Hey guys. I'm sure this is all over the forum but I searched and nothing. Anyways, I went mudding yesterday and my friend told me to go through this hole and to my surprise it was a little bit deeper than we thought...well my jeep sunk up to the top of my tires at least or near and water came in the floorboards up to the gas/brake pedals and in the rear floorboards. I'm gonna strip all my seats and carpet and probably rhino line it and fix any rust and put the carpet back. Would it be easier to buy new carpet or let the carpet dry out? I don't want it to have "that smell" in it from the water or mold. Also, what about fluids? I was under water for probably an hour or so and I'm sure there is water in my diff. fluids and what not. No electrical issues and my clock actually works now for some reason..it didn't before. lol. Also while I was in the hole my alternator gauge was reading near 9 but I went back to 14 as soon as I was out..should I be worried about this? And any other tips to make sure my jeep is okay. Thanks guys and sorry for the long post. Also the engine was running the whole time so no water went in the engine from the exhaust

P.S. I don't have pics of the water in my jeep but i can get pics of the inside and how muddy it is lol. On the plus side my rims are nice and shiny

 

Id say the alternator was only showing 9 volts due to the belt slipping from being in water and the alternator being wet. Id probably just get some purple power and pressure wash your carpet and leave it out until it dries completely. You could just leave the rhino floors though. Just spray the interior out haha id probably look into changing your differential fluids and checing the transmission and transfer case to be safe.

 

alternator doesn't work underwater, that's why it was showing 9v. If it went back up to normal, you're fine (lucky you!)

I would definitely drain and replace the fluid in both differentials, as well as the transfer case at a minimum.

 

Ill probably wash my carpet then and thanks.


yeah i got very lucky except for my rear bumper is bent up along with the hitch and hopefully not the frame..but the black piece on my back bumper is blocking me from opening my hatch.

 

I'd take the carpet out and hose it down & hang dry it. While you have it out you can fix any rust issues & paint the floor boards. You can also put better drain plugs in. I'm sure the factory plugs are in bad shape by now. I used Marine plugs.

 

thanks guys

 

if you don't take that carpet out, it will stay wet for a year.

i removed the carpet from my first jeep the day i got it. it was sitting for a year in buddy's shop. guess what, the underpad and carpet was still soaked.
at least it didn't rot the floor. it was actually in good shape. no rust and still painted.

but yeah, pull it, let it dry, then maybe put it back in just to have to pull it again the next time. that's why i left mine out.

you should at least change your gear oil, your transmission and t-case should be ok, but do those soon.

 

What about the underpad? let it dry also?

 

if it comes out in one piece.

 

No. You won't be able to reuse the padding. It will disentegrate as you separate it from the carpet & if it doesn't, it won't regain its shape & might keep a stinky odor. Just buy some different padding to put under the carpet. I went with Neoprene, but shop for closed cell foam & you can find some good deals, even on ebay. You want something that won't hold water if you should happen to flood it again.

1/2" Neoprene in my XJ

 

when i took my xj swimming the alternator did the same thing...

when i got home i just made sure it was clean.. hosed it out good let it dry then sparyed some silicon spray works perfect...

i clean it out like that every time.

 

well 3 weeks later my alternator goes bad, alone with a pulley and the ac compressor. guess i didnt get lucky lol