so i got a 2000 xj 4.0
to day i splashed through a small puddle and my battery guage droped and i lost power stering so im thinking watter got in the altenator ive gone through way higher watter than this one and have not had a problem so i need some advice does it sound like the altenator or maybe somthing else?


also i do have that rubber mat thing from the factory but its pretty mangled and zip tied in place



thanks in advance for the help

 

sounds to me like your belt broke or is slipping. The same belt turns the alternator and the Power steering pump right? It's got to be something with that then.

 

belt not broke, it actualy happened twice alreddy i think through the same puddle
can just splashing the altenator make it not work but then come back?

 

in theory an alternator should work while submerged in water. Sometimes that may not be the case.

I would check your belt's tension, make sure it is tight. Maybe the water is acting as a lubricant allowing the belt to slip?

 

I second the belt theory. Esp. since you lost P/S also.

 

X 3 on the serpantine belt slipping. Thats the only thing that effects volts and power steering at the same time. If your belt starts slipping a little more you will see volts drop on the gauge, no power steering and our all time XJ favorite, overheating. Better tak a really close look at your belt for wear and proper tension. You tighten the serpantine belt by adjusting at the power steering pump.