mud killin an alternator?

[Texas4X4]

so my alternator was makin this squealing noise pretty bad, see its a 90 amp and i just bought it like in early february when i bought my yellow top...when i took it to the parts store they asked me if i took it muddin a lot and the last time i took it was like 2 weeks before that happened...they told me the mud got in there and messed it up...but they still replaced it for free

[rockyjeep]

yep. totally possible. mud can kill just about anything. lol tongue.gif

[OhioYJ]

Yeah mud and water will eat alternators, it helps if spray it out after you get done wheeling, it will get all the crud out of it. I always spray off the engine bay after each trip.

[kwrangln]

I musta just got lucky. Had 160K on the stock alt on my last heep when I sold it, never a problem with it. Plenty of mud over the years too. Starters on the other hand, I kept a spare on hand just waiting for them to die.

[Texas4X4]

what should i use? break cleaner? engine foam?

[OhioYJ]

Water?

Just hose it out. It really shouldn't go bad that quick though, I'm with Kwrangln, I got 155k out of my first alternator.

Then I upgraded to a Dodge Alternator. (http://bbb.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000615)

[KG4KPG]

Originally posted by Texas4X4:
what should i use? break cleaner? engine foam? Been there, done that. After being in deep mud I once started having charging problems. I took out alternator out and had it tested..nothing. I took it home and ran water from the hose through it. Plenty of dirt and grass came out. Worked fine foe a while then did it again. Took the cover off over the brushes, they had fine sand dried around them. I worked them a little and got a good teaspoon of sand. Never had a problem again. Just use some water.

[edudley]

I too always wash mine out after wheelin. Mud gets around the brushes and they stick and will not follow the comentator as they wear. I just flush the heck out if it with the hose. WITH IT NOT RUNNING

[PatriotTJ]

Originally posted by OhioYJ:
Water?

Just hose it out. It really shouldn't go bad that quick though, I'm with Kwrangln, I got 155k out of my first alternator.

Then I upgraded to a Dodge Alternator. (http://bbb.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000615) graemlins/ditto.gif

Mine is the original, and it is still going strong at 145k. I've had it caked with mud plenty of times and just rinsed it really good with a hose.