Went through mud and battery light came on

[Propernice]

Hi guys. Got a 3 week old 21’ LC 200 that I took to an off road park today. The car did great went through some puddles. Mud pits, and climbed over some rock obstacles. On the way home a red battery light came on the dash and I see the volt meter get a little lower as I traveled to get home. Water was about as high as my front grill.

Did I damage the alternator going into the water

I plan to keep having fun with this thing. What can I do to prevent water damage to electronics under the hood.

Finally, what’s the safest way to clean a muddy engine bay?

 

[grinchy]

Did I damage the alternator going into the water

I plan to keep having fun with this thing. What can I do to prevent water damage to electronics under the hood.

yes, you likely did. Maybe you can spray it out, but probably not.

There is an Australian vendor that has just started to sell compatible water cooled, sealed alternators. check with @VooDoo2

 

[fjcruising]

I did the same in a previous life. Sunk it in the mud, bat light came on, alternator was full of mud (had to replace) and on the way to the dealership i lost the serpentine belt.

pressure washed the radiator, lightly cleaned the engine bay, 80k miles after, no issues. This was however, on an FJ cruiser. Lol wouldn’t sink the 200 the same way.

 

[molonlabemike]

Mud, the herpes of the off roading world.
For cleaning mud...allow engine to cool off. Get a spray bottle with purple power (no dilution) and spray it all over the engine and allow to sit for 5min. Please wash it off the windshield and outside fenders as it will stain it left on for too long. With a pressure washer with a wide fan pattern use your best judgment to wash all the mud off as best as possible. Without major scrubbing your not getting all the mud off. Allow to air dry or use a leaf blower to help remove water.

also make sure to to get the radiator really well as it will cause over heating of packed with mud and it’s not cleaned out.

 

[bloc]

If the 200 has an Achilles heel this is it. OP you likely have bought yourself a nice new alternator.

Also purple power and similar cleaners are pretty hard on bare aluminum.. wouldn’t be my first choice for use under the hood on a mostly aluminum engine.

I’d be doing careful work with direct spray from a garden hose nozzle

 

[molonlabemike]

If the 200 has an Achilles heel this is it. OP you likely have bought yourself a nice new alternator.

Also purple power and similar cleaners are pretty hard on bare aluminum.. wouldn’t be my first choice for use under the hood on a mostly aluminum engine.

I’d be doing careful work with direct spray from a garden hose nozzle

Professional detailer here by trade until 2 weeks ago. I have done hundreds of engine bay details without issue. Your issue is when you allow it to soak for extended amounts of time 30min plus. Follow my directions along with some common sense and it’s pretty much fool proof but like everything in life YMMV.

 

[Propernice]

lol

If the 200 has an Achilles heel this is it. OP you likely have bought yourself a nice new alternator.

Also purple power and similar cleaners are pretty hard on bare aluminum.. wouldn’t be my first choice for use under the hood on a mostly aluminum engine.

I’d be doing careful work with direct spray from a garden hose nozzle

Thank you. i was just about ready to use purple power as the other post mentioned. What type of cleaner do you recommend ?

 

[Sandroad]

lol

Thank you. i was just about ready to use purple power as the other post mentioned. What type of cleaner do you recommend ?

I’d recommend no cleaner. If your goal is to “..keep having fun with this thing.” then there is no reason to keep it in showroom condition detailed. Just water from a garden hose and maybe a wipe with a wet rag on the top of things will be fine and you’ll avoid regular use of cleaners. The heat of driving will dry things off. Just a good rinse and new alternator and you’ll be back out there having fun.

 

[kcjaz]

Be really careful with a pressure washer. Personally I’d use a garden hose with a nozzle or my thumb. Be really careful with the radiator.

 

[tbisaacs]

Mine did not survive, hope yours does

I ruined my alternator with mud. Don't be like me.

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...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[molonlabemike]

I really hope everyone is not learning that mud is absolutely horrible in almost every way possible with a $30,000-$100,000 rig.
Treat mud like it’s a 1 night stands in Vegas with a working girl. It might be the best time of your life but after a trip to the Dr and a prescription of Valtrax later you learned to stay clear of it unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.

 

[TeCKis300]

Cleaning the radiator is harder than it may seem. What you see behind the grill is actually the AC condenser. Then the radiator is stacked behind. It's really easy to miss mud potentially in the gap between the two and mud on the radiator fins itself. Give it a good once over to make sure you don't have cooling issues in the future.

 

[bronc076]

Alternator Condoms!! You are a genius!!! Calling all vendors!!!!

I really hope everyone is not learning that mud is absolutely horrible in almost every way possible with a $30,000-$100,000 rig.
Treat mud like it’s a 1 night stands in Vegas with a working girl. It might be the best time of your life but after a trip to the Dr and a prescription of Valtrax later you learned to stay clear of it unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.

 

[molonlabemike]

Alternator Condoms!! You are a genius!!! Calling all vendors!!!!

Easy killer, don’t tell everyone my new invention

 

[Broski]

It look's like you went to Hollister, I go there as well, but I avoid the mud pit, although I enjoy witching others beading on the Rigs in the mud.
I like to keep my engine bay super clean on my 94 trail Reg, so I can see if theirs a issue or leak easily, I only use a garden hose with low pressure after I spray it down with simple Green. then I hand dry with a towel. I am also careful not to spray any electrical connections directly.
The is a reason for IH8MUD !!!

 

[KLF]

With all due respect to your experience @molonlabemike I also would not use Purple Power degreaser in an engine bay. It is strong stuff, and can leave aluminum parts chalky if you don't rinse well enough.

I keep all my under-hoods very clean. A filthy engine is a sign of a neglected engine, IMO, although I'm sure that's not always the case. My preference cleaner is Simple Green Aircraft, it is formulated for aluminum. I mix it 50-50, spray it around, then use various brushes to get all the grime off. An old sash paint brush is really helpful for getting down into the areas on the inner fenders where all those wires are.

Amazon product ASIN B001VXU7OE
Then I use a "shower" setting on the nozzle of a hose, not a pressure washer, to rinse. Blow it off with a cordless blower.

 

[indycole]

While you’re in there, check your air box for and lower intake for mud as well.

 

[molonlabemike]

With all due respect to your experience @molonlabemike I also would not use Purple Power degreaser in an engine bay. It is strong stuff, and can leave aluminum parts chalky if you don't rinse well enough.

I keep all my under-hoods very clean. A filthy engine is a sign of a neglected engine, IMO, although I'm sure that's not always the case. My preference cleaner is Simple Green Aircraft, it is formulated for aluminum. I mix it 50-50, spray it around, then use various brushes to get all the grime off. An old sash paint brush is really helpful for getting down into the areas on the inner fenders where all those wires are.

Amazon product ASIN B001VXU7OE
Then I use a "shower" setting on the nozzle of a hose, not a pressure washer, to rinse. Blow it off with a cordless blower.

no offense taken just year and years of experience with ZERO effects. Etching only happens if left for prolong amounts of time. Purple power is less “powerful” then leading engine degreasers sold for exactly that. Even the manufacturer states it can be used on your engine...

 

[Broski]

Holy smokes, It's a brand new car, dose not need to be digressed. Likely just need a squirt with a garden hose done. LOL

 

[bloc]

no offense taken just year and years of experience with ZERO effects. Etching only happens if left for prolong amounts of time. Purple power is less “powerful” then leading engine degreasers sold for exactly that. Even the manufacturer states it can be used on your engine...

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I have used it in the past and ended up with light crusty flakes on aluminum.

Either way.. I’m not sure why a degreaser would be needed for mud on a very new vehicle. There shouldn’t be any grease yet. It’s just dirt.. agitation with the right amount of direct spray will knock it all loose.