“Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon”

[ShadowsPapa]

Here's the goofy part - at lease, IMO.......
I've worked auto-electric since I was a teen. It's always been my specialty. I was working on charging systems including alternators and generators when I was 15 or 16. As I've said, AMC vehicles with the V8 starting about 1967 with the Gen II V8 mounted the alternator on the lower right side of the engine. That's in AMXs and Javelins as well and those sat LOW. IF you went through a puddle, they got wet - period.
The alternator on the 4.0 sat fairly low - how many Jeeps got the 4.0? I have one in my SX4 and have driven through heavy storms rain falling at a rate of about 3"/hour and standing water on the streets and highways. It never once stopped charging.

The Gladiator gets wet under the hood in a rain. They just do. Mine is proof of that - look at the pictures. I've never been off-road with it (not because I don't want to - this is IOWA - what trails?) and yet it looks like it's been wet in the engine bay.

I washed my engine bay at a car wash yesterday - no issues, and that's with water that's got chemicals in it. I did rinse the XXXX out of it.

I'm not sure what THESE alternators have in them that should make them so bloody sensitive to being wet. The output is pretty much sealed up meaning there's nothing open for water to prevent the flow of electrons - unlike a field with brushes where water can cause a temporary non-charging until the water is gone.
If you can wash under the hood and not cause issues, why would rain water cause an issue?
How do they KNOW it was water that caused it? Do they never ever wash an engine bay and detail a used vehicle before putting it on the lot to sell? They're telling us that they can't wash under the hood to clean one up before putting it among their used cars?
What's the difference between a puddle, or rain water, or pressure washing it? Pressure washing it should be worse.

If these are subject to failure when getting wet, they must place a clear warning under the hood - CAUTION, DO NOT WASH THIS ENGINE!

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[johnes48]

The thing is, these are rated to ford 30 inches of water, and there's not a single trail (at least in my part of the country) where you're not going to see any water. In essence, it seems they can void a warranty just for driving a jeep off road. That's what is scary to me.

It is very scary! But maybe it's just my particular situation. Maybe it's not like this for everyone?

 

[johnes48]

Here's the goofy part - at lease, IMO.......
I've worked auto-electric since I was a teen. It's always been my specialty. I was working on charging systems including alternators and generators when I was 15 or 16. As I've said, AMC vehicles with the V8 starting about 1967 with the Gen II V8 mounted the alternator on the lower right side of the engine. That's in AMXs and Javelins as well and those sat LOW. IF you went through a puddle, they got wet - period.
The alternator on the 4.0 sat fairly low - how many Jeeps got the 4.0? I have one in my SX4 and have driven through heavy storms rain falling at a rate of about 3"/hour and standing water on the streets and highways. It never once stopped charging.

The Gladiator gets wet under the hood in a rain. They just do. Mine is proof of that - look at the pictures. I've never been off-road with it (not because I don't want to - this is IOWA - what trails?) and yet it looks like it's been wet in the engine bay.

I washed my engine bay at a car wash yesterday - no issues, and that's with water that's got chemicals in it. I did rinse the XXXX out of it.

I'm not sure what THESE alternators have in them that should make them so bloody sensitive to being wet. The output is pretty much sealed up meaning there's nothing open for water to prevent the flow of electrons - unlike a field with brushes where water can cause a temporary non-charging until the water is gone.
If you can wash under the hood and not cause issues, why would rain water cause an issue?
How do they KNOW it was water that caused it? Do they never ever wash an engine bay and detail a used vehicle before putting it on the lot to sell? They're telling us that they can't wash under the hood to clean one up before putting it among their used cars?
What's the difference between a puddle, or rain water, or pressure washing it? Pressure washing it should be worse.

If these are subject to failure when getting wet, they must place a clear warning under the hood - CAUTION, DO NOT WASH THIS ENGINE!

That's the hardest thing for me to understand. I haven't done anything crazy and like I said, it's been at least 2 weeks since the truck saw any kind of rain. It was running fine after carwash. I've never washed or cleaned my engine bay as you can tell in my pictures. Maybe I should of, maybe then it wouldn't have been an automatic "It's wet" diagnostic? I'm not saying that's what they did, but that's what it seems like to me. I'm not sure how they KNOW it was water. To me it seems like an assumption was made based on the conditions of the engine bay. Which I get and understand that they should be a part of the decision making. BUT I wouldn't base my decision solely off the appearance of the engine bay. Like mentioned earlier, the spots the service rep pointed out did not look like water. It looks like oil to me. Maybe it's just dirt and water, but if that were the case, the water would've evaporated and I would have stains much like the rest of the dirty engine bay.

I agree that they should place a warning on it. Maybe advise that if water comes into contact with the alternator or any component, the warranty is subject to being voided? I've never worried about water coming into the engine bay on this truck or any other car I've ever owned. It has never been an issue. I've lived in Florida my entire life and I've never had an alternator go bad because of water. I work for the local government and have driven through hurricanes and flooded streets in work cars and those have never had alternator issues. This is a truck that hasn't seen any of that. I don't know. I will do as Jeep Cares suggested and get it taken to another dealership and see what they say. IF they don't have a difference in opinion, it is what it is. I don't want to cause any issues or bad-mouth Jeep. This is just concerning that they can deny my warranty claim based on an assumption. As mentioned earlier, this could just be an isolated incident. I wouldn't know because I've never had any issues with them. It'll be resolved one way or another by the end of next weekend

 

[texanjeeper]

What they're doing is, first, they are looking for a way out of the warranty work, and second, strongly discouraging people who might offroad even a little from doing so, because they can hit you over the head with this hammer anytime they want, if they even suspect that you've been offroad. What the hell....this is a JEEP, not a Honda Ridgeline or a Taco. If I wanted a truck I had to baby, I would have bought a different brand.

 

[johnes48]

What they're doing is, first, they are looking for a way out of the warranty work, and second, strongly discouraging people who might offroad even a little from doing so, because they can hit you over the head with this hammer anytime they want, if they even suspect that you've been offroad. What the hell....this is a JEEP, not a Honda Ridgeline or a Taco. If I wanted a truck I had to baby, I would have bought a different brand.

Yea, that may be the case. Will never know for sure though and I don't like to make assumptions. They are definitely discouraging people who are off-roading for sure though. Got a buddy who just got a 2021 JT and his truck has been sitting in garage because it has been raining and he's afraid that if something happens, the rain may be used to deny a warranty claim. After this, I don't know that I'd do anything with truck except drive it to and from errands that I can't use work car for. Would avoid any other issues with servicing or repairs. Like I've said though, I haven't had any issues before and I'm still hopeful to resolve it amicably.

 

[dcmdon]

Have you been to a 2nd dealer? It sounds to me like just a terrible dealer trying to make a buck.

When they do repairs under warranty, the dealership makes MUCH MUCH less on the same repair.

 

[AggieJeep]

I definitely don't want to pay for it! I'm trying to get it resolved through warranty. That being said, I can't force them to cover it and I'm definitely not the type of guy that's going to cause an issue, you know?

I told the service rep and Jeep Cares that I haven't driven through any water besides rain and the occasional car wash. Also told them that the truck had not seen any high levels of water in approximately two weeks. I do understand their train of though; it's dirty under there and that can only be cause by rain and dirt. I get that, but I definitely didn't do anything out of the ordinary to the truck.

I'm trying to get it towed to another dealership now, I just have to wait and see if current dealership will allow tow without me paying the diagnostic fee yet or if I have to pay the diagnostic fee prior to towing. I may try to jump it with my battery pack and drive it to dealership myself to see if I notice anything else wrong with it. The day it broke down, I got a power steering warning that flickered on the screen before it told me to park safely.

Yea I'm not sure why it is the way it is. I'm keeping my head up and trying to find an amicable solution. We'll see what happens. Unfortunately, I can't afford to go without a vehicle much longer so something will have to be done regardless.

I would pay the diagnostic fee if they push for it. That is work performed, though bad conclusions were the result. This should free your truck so you can jump it and drive or tow it to another dealership.

I would not sign anything other than diagnostic fee receipt letting you get the truck back and note on it that you disagree with the conclusions they made based on faulty and unproven assumptions. I expect state laws could prevent you from getting the truck released if that fee isn’t paid.

Driving on dirt roads will lead to a lot of dirt and dust in the engine bay. Add some rain and heavy dew and the dust turns to gunk like I see in your pics. Last I read, the engine bay is designated as a wet area. The evidence of submersion is usually more obvious than seen in your pics. I live in Houston. They call this The Bayou City for a reason. I’ve seen more vehicles with such damage from fresh rain that was likely drinkable to rising flood waters with enough mud and chemicals in it to make DuPont run away and hide.

Oh, and I have washed my JK engine bay many times with no issue. The JT only once. It was fairly dusty with less than 20 miles of dirt road under its belt. My JT has never been “off-roadbed”. The price still stings even after 2 years. I can beat on my JK until the JT is no longer “too precious”.

Best of luck to you getting this complete BS addressed. Shame on this dealership.

 

[johnes48]

Have you been to a 2nd dealer? It sounds to me like just a terrible dealer trying to make a buck.

When they do repairs under warranty, the dealership makes MUCH MUCH less on the same repair.

Tried to get it to 2nd dealer today but they won't tow from dealer to dealer. My insurance's tow would not have made it in time (took them 5 hours to get me towed on Monday when car broke down). And I didn't have someone to follow me if I managed to get truck on and was able to limp it to next dealer ship. The place it's at now closed at 4 EST and they are closed tomorrow like most shops so for now I'll just be patient and keep my fingers crossed

 

[johnes48]

I would pay the diagnostic fee if they push for it. That is work performed, though bad conclusions were the result. This should free your truck so you can jump it and drive or tow it to another dealership.

I would not sign anything other than diagnostic fee receipt letting you get the truck back and note on it that you disagree with the conclusions they made based on faulty and unproven assumptions. I expect state laws could prevent you from getting the truck released if that fee isn’t paid.

Driving on dirt roads will lead to a lot of dirt and dust in the engine bay. Add some rain and heavy dew and the dust turns to gunk like I see in your pics. Last I read, the engine bay is designated as a wet area. The evidence of submersion is usually more obvious than seen in your pics. I live in Houston. They call this The Bayou City for a reason. I’ve seen more vehicles with such damage from fresh rain that was likely drinkable to rising flood waters with enough mud and chemicals in it to make DuPont run away and hide.

Oh, and I have washed my JK engine bay many times with no issue. The JT only once. It was fairly dusty with less than 20 miles of dirt road under its belt. My JT has never been “off-roadbed”. The price still stings even after 2 years. I can beat on my JK until the JT is no longer “too precious”.

Best of luck to you getting this complete BS addressed. Shame on this dealership.

Oh I'm for sure going to pay the diagnostic fee. I gave them the go ahead to do it and I don't intent on not paying them for it. Like you said, it should also free my truck up so that I don't have to worry about moving it while I owe that specific dealership money.

I don't intend on signing/authorizing any other work right now. The plan is to get it to the 2nd dealership Monday and see what they say.

What you're saying definitely makes sense as I haven't been swimming with my truck. I'm sure that had I cleaned the engine bay and hood throughout the year, I wouldn't be having the issues I'm having now. IT's partly my fault for not taking care of it. Just didn't think it was THAT bad.

You have washed your engine bay and so have a lot of others from reading the responses on this threat. That's why I don't understand how the alternator could have been damaged by water. We shall see what happens!

 

[AggieJeep]

Oh I'm for sure going to pay the diagnostic fee. I gave them the go ahead to do it and I don't intent on not paying them for it. Like you said, it should also free my truck up so that I don't have to worry about moving it while I owe that specific dealership money.

I don't intend on signing/authorizing any other work right now. The plan is to get it to the 2nd dealership Monday and see what they say.

What you're saying definitely makes sense as I haven't been swimming with my truck. I'm sure that had I cleaned the engine bay and hood throughout the year, I wouldn't be having the issues I'm having now. IT's partly my fault for not taking care of it. Just didn't think it was THAT bad.

You have washed your engine bay and so have a lot of others from reading the responses on this threat. That's why I don't understand how the alternator could have been damaged by water. We shall see what happens!

A little water in the alternator shouldn’t be an issue. Soaking it with filthy, gritty water can be a whole other thing.

You also should not feel as though you should have cleaned the bay. Sure, it may have saved you in this case, but no one ever washed engines when I was a kid unless they were checking for fluid leaks. Anyways, we’re rooting for ya.

 

[DankjeeP]

If these are subject to failure when getting wet, they must place a clear warning under the hood - CAUTION, DO NOT WASH THIS ENGINE!

haha, funny you mention this. I just noticed yesterday, there is a little sticker by the prop rod hole...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

haha, funny you mention this. I just noticed yesterday, there is a little sticker by the prop rod hole...

Unreal - so small, and so silly, because we've been washing engines for decades, including those with the old fashioned distributors.
It's probably like the warnings about drinking battery acid - gotta put a sticker there because someone is going to put the end of the nozzle right into the electric connections or into the back of the alternator.

 

[NachoRuby]

haha, funny you mention this. I just noticed yesterday, there is a little sticker by the prop rod hole...

That sticker is just for pressure washing. You can wash it all you want, just not with a high pressure washer. The owners manual explicitly says pressure washing not recommended in the engine bay, and that is a picture of a pressure washer.

 

[DankjeeP]

Unreal - so small, and so silly, because we've been washing engines for decades, including those with the old fashioned distributors.
It's probably like the warnings about drinking battery acid - gotta put a sticker there because someone is going to put the end of the nozzle right into the electric connections or into the back of the alternator.

yeah, or the lady that sued McD's because her hot coffee burned her lady parts. Now all the cups say HOT on them.

 

[DankjeeP]

That stocker is just for pressure washing. You can wash it all you want, just not with a high pressure washer. The owners manual explicitly says pressure washing not recommended in the engine bay, and that is a picture of a pressure washer.

Correct. It was mentioned a pressure washer was used by someone. Hopefully not too close to the nozzle. I think common sense comes into play, but you never know.

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