i went mudding last night and got stuck in some thick stuff about 2 and a half foot deep. after getting pulled out by my friend i noticed my voltometer was reading right above 9 volts. so i continued to drive thinking nothign of it.. upon waking up this morning i had a almost dead battery.. i trickle charged it a good hour and drove to the auto store to get the batt tested.. so they hooked my batt up and testes good then tested my alternator..turns out mud got into my alternator and messed it up somehow.... wasnt putting out a charge..... guy told me i needed to buy a new one.... i went home took it off and decided i woudl try somethign.. got into my other car and drove to the car wash.. i presure washed the alternator makign sure i got every bit of mud out then i let it sit in the sun for about 45 mins... i put it back on and it works perfectly... how wierd.. i was told that it was ruined.. lol 4 quarters saved me 80 bucks ....if this happens to anyone else post so i know if i got lucky or this works ..

 

alternators hate mud

 

x2, i hate my alternator and changing my alternator. but its something we all have to deal with, maybe consider fabbing up a splashguard to protect your alt like i have.

130$ picture


-Kyle

 

i have never toasted an alternator (knock on wood)

even though ive been through 2 hydrolocks and numerous times with my engine underwater in soupy stuff and in thin stuff.

 

i dont know maybe mine is cursed, i have had too many alt problems to count. i really hate it. that was one of my first fairly deep mud pits and the alt was dead the next day.

-Kyle

 

i have a funny story as well.

i forgot about this one. but i got water in my engine in a parking lot.

hit a puddle at about 50 mph not really concered with the ill-effects.

the good side: cleaned off the mud pretty good

the bad side: stalled jeep, water in cylinders, soaked air filter.

 

also some FYI a 80s model chevy pickup alternator will fit the I6 4.0 i had one laying around and i compared them. exactly the same.!!! plugs bolt holes everything

 

the more powerful ZJ alts will fit with just a small amount of grinding, just FYI aswell.

-Kyle