Tracker VS deep water = Alternator fail!

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fierodough

Guest
Well I took my stock 99 tracker with some decent all terrain tires to La Rose forest on Saturday.

After many warnings from other guys with some full size Dodge rigs, me (99 Tracker 1.6L) and my brother (96 Sidekick 1.6L) and another buddy with a quad tackled a flooded section of trail. We all made it to the end and back without getting stuck. These little trucks are awesome!

After getting in to some water that just crested over my hood, I guess my alternator took a crap. Battery light...
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F

fierodough

Guest
I have no idea. I saw no signs and there were several others there also. I sure hope we can use it because there isn't many other places to go. :(
 
CaptainFitz

CaptainFitz

Official Wannabe
Club Member
Trail closures is a common problem we fight a lot. Long battles between user groups and government. WE get blamed for messing the trails, and the ATV/snow mobiles far outnumber us so in the end we lose the rights to that land. when people use it they come back and yell at us about it, and in the end us organized clubs get the blame for destroying the trails. There is a long history on this. So I would strongly suggest that you don;t use larose any longer since it has been officially closed to 4x4 vehicles.

For your specific question on the alternator, it is not good to submerge them, but should also not cause them to fail. muddy water can get into the alternator and cause problems but usually that is more an issue for causing it to seize up after. Sounds like yours was on it;s way out, assuming that it is actually the alternator and not just the connections, which can sometimes give problems when being under water.. (deep water and vehicles, often cause funner electrical issues.. trust me on that..

sO I suggest confirming it is your alternator and not connectivity, and if so likely on last legs.
 
F

fierodough

Guest
CaptainFitz said:
Trail closures is a common problem we fight a lot. Long battles between user groups and government. WE get blamed for messing the trails, and the ATV/snow mobiles far outnumber us so in the end we lose the rights to that land. when people use it they come back and yell at us about it, and in the end us organized clubs get the blame for destroying the trails. There is a long history on this. So I would strongly suggest that you don;t use larose any longer since it has been officially closed to 4x4 vehicles.

For your specific question on the alternator, it is not good to submerge them, but should also not cause them to fail. muddy water can get into the alternator and cause problems but usually that is more an issue for causing it to seize up after. Sounds like yours was on it;s way out, assuming that it is actually the alternator and not just the connections, which can sometimes give problems when being under water.. (deep water and vehicles, often cause funner electrical issues.. trust me on that..

sO I suggest confirming it is your alternator and not connectivity, and if so likely on last legs.
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Thank you for the info!

I wonder why they can't let us use the closed trails. Many trails have been closed due to land slides, flooding, etc.. and are not being used by anyone. If we are crazy enough to go there. Then I don't see the problem? I know that some abuse it and knock down trees, dump fluids or garbage etc. bet there are fines set for stupid stuff like that already. I don't understand why they would ban 4x4.. Larose Forest is financially broke anyhow, I would expect they would be looking for all the support they can get.

Is there a list of other places that are open to the mild offroader?

Thanks!
 
CaptainFitz

CaptainFitz

Official Wannabe
Club Member
fierodough said:
Thank you for the info!

I wonder why they can't let us use the closed trails. Many trails have been closed due to land slides, flooding, etc.. and are not being used by anyone. If we are crazy enough to go there. Then I don't see the problem? I know that some abuse it and knock down trees, dump fluids or garbage etc. bet there are fines set for stupid stuff like that already. I don't understand why they would ban 4x4.. Larose Forest is financially broke anyhow, I would expect they would be looking for all the support they can get.

Is there a list of other places that are open to the mild offroader?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The closure is due to the municipalities decision on the forest and concerned parties. we attended the meetings but have a small voice. it is not a matter of condition, but the effects on the natural habitat and destruction we cause. The ones who go where they are not supposed to, leave litter and make a mess are often the ones that cause us the problems not to mention the environmentalists which assume we destroy everything, but are really ignorant to what we do. there are many opinions on ways to fight it, but in the end, if it is closed we stay out, and you can be fined if caught in there.

There is no "map" for where to go, only those which we know from experience, and to be fair, we do not advertise the trail systems we know of because of the challenges we face. WE do share with Club members and have club runs, but don;t advertise. I Am sure you understand. if you are interested in joining the OVO we are happy to have you, come to 2 meetings and 2 trail runs, then you can get voted in.
 
Richard

Richard

Commoner
Club Member
fierodough said:
Thank you for the info!

I wonder why they can't let us use the closed trails. Many trails have been closed due to land slides, flooding, etc.. and are not being used by anyone. If we are crazy enough to go there. Then I don't see the problem? I know that some abuse it and knock down trees, dump fluids or garbage etc. bet there are fines set for stupid stuff like that already. I don't understand why they would ban 4x4.. Larose Forest is financially broke anyhow, I would expect they would be looking for all the support they can get.

Is there a list of other places that are open to the mild offroader?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

They can't give a fine to someone unless they catch them in the act, and in a large forest open 24 hours a day that just won't happen. One of the big problems are people using their 4x4 pickups to dump their garbage in the forest to avoid tipping fees. These people aren't even off-roaders, but in the end it's easier for the forest managers to close the forest to all 4x4s than try to catch the few that cause problems.

As for your electrical problems, as Tim (CaptainFitz) said it may be connection related. At this point replace what you need to then to prevent connections getting wet later on fill them up with dielectric grease. I did so on mine 15 years ago and never had a problem with deep water crossings or even pressure washing the engine bay.
 
F

fierodough

Guest
YJ_Driver said:
They can't give a fine to someone unless they catch them in the act, and in a large forest open 24 hours a day that just won't happen. One of the big problems are people using their 4x4 pickups to dump their garbage in the forest to avoid tipping fees. These people aren't even off-roaders, but in the end it's easier for the forest managers to close the forest to all 4x4s than try to catch the few that cause problems.

As for your electrical problems, as Tim (CaptainFitz) said it may be connection related. At this point replace what you need to then to prevent connections getting wet later on fill them up with dielectric grease. I did so on mine 15 years ago and never had a problem with deep water crossings or even pressure washing the engine bay.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that, I was starting to feel like the bad guy...

I will take your advice and use dielectric grease on all the connections that may be submerged.

Thank you!
 
F

fierodough

Guest
zuk4life said:
if you need parts call me 613 9133901 shane
Click to expand...

Will do! can you make me a package deal for the front portion of the hard top and the alternator? Anychance you might get a complete hardot?

Thank you!
 
B

Big-Hoe

Guest
"At this point replace what you need to then to prevent connections getting wet later on fill them up with dielectric grease. I did so on mine 15 years ago and never had a problem with deep water crossings or even pressure washing the engine bay. "

X2 I'm like the old lady on the Frank's red hot commercial. I put that S**T on everything! I've always pressure washed my engines and I swamp my truck every chance I get, no problems. While you're at it, extend the vent lines for the diffs, tranny etc... and check your fluids to make sure you don't have any water in them.
 
B

bzzr2

Well-known member
the diff breathers on your tracker are behind one of the headlights in front and tucked in behind one of the tail lights in back, forget which sides. if the water was over the hood there's a good chance some moiture got in there. i had tracker in deep water a lot, never had electrical issues of any sort.
 
R

rezuki

Active member
deep water

Good idea on the dielectric grease. ive dunked a couple of alternaters on different vehicles. they always stoped working, but then were fine after 15 mins of idleing. i just thought thats the way it was. ill be trying that also, thanks
 
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