alt prob

[rockrover]

i have been having probs with the alternators i have installed into my mk petty L24 i have installed 1 after the original failed and now the replace ment isnt running ..im not at all sure as to why but when i got my alternator wet the other night its been screwwin up ever since i was lead to belive that an alternator can function even when submerged neways any help would be greatly appreciated and needed..
Cheers Bourkey

[chimpboy]

An alternator should be able to run when wet, but the theory sometimes doesn't work in practice.

There are a number of spots water and/or mud can get that will cause problems:

- between the brushes and the commutator
- inside the plug that goes into the back of the alternator
- in any of the electrical connections

Grease or vaseline can help keep it sealed without shorting everything out.

But ideally don't get it wet. Even if it runs, you get water in the bearings and they will fail much more quickly. (Actually it's partly the water but more importantly the grit and dirt that remains after the water has dried out.)

What you need to do now is start by cleaning up all the connections, disconnecting them and reconnecting them properly. If that doesn't work then your problem may be inside your alternator, so you'll need to open that up and clean it too.

I did personally also have a regulator (which is usually built into the alternator these days) fail due to water, although to this day I am not sure why. A new regulator fixed the problem though, so I know that's what it was.