Dunking / getting wet / river crossing / sinking

[Ayahuasca]

A few weeks ago I did my best to sink my Toyota Prado in a river (subject of a separate thread). Since then all has been fine (if a little damp), EXCEPT that the starter motor started to play up and the garage claimed the alternator needed to be taken apart and washed out too. Both these bits of kit were underwater for a couple of hours. Normally electricity and water don't mix, so given that these are both low-slung bits of kit - are they usually OK to dunk or are Prados are not as bullet-proof as made out?

[mrdelmonti]

It's probably just a build up of silt deposits and mud in there, it's a common issue on the LR Tdi engines as the starter sits quite low, I wouldn't worry about it too much, it probably just needs a bit of a whack once it has dried out to shift any muck.

[Ayahuasca]

mrdelmonti said:

It's probably just a build up of silt deposits and mud in there, it's a common issue on the LR Tdi engines as the starter sits quite low, I wouldn't worry about it too much, it probably just needs a bit of a whack once it has dried out to shift any muck.

Ta. Funnily enough the mechanic gave the starter a whack with a spanner to get it going, then took it away to be 'looked at properly'. Prolly just gave it a few more whacks!

[mrdelmonti]

Haha most likely, the rules to follow when trying to sort a problem on an offroader are as follows:

1. If it moves and it shouldn't use duck tape.
2. If it should move and it doesn't use WD40 and a hammer.
3. If neither 1 or 2 can at least bodge it then it's probably electrical.

[OnTheOverrun]

The bits you mention, like most of any 4x4 are designed to get dunked and back out, not sit submerged for two hours. I'd get your gearbox and transferbox oils looked at for water ingress along with the axles. Even the best oil seals when hot and then left in cold water for hours will contract and suck in water.

[Ayahuasca]

OnTheOverrun said:

The bits you mention, like most of any 4x4 are designed to get dunked and back out, not sit submerged for two hours. I'd get your gearbox and transferbox oils looked at for water ingress along with the axles. Even the best oil seals when hot and then left in cold water for hours will contract and suck in water.

Cheers - had the oil in those replaced just in case!

[Hooli]

Starters & alternators have the same problem in water. Dirt gets in the cooling holes & sticks to the brushes so they stop working.
Starters can also get the solenoid mech jamming so they don't engage properly.