Big mud puddle = broken truck...

[844x4]

Hey all!!  Went to Prairie City over the weekend for some mud and wheeling fun!    All went well during the afternoon until the last thing, as always....We decided to run the mid pit and it was a bit deeper than I realized   .  I made it through just fine, but came out to find my e-brake and charging lights stuck on!  Then shortly after I developed a high idle like maybe 1500 rpms, not sure because I don't have a tach.  So I tested the charging system and its toast, so I think I will be getting a new alternator and regulator.  When I checked the air filter, it was wet, but it doesn't look like any water actually got into the motor (it runs but idles high).  Anyways, I changed the air filter and cleaned the housing, changed the motor oil and filter and changed the gear oil in both differentials.  What could be causing the high idle and what about the e-brake light??  Anyone had a similar problem when hitting a big mud hole?  84 pickup stock 22R carbureted.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and tips.

[jimbo74]

you got a bunch of water in things..... dont trip, let it dry out

[Yota87Truck]

Check that your battery terminals have a good connection. 

[844x4]

Yeah, I was hoping it might just dry up.  But was worried about the idle.  Maybe things will work themselves out.  I was thinking of going through my connections and blowing them off with the air nozzle.  There is what looked like some sort of broken ground strap by the fire wall, but I don't know where that goes.  Any ideas??

[Thomas P]

bad grounds or broken grounds can cause lotsa problems, that one you are talking about should go from the firewall, near the e brake cable to rear of the motor somewhere

[844x4]

Thanks I'll look for the connection there! 

[84pickup]

mud in the alternator will cause the brake and battery lights to come on showing that the alternator isn't working

i went through a big mud pit and i got a flat. somehow something punctured my sidewall.

[ROCKO]

bad grounds or broken grounds can cause lotsa problems, that one you are talking about should go from the firewall, near the e brake cable to rear of the motor somewhere

samething happen to my 79 bronco it was the wire on the back of the motor to the firewall it looks like a braded line

[844x4]

Well I'm glad to hear the brake light is probably related to the alternator light and that the ground wire may also be a culprit.  I will get a new alternator this weekend and see how it pans out. 

[84pickup]

i think you can just clean it out. you shouldn't have to get a new one and if nothing else you can get new brushes.

[toyo487]

bad alternator brushes will cause the e-brake and charging light to come on.  I've seen people burn up alternators the same way before.  and you could just have some water in the map sensor causing it to idle high.

[KDXSR5]

22r not 22re

[toyo487]

my bad sorry

[844x4]

Well the new alternator seems pretty cheap, so I will probalby just replace it rather than spend time installing brushes.  If that wokrs then I just need to figure out the high idle (I wish it was fuel injected).  I'm going to assume it is water related because it was fine before the puddle.  Maybe after further inspection I will find something, but maybe fixing the gorund and the alternator will whip her back into shape. 

[jprinehart84]

I have this same problem, but my alt. works, Its been on since i got it....i would test the circuit before buying a new alt. take the positive battery termanal off and see if it keeps running

[Hyena]

just clean out the alt. first.  no need to spend money on something that isn't broke.

[844x4]

Well I tried cleaning the alternator with no luck so I replaced it.  Now everything seems fine!  Alt light and brake light went off!  The high idle also seems to have disappeared, I guess it dried up.  I also found a lot of dirt /mud in the distributor cap, looks like a rubber gasket should go there. I still need to replace the ground strap.  Now I guess I need to seal up the dist cap and build a snorkel for the next time!!


Thanks for all of your help and advice!!

[Yota87Truck]

yea, its always funner with a snorkel!!!  But then it always seems to me that the most rememberable wheelin trips are when something breaks or stuff like that! good luck to ya, and it sounds great that its runnin good again

[Thomas P]

yay another yota brought back to life!!

[844x4]

Just a side note,  I replaced my cheapo Autozone cap and rotor with a nice OE Toyota one and WOW!!!!  This thing runs 100 times better.  I would totally recommend OE parts for anything relatd to ignition/electrical system.