okay well where i'm from it is currently flooding, i hit a very big puddle (a foot deep and 15 feet long) going about 15 mph, water went every where, it was awesome! anyway my battery gauge fell to 0 and my dash said check gauges i hit my dash and it went back up to 14. i parked and let my car sit for 5 and a half hours. i went to try and start my car and the lights barely came on and i turned the key and not even a sound. i got it started after a little surgery with the gas pedal and jumper cables. on my drive home whenever i used other power (turn signals, breaklights engine fan kicked on) all my dash lights would die and then instantly come back as if i just started my car. is the battery just shot or did i cause a little more damage with my puddle action?

One of the drawbacks of the XJ, the alternator is located on the bottom side of the engine. If you go to one of your local big box auto parts store they can test the battery and charging system to make sure the alt. didn't get fried. This is the best advice I can give you.

I agree that the alternator is the likely suspect.

You should have 13.5 to 14.0 volts on both the dash voltage gauge and also measured with a meter at the battery if your charging system is working properly. Easy to verify.

Alternators are not fond of water....

i fryed my Alternator when i got stuck it seemed fine till i started driving home then everything went dead

luckily it was just a bad battery!!

Yeah i've had an alternator quit on me. The trails around here are mud so it takes it's toll. I made a splash panel right under it and haven't had an issue since. But i've been researching relocating it to the top of the motor. From what i've read so far it's pretty straight forward..just have to make a bracket.

Doubt a puddle finished your battery. My belt is loose enough it slips a little when it gets wet. Need to tighten that a tad. Glad it's fixed, neighbor? (I'm a bit south-east of Brookings).

i have this mod done and it works great. ive been in ponds that water almost goes into the intake and it hasnt fried yet (knock on wood). you will just lose your a/c if you have it.

that sounds like a good idea im going to have to look in to that