Alternator 100% destroyed from mudding

[John94]

Buddy went off roading with me in his Badlands. Got himself into way too deep of a puddle.. turns out it was like a 30” deep mud hole. Got stuck, and I had to winch him out.

he was in there for maybe 5 minutes.

totally fried the alternator. Truck had to be towed to a dealer.

I know, I know mud is bad. But if this vehicle supposedly can Ford 33.5 inches of water, then why did this destroy the alternator?

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[Ground_zero298]

Key word water. Let’s see the alternator dissected so you can answer your own question.

 

[RalBronco]

Sounds like your estimated 30 inches of water could’ve easily been deeper than that. I know it sucks, but taking any vehicle through water sort of becomes the owners fault and not the vehicle manufacturer.

 

[Suke996]

Is it a 2.7 or 2.3? The alternator location on the 2.7 is horrible for water/mud and why the Everglades only comes with the 2.3.

 

[mybikeisred]

Sounds like your estimated 30 inches of water could’ve easily been deeper than that. I know it sucks, but taking any vehicle through water sort of becomes the owners fault and not the vehicle manufacturer.

Looks closer to 24” deep from the pic.
Ford put the alternators in a stupid location for a vehicle that’s meant to go off road.

 

[da_jokker]

Is it a 2.7 or 2.3? The alternator location on the 2.7 is horrible for water/mud and why the Everglades only comes with the 2.3.

I've tried to look at pics to compare the two and it seems like the alternators are approximately the same height.

It will be great as the someone would measure from ground to alternator on the 2.7 versus the 2.3

 

[Newbie]

I know, I know mud is bad.

 

[orion]

No, bad design choice by Ford!

Supposedly Ford is in the process of redesigning this aspect of the Bronco. Hopefully that redesign will be able to be retrofitted to our current Broncos.

 

[hemiblas]

That shouldnt happen at that depth for an "offroad" vehicle.

 

[Suke996]

I've tried to look at pics to compare the two and it seems like the alternators are approximately the same height.

It will be great as the someone would measure from ground to alternator on the 2.7 versus the 2.3

Not the best picture but the location on the 2.7 is lower and on the passenger.

 

[akturbo]

New low, people hating on mud and water for a vehicle made to play....I guess ya'll have super clean engine bays and shiny tires and rims. I'm afraid to wash my engine bay, it might remove my protective coating.

 

[da_jokker]

Not the best picture but the location on the 2.7 is lower and on the passenger.

Yeah the pics are rough but from the looks (sort of basing as related to the crank pully) the 2.3 only looks slighty higher... Not enough that it seems like it would really make a difference.

Bit it is hard to tell. A couple lunches, not going to help, 8 in then that could make a big difference.

 

[NotApplicable]

Yeah the pics are rough but from the looks (sort of basing as related to the crank pully) the 2.3 only looks slighty higher... Not enough that it seems like it would really make a difference.

Bit it is hard to tell. A couple lunches, not going to help, 8 in then that could make a big difference.

Agreed, it’s not obvious from these images that the placement of the alternator in the 2.3 is any or much better in this scenario.

 

[Jdc]

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/waterproofing-an-alternator.73878/

 

[lapazleo]

There's something else going on I took many of my 70's fords through worse than that including shallow ponds never a problem. Maybe something other than location.

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