coolant system. The alternator housings...

perthdiesel.store

 

[bloc]

I'm not unhappy my L92 has a high-mount alternator.

Third best thing about that motor. First? the power figures. Second.. the sound.