“Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon”

[johnes48]

Holy CRAP! I'm in trouble!

I've never driven through even a deep puddle - all of this is from driving in rain on the highways and from the car wash spraying back into the engine bay -

We’re all in trouble if we have to worry about driving through water, be it rain or puddles! My car went through the wash before it went bad and it was still running fine afterwards. I can’t remember the last time it was driven in rain as I have a work car. Maybe early August when we were getting a lot of heavy rain. Still, if I cant drive in the rain, I’m concerned. I wouldn’t have gone with a Jeep. And I’ve been a Jeep owner for 10 years. Like I said, there is dirt and water dried under the hood, but that can be from driving on the dirt road on my way to work when it’s wet. My mind is blown. Called Jeep customer care and they said they couldn’t do anything because the service department at dealership cited it was water damage. Said there was nothing she could do about it. I’m not sure on how else to proceed. Probably have it towed to a different dealership

Sponsored

 

[NachoRuby]

Considering that the bottoms of these trucks aren't even covered, and the engine bay is completely exposed from underneath, that doesn't really look like proof of anything. It'll look like that after a heavy Florida rain. But I guess the dealership makes more money if you pay out of pocket.

Probably have it towed to a different dealership.

Won't help, you're "marked" now, unfortunately.

 

[johnes48]

That’s a load of shit to put it bluntly. I’d try calling Jeep to explain the situation or take it to another dealer. They can’t prove you’ve been driving in water based off those pictures. Plus how would your alternator fail from water submersion but not you engine via air intake?

The only thing I could guess is have you or anyone else sprayed water directly at the alternator? I did that when I was a kid to my Acura and it caused a “Check Charging System” message immediately. Stupid I know…live and learn.

it is a load of shit. I called Jeep and the customer service rep said all she could do is offer me a roadside assistance tow from the dealership to another dealership (possibly because she wasn’t sure if she could tow from one dealership to another).

That’s what I’ve been trying to point out. You jump the car, and it works fine. I don’t understand how it can be water damage but the car functions if jumped. I’ve never sprayed water directly at alternator. And the hood has never been up under rainfall. Like I said, I haven’t cleaned/washed under the hood because I didn’t think it was bad and because I am worried about causing damage to the components. I’m in awe at what’s going on

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Considering that the bottoms of these trucks aren't even covered, and the engine bay is completely exposed from underneath, that doesn't really look like proof of anything. But I guess the dealership makes more money if you pay out of pocket

Heck - look at mine. It's not even sealed from the top. All of that dirt and SPOTTED as if wet - and the FLY stuck to one of the parts? Really sealed if there's BUGS stuck to the engine with the hood closed. If bugs get smacked to the engine, ya know water will find its way in.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

it is a load of shit. I called Jeep and the customer service rep said all she could do is offer me a roadside assistance tow from the dealership to another dealership (possibly because she wasn’t sure if she could tow from one dealership to another).

That’s what I’ve been trying to point out. You jump the car, and it works fine. I don’t understand how it can be water damage but the car functions if jumped. I’ve never sprayed water directly at alternator. And the hood has never been up under rainfall. Like I said, I haven’t cleaned/washed under the hood because I didn’t think it was bad and because I am worried about causing damage to the components. I’m in awe at what’s going on

They think I've never pressure washed engine bays - including the alternator and any other parts? I've got show cars and those things get WET - soap and water, then home to do more cleaning and washing under the hood.

This alternator is down low (*engine came from a JEEP) so it gets wet when it's raining (from below and through the radiator) and it gets pressure washed now and then before shows.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

I've driven AMC cars for years - ya know where the alternator is mounted? Bottom of the engine on the right side, below the battery tray.
I had a VW Rabbit for a year or so before the expanding foam started falling out of the floor holes and I could no longer see between the windshield cracks.

Both cars when you drove through a puddle on the STREET, through a pavement dip or whatever, the red light would come on on the dash, then after about half a block it would charge again. They'd dry out.
The bearings were sealed.
The brushes and slip rings got wet and they stopped charging until the water was spun back out and things dried out a bit. Never was one ever damaged.
I've been working on and restoring alternators for classic cars for years - none of them were ever damaged by water.
I suppose if they were run submerged - it might happen, but through water during really heavy rains, they dried out and charged again.

Sheesh yea I bet that was a real pain lol.

When I (allegedly) damaged my alternator, I tried taking it to the shop immediately…I wonder if it would’ve helped to just let it sit and dry out before driving at all. Oh well, on the way to the shop, the “Service SH-AWD System” light came on, then the ABS light, then the Stability Control light, etc etc. The car eventually just shut off, but it gave me just enough limp mode to crawl over to an empty lot before dying.

 

[NachoRuby]

Reminds me of this story, which I read on another site before I even got my gladiator. It's actually how I found this forum.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...y-warranty-after-taking-it-through-mud.38337/

It almost made me scared to death to take mine off road once I got it. I don't know how, but ultimately, she ended up having it covered under warranty. I think because of all the bad press when the media ran with it, and the Bronco was getting so much hype that it was making them look bad. But if you weren't even off roading, let alone mudding, it is crap, and that dealer should be ashamed, given what these vehicles are designed for.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Reminds me of this story, which I read on another site before I even got my gladiator. It's actually how I found this forum.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...y-warranty-after-taking-it-through-mud.38337/

It almost made me scared to death to take mine off road once I got it. I don't know how, but ultimately, she ended up having it covered under warranty. I think because of all the bad press when the media ran with it, and the Bronco was getting so much hype that it was making them look bad. But if you weren't even off roading, let alone mudding, it is crap, and that dealer should be ashamed, given what these vehicles are designed for.

Bad press - "media" - it helps when you deliver the story to the bloggers. ;-)

There was a lot more to that which we'll never know for sure.

 

[Dryfly24]

Who was that dealer again? They need and deserve all the bad press we can give them! That’s a load of Bull $€h!t….

 

[Hootbro]

Sounds like that dealer does not like the warranty work reimbursement rates and is trying to find a way out to fleece you.

Good advice has already been given to fight it. I hope you find a amicable resolution.

 

[johnes48]

I've driven AMC cars for years - ya know where the alternator is mounted? Bottom of the engine on the right side, below the battery tray.
I had a VW Rabbit for a year or so before the expanding foam started falling out of the floor holes and I could no longer see between the windshield cracks.

Both cars when you drove through a puddle on the STREET, through a pavement dip or whatever, the red light would come on on the dash, then after about half a block it would charge again. They'd dry out.
The bearings were sealed.
The brushes and slip rings got wet and they stopped charging until the water was spun back out and things dried out a bit. Never was one ever damaged.
I've been working on and restoring alternators for classic cars for years - none of them were ever damaged by water.
I suppose if they were run submerged - it might happen, but through water during really heavy rains, they dried out and charged again.

Yea, I don't understand how water is what led to the alternator failing. I've never had any issue before. My mind is blown because they're advising it's water damage but the day it broke, it didn't see water besides the car wash. Nor had it seen water in at least 1 to 2 weeks. I've never had an alternator damaged by water. Like I mentioned before, when you jump it, the truck runs. It has the "shut off" warning but it runs. There was no substantial water or fluid when I looked at it today so I have a hard time believing the damage is caused by water. If it had broken down during a storm of after driving through a puddle, I would understand and I would completely own up to it, but that's not the case. Truck's never been submerged. I'd have a lot more issues if that were the case lol the alternator would be the least of my worries

 

[johnes48]

Who was that dealer again? They need and deserve all the bad press we can give them! That’s a load of Bull $€h!t….

It's Airport Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Central Florida. The purchasing process last year was nice and they treated me well. And even now, they haven't been rude to me. BUT I think it's a little ridiculous that they are citing water damage and saying I've been stuck in water and/or submerged. If they were to say the damage was caused by driving over a puddle or the rain, I'd be worried about any Jeep being driven in the rain. God forbid you use the Jeep for what they're supposed to do, off-roading, mudding, overlanding, water fording, etc.

 

[johnes48]

Sounds like that dealer does not like the warranty work reimbursement rates and is trying to find a way out to fleece you.

Good advice has already been given to fight it. I hope you find a amicable resolution.

Yea dealer is definitely not working with me. Thanks for the wishes, I hope it can be resolved as well. Love my truck and I love Jeep, I don't want that to change. I also understand that it's a business. BUT it is still mind boggling.

 

[Dryfly24]

It's Airport Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Central Florida. The purchasing process last year was nice and they treated me well. And even now, they haven't been rude to me. BUT I think it's a little ridiculous that they are citing water damage and saying I've been stuck in water and/or submerged. If they were to say the damage was caused by driving over a puddle or the rain, I'd be worried about any Jeep being driven in the rain. God forbid you use the Jeep for what they're supposed to do, off-roading, mudding, overlanding, water fording, etc.

After what you’ve posted here, I wouldn’t buy an oil filter from that dealer. . .

 

[johnes48]

Considering that the bottoms of these trucks aren't even covered, and the engine bay is completely exposed from underneath, that doesn't really look like proof of anything. It'll look like that after a heavy Florida rain. But I guess the dealership makes more money if you pay out of pocket.


Won't help, you're "marked" now, unfortunately.

Yea, I was worried about being "marked" and having any other dealership have access to whatever notes this dealership has already placed on my account. But yea, it's Florida rain, I guess the dealership really does want their money. I'm sure that once alternator is fixed, they will find something else wrong and I'll have to cover that out of pocket too because of a voided warranty

Sponsored