LX570 buried in mud, lost alternator and electrical bugs. (2 Viewers)

[slowtraveladv]

Sorry time and help needed-
We were in Arkansas, Ozark National Forest over the weekend, 5.5 hours from home when I misjudged a hole, I didn’t think I could fit in the bypass without getting body damage on trees so we went for it and that a mistake…made it 3/4 way through and then found ourselves leaning to drivers side completely buried, battery light almost immediately came on so we lost the alternator quickly, luckily I was able to crawl out through the passenger side and winch our selves out. After another 30mins on the trail, multiple more mud holes and two river crossings we were back to a main road the Odyssey Extreme AGM Battery was now reading 11.5v and I couldn’t get 4lo to disengage. We limped to the closest mechanic I found (shoutout to Tim’s Auto Repair in Hagarville, AR) and he hooked us up on a charger and couldn’t have been more accommodating for the hour we were there deciding what to do next. Finally got it out of 4lo after turning engine off and restarting. Decided to book it to Toyota in Russellville to have the alternator replaced because no one local had one in stock. We then waited 24hours for a repair…got back on the road and immediately the electrical issues started, weird shifting patterns on the highway, interior lights flashing, no audio, door locks clicking and a blinking 4lo light. But the LX570 kept going 5.5hours straight home. I’ve got to strip it today and clean 30lbs of mud and silt out of the entire drivers side interior front to back.

Has any one replaced a carpet in these?

Any tips on electrical cleanup? Drivers rocker panel was under water so I’m going to start there.

And when we got home I noticed a slight whirring noise coming from the belt, so I’ll need to diagnose that as well.

Lesson learned, I will always turn around when faced with a mud hole in the future.

 

[stonepa]

Bummer. Mud holes are fine, as are water crossings. Just walk them first if there is any question about depth or the invisible bottom (large rocks, logs, deep soft mud).

 

[slowtraveladv]

Bummer. Mud holes are fine, as are water crossings. Just walk them first if there is any question about depth or the invisible bottom (large rocks, logs, deep soft mud).

That’s true, I made a bad judgement call, I saw tire tracks on both sides and didn’t want to get wet and paid the price.

Edit for new electrical bug, window controls on drivers door aren’t working

 

[stonepa]

Did you open your fuse box? Full of mud? Or check the ground straps?

 

[TheIcemanCometh]

Yeah bummer, you are going to be chasing electrical gremlins for a while. That really sucks.

I have an old pair of collapsable trekking poles I inherited from a friend. I was going to get rid of them. Now they are going in the rig. While I have inspected rocky water crossings not a mud hole. Poles would definitely be helpful. Especially those that are more mud than water.

 

[Willie G]

The quicker you get the interior bits disassembled and dried out, the better.

That includes electrical connectors, too.

The after-action cleanup is why I quit doing mud.

 

[grinchy]

Almost certainly you've got water in the main body connectors, definitely the wet side and maybe the 'dry' side. These are in the lower outside kick, on both sides. Distinctive square connectors with maybe 80 pins per, secured with a bolt.

There's also a fuse box up above the dead pedal, might want to have a look at that as well.

 

[slowtraveladv]

Just pulled up the kick panels, driver side very wet and full of mud, passenger side is dry. Fuse panel above the dead pedal was dry, engine fuse box was dry.

Looks like I likely had water run into the vents under the driver seat! Yay…

Should I disconnect those main body connectors? Only the lowest one appears wet and muddy. Anything I should look out for when or before I disconnect?

 

[grinchy]

Just pulled up the kick panels, driver side very wet and full of mud, passenger side is dry. Fuse panel above the dead pedal was dry, engine fuse box was dry.

Looks like I likely had water run into the vents under the driver seat! Yay…

Should I disconnect those main body connectors? Only the lowest one appears wet and muddy. Anything I should look out for when or before I disconnect?

Unplug the battery.
Take then halves apart. Blow air, use contact cleaner, add dielectric grease. You can also scrub with a toothbrush or similar.

 

[slowtraveladv]

Unplug the battery.
Take then halves apart. Blow air, use contact cleaner, add dielectric grease. You can also scrub with a toothbrush or similar.

Thanks for the tips!! Let’s see what else I discover over the next couple hours

 

[manofthewoods]

Unplug the battery.
Take then halves apart. Blow air, use contact cleaner, add dielectric grease. You can also scrub with a toothbrush or similar.

Just to add to the excellent advice above...
A quality electrical contact cleaner will do wonders; just make sure it’s safe for plastic (most are, I believe).

 

[TeCKis300]

Yes, unplug all the body connectors and let them dry.

In terms of specific cleaners, use 99% isopropanol alcohol. WD-40 (water displacement)has a specialist contact cleaner. Goal is to drive as must moisture out as quickly as possible.

 

[ryanCA]

Sorry to hear. Glad you are safe.

LX are replaceable.


You need new rear wiper blade.

 

[tbisaacs]

I believe this happened to @TN LX570 recently. Remedies described above, pull interior and check alllll the body connectors.

 

[doru]

+ use a room fan heater to heat up the interior and accelerate drying. You can even use two. Make sure you allow for strategic ventilation. Place them so they do not overheat plastic or leather to create heat damage.

 

[slowtraveladv]

Thanks for the replies and words of encouragement haha I knew I messed up but it could have been worse and while I’m pretty handy with the LX I was overwhelmed getting home at midnight and starting to assess the damage, starting to feel a little better now just getting everything dried out, doors are open carpets are lifted, body connectors are drying out. I’m thinking about the pulling the front seats out, all the others have already been pulled for the sleeper platform.

 

[ryanCA]

Thanks for the replies and words of encouragement haha I knew I messed up but it could have been worse and while I’m pretty handy with the LX I was overwhelmed getting home at midnight and starting to assess the damage, starting to feel a little better now just getting everything dried out, doors are open carpets are lifted, body connectors are drying out. I’m thinking about the pulling the front seats out, all the others have already been pulled for the sleeper platform.

Life is all about messing up, learning from it, and moving on

I like your attitude. Unlike most offroaders, you have no ego, and it is refreshing to see. Must be a midwestern thing. Best years of my life was living in St Louis. The people were amazing, the attitude was so cool, and genuineness was great.

I mess up all the time. Learn, move on.

Be humble , fix the problem, and enjoy life.

 

[grinchy]

Might want to get a small ozone generator to have ready for when it’s dry but still musty.

 

[nwfl4runner]

Best thing to do is yank carpet - you’ll thank us later. I did it a few years back, only issue is the connector to the cool box, which had to be disconnected and you’ll lose freon. With it out, interior will dry a lot faster. Yank the connectors and deep clean them. Dont half do it though, yank that carpet. Let me know if you need some pointers!

 

[slowtraveladv]

Best thing to do is yank carpet - you’ll thank us later. I did it a few years back, only issue is the connector to the cool box, which had to be disconnected and you’ll lose freon. With it out, interior will dry a lot faster. Yank the connectors and deep clean them. Dont half do it though, yank that carpet. Let me know if you need some pointers!

View attachment 3891063

I’ve been contemplating this all day…and I think you’re right, everything seems straightforward except around the console, how much of that did you have to remove?