Drove through alot of mud/water today. When leaving I noticied the battery light was on. Drove for about an hour. When about 5 min. from home, noticied that the volt gauge had dropped all the way down. When I pulled in my driveway it died. Didn't drive through anything deep. Had a little mud splashed up in the engine compartment. This ever happen to anyone here? I don't think I should need a new alternater, because it really wasn't that wet. Don't have the cash to take it to the dealership. Only have 28,000miles on it, but don't think this warranty work. Any advice will be appreciated.
1999 F-150 XLT 4x4, 5.4L, Astro Cap, SS nerf bars, Gibson Supertruck, Superchip.

 

FYI:
Im not for sure what to tell you but, I have a 99 5.4 lariat and I went through a small creek and splashed some water up under the engine compartment and shortly after I noticer that it was running on only seven cylinders, just because of a little water on my #4 cylinder coil, and this has happened 3 times since, it will get wet and start running like S*#! and after a good 45 mins to an hour on the highway it will all the sudden kick back in, electrical system is not very waterproof huh. It could be that little water shorted it out.

 

Clean it up and take it in. My alt went out and ended up costing over $350. My extended warranty paid for it. In my opinion, having the electrical componants where water or mud could get to them is a mechanical defect...

 

Howdy!

For 5.4lariat:
I'm curious. How do you tell that your engine is running on fewer cylinders than the full set. I've wondered that many times and was shown by a friend this neat dollar-bill-tailpipe-trick (which I think he learned from some comic book and probably is worthless advice anyways LOL)

For Finatic:
The way I see it, virtually everything is warranty work . It all depends on who you talk to, where you bought your Ford, how clear you get the message accross that your next Ford might be coming from a different dearlership, how much you b*tch, how persistent you are... I consider myself a very easy-going, pleasant type of person. But if I don't get what I'm entitled to (and paid for. Yes! You paid for it too! Everything on and above those 4 wheels you have) then let's open up the gates to Hell because my service advisor is coming with me!

For everyone:
Warning lights came on and power-steering stopped working after I drove through a Texas puddle LOL (regular asphalt, torrential rain, not-so-great sewage system combined with clay soil and flat terrain) I was only going around 15 mph for the turn so I wonder where the power-steering system is located. Anyways, don't miss your work-outs. They'll pay off some day .

------------------
My ride:

Basics:
- '99 XLT F-150

Under hood and back:
- Ram air (Don't ask me how )
- AiRaid intake
- Flowmaster DF 50 Series
- 24x3.5" Stainless steel slashed tips (Yes! Solid polished SS, no cheesy chrome-plated)
...

Outside:
- Precision polished billet grille and plate holders
- American Racing 17x8s polished Pythons (Flushed front AND back)
- Goodyear.. something tires (Expensive is all I know. LOL)
- Ford nerf bars
- Ford bed rails
...

Inside:
- My girlfriend!
...

Fun stuff:
- Dual sirens Black Widow alarm system/keyless entry (Enough decibels to go deaf in a garage )
- Custom driving lights (Just a cool blue)
- 2 High-Watt lights behind grille (for people who cut me off )
- Dual horns (For people who, again, cut me off)
- Dual wheel locks (So I won't be driving home on bricks!)
- Spare wheel lock (So I won't have to use a brick as a spare )
...

Best of all:
- Texas A&M University aTm front plate! Gig'em Aggies!!

Stephlan

 

Finatic,

That is a lot of mud to short out the alt.
It is in the middle of the valley between the heads. Any way, go to the power wash and wash off all the mud and then take it into the dealer. Worst case they won't warranty it and you go buy one at Pep Boys or NAPA. One last thing did the mud glaze the belt?

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

------------------
00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks, MAC 8.8 Axle Girdle
BFG 285/75 R16 MTs,
Borla Cat Back, Hedman Headers,
Custom air intake system with modified
air box, Ported Throttle body,
Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips

 

Thanks for all the info. I jumped the dead battery today, it ran for about 10 min. then died again. Washed the mud off and called the dealer. They sent a tow truck and said it was under warranty. It's funny because I've been through deeper water with no problems before. My other vehicle (a '95 Aerostar) had a coolant line crack, and it was spraying antifreeze into the alternator. Drove it for 3 days before fixing it!

JMC, There was mud splattered everywhere, but the alt. or belt weren't that bad. I can't figure it out. Nice pic.

------------------
1999 F-150 XLT, Deep wedgewood blue, 5.4L Triton V-8, 3.55LS, Ford Bugshield, SS Nerf Bars, Cranked Torsion Bars, Gibson Supertruck, Astro Cap, Superchip,

 

I had my alternator/voltage regulator replaced at 6,000 miles. Wasn't as bad as yours, but it was showing signs of charging problems like if you had the blower fan on high, and stopped at a stoplight, it ran noticeably slower than when the rpms were up. Could be a problem that was there before the mud incident.

------------------
2000 F150 XLT 4X4 Off Road 5.4L Reg. Cab 3.55

Performance Enhancemets:
K&N
WMS Velocity Tube
Gibson Sweptside

Audio Enhancements:
All of the above, plus
Sony C7000X HU
Cerwin-Vega SS2502 components(Front)
Blaupunkt PCxp573s(Rear)

Radio-delay mod

Other Enhancements:
Extang Black Max Tonneau Cover