Problems after a puddle

[Nicker]

Ok, time for more issues with the dsm.

After some searching it seems all water/rain problems cure themselves over time (drying).

Buy mine is odd, after driving home tonight I hit a puddle, not deep, say 3-4inchs, going about 15-20mph (it was on a turn). After I hit it, first thing I noticed was a loss of power steering. After that I saw my lights were dimmer then normal, I was about 2 blocks away from home so I tuned off the lights and drove home.

At idle the battery, e-brake, low coolant and a/t temp tranny light(overhead by map lights) dash lights were on. When I pulled the e-brake the light got brighter.

To me it seems that I got the alternator wet, and something shorted out, I think. I find it odd that the car would keep running fine after this happened though. I turned the car off and started it again and it started but lights still on. Do you think the car is just running off the battery?

After the car drys down i'll give it a go, if the lights are still on, do you think it would be the alternator, is there a way to check?

I just find it odd only these idiot lights would go on. Oh well, once again thanks for any input.

 

[GSTinCO]

Sounds like you either got water on the alternater or you just got some on the belt and it's slipping a little. Usually my car won't run for long if the altenater is shot. I would let it dry off and check again. Hope this helps.

 

[90gst]

I had that problem with my lumina...the alternator was charging but not enough...It always kept enough charge on the battery to start...do a simple test...unplug negative side of battery, get jumper wires, use only the negative side of them...plug one negative side of the jumper wires to the battery and the other to the 2 wires that where on the negative side...turn car on and unplug the cable on the negative side of the battery...if car dies, its your alternator...if it runs, probably your battery went koo-koo

 

[Rice_is_nice]

i hate to say it but its never a good idea to unplug the battery cable while the car is running, to many expensive electronics to worry about. go to autozone or checker and they can test that stuff for free

 

[Nicker]

Thanks for the quick replies, found the problem.

The alternator belt decided it wanted to slip off the pulleys, and who would of knew the power steering pump, even though on a different belt, is still powered by that main belt.

Anyways with only a regular 12mm wrench, takes me a good hour to loosen up, put the belt on, and tighten back. That alternator belt bolt is really bad positioned.

 

[xucpxeclipsex]

Rofl

 

[Defiant]

Check your harmonic balancer. The water could have lubed the hub enough that the rim slipped if the balancer's blown.

 

[i1nk83]

for all you newbies defiant is talking about the crank pulley. thought i would prevent the question before it was asked.