Driving through water

[Slip Kid]

you guys have me freaked out now. i live in san diego and hardly ever see rain or water when im out off roading. but recently his has been raining like crazy. i was out just messing around locally and it started raining pretty bad. i got caught in a flash flood and had to cross two rivers about 3 feet deep. i knew to be carefull so i didnt suck water but wasnt aware of the breathers on the tranny or my rear axle (i have 2wd so i shouldnt worry about my front axle right?). should i replace all the fluids or what? also where are the breather hoses located. i would like to extend those now.


94 xj 2wd auto 4 door

Right, no front axle. Rear axle breather just goes into the frame rail I believe, extend it all the way up front to where the others are, on the firewall. If I were you I'd change the diff oil, that's the most likely place that water could have gotten.

 

[Beej]

Some of your guys' responses are hilarious! Take it from a Pacific Northwester, you can do water crossing safely no problem. If that wasn't the case, I'd never get to go wheeling! Buy some good quality fuel line and run your diff breather tubes into the interior or very high on the firewall under your hood. Also run your tranny and t-case breathers. Run them into a fuel filter or some other filter that won't allow water to drain freely in. Plug EVERY hole on your firewall with silicon sealant. Silicon seal your distributor closed as well. Make sure every nut and bolt is tight. Use shrink tubing on any exposed wiring under your hood. Consider better door and hatch seals and replace them when they wear. Invest in a snorkle (they are only a JU mod if you live in a desert). Or at least run your air intake into your firewall a la madxj or gojeep. Having hood spacers is not a good idea for water crossings. Don't cross where you are not familiar with the water. Walk it with hip waders and a long stick if necessary to find the sinkholes. Drive slowly through the water, but keep a bow wave going. I have safely done many crossings where the water came to just below the hood. Check your fluids after crossings, change as necessary, especially if it looks like you took on water. I do trails with minor water crossings all the time and I have never lost a driveline component to water damage. Like I said, if it wasn't possible, I wouldnt' get to wheel. Just be prepared.

 

[C85D4x4]

what do you do with ur alternator?????? being on my 93xj its so low in the engine compartment
So will it short out or anything?

 

[jdougn]

Something I haven't seen recomended yet which might be inconvenient but is highly efficient is tarping up the grille. If you know the water is going to be deep or the current is swift will require a bit more momentum to prevent getting swept downstream, tarping will allow you to run a taller bow wave and lessent he chance of getting water injested. This also helps prevent the fan propellering into the radiator. This techniquie is more common downunder.

I've seen guys take the grill from a charcoal grill. They get a round grill and then mount it to the inside of their radiator to keep the fan out of the radiator. But these guys do over-the-hood water crossings on a regular basis.

Basically stock & no problem! aperwork
"Shallow Water Crossing"

 

[casm]

i got caught in a flash flood and had to cross two rivers about 3 feet deep.

Be careful with that. My last XJ was totalled after being caught in a 3' flash flood, which, as it happens, is more than enough water to pick up and move your Jeep if it's moving fast enough.

should i replace all the fluids or what?

Check the fluids. If they show any signs of having taken on water, replace them; otherwise, you should be fine.

also where are the breather hoses located. i would like to extend those now.

Look at your axle and transmission. You should see the breather lines rising vertically off of them; just follow each line to the top. Sorry for not being more specific, but these things have a habit of not always being in the same location after a number of years.

 

[TORX]

Alright I got a question for water proofing. On the Renix models the fusebox is right above the clutch like 6 inches above the floor so if you interior gets flooded that will most likely become submerged or get wet. So what does everyone do about that, mine also has the clutch fluid starting to leak so something needs to be done before I get fried or end up with another "project". Sorry to hijack

TORX

 

[C85D4x4]

repost

what do you do with ur alternator?????? being on my 93xj its so low in the engine compartment

 

[BruteXJ]

Yeah, what RichP said.

Never over your bumper, or a four-year-old's head....and slowly.

 

[BruteXJ]

Also: hood vents are for desert Jeeps, not yours.

 

[MudDawg]

I like the chrysler tranny vent mod for sure!!..i'm building a tranny to replace the one i waterlogged..I drained it and all..got it working again...but if i'm gonna pull the tranny to do the vent mod..I might as well put in a new tranny...that already has the mod done...it is costing me less than $250.00 bux for the parts to completely rebuild my core 904...

Anyways....I regularly play U-boat Kommander with the Heep...I have the air intake remoted to the cowl vent area...and the ignition waterproofed...I turn off my electric radiator fan...I change a lot of diff lube...and i long ago wasted the interior...btw...did you know a XJ will float??? BRIEFLY!!!

 

[Wil Badger]

Silicon seal your distributor closed as well. Make sure every nut and bolt is tight.

uhm that is like the worst thing you can do.i have seen people do it and get away with it .but it also keeps the distributor from breathing .when it heats up it can cause it to crack.i have always just gone to a junk yard and picked up a Ford distributor booty from a mustang or lincoln continental

 

[Lore5]

Also: hood vents are for desert Jeeps, not yours.

huhhh

 

[53guy]

yeah dude, water is no fun. this past weekend, i sunk my jeep in some tank traps on marine corps base quantico in va. if you get up some speed, you might be able to clear 2' of water no problem, but that's just standing water. be careful with moving water. i crossed some streams and they were like 20" deep and it started to push my jeep. it is a pretty good idea to take your carpets out if you still plan on playing in deep mud/water. where i got stuck, there was water up to my door handles and i'm in the process of cleaning out my jeep. its not too terriable, but its a pain. remember, you DO have drain plugs in the cherokee (six of them actually), so utilize them if you get a lot of water/ mud inside. and also remember, if you have a stock airbox, any water up about mid-grille will get into the airbox/ and into the engine. no airfilter will stop water, so be careful. its loads of fun but also tons of work as well, so be cautious.

 

[Zoro]

What's the best type of door-seals to use that'll keep water out for a while?

 

[BruteXJ]

The Dukes of Hazzard style would do it.

 

[Zoro]

You mean welding the doors shut right? Kinda hard to jump thru that window tho, but it would look cool

 

[BLINGN XJ]

mud water sucks the worst. Alternator, clutch and fan clutch got mud in them and it was over thank the jeep gods no water got in the air intake into the motor!! I used to think it was cool to see how muddy and deep I could get the jeep after that I love the rocks

 

[Lagooz00xj]

You mean welding the doors shut right? Kinda hard to jump thru that window tho, but it would look cool

I got an uncle who does that, even though he has no need to, he's a big NASCAR fan.

 

[Zoro]

Lagooz00xj-If you don't mind me asking, where in Bergen County are ya?

 

[blaisetd]

Ideaman,
A few years back i took my ol' ladys stock wrangler to check out a deer lease. While there we tried to cross a "small body of water". We got stuck about half way through. Water was just at the bottom of the body and we left the motor running while we come-a-longed it out. This took 10 or so minutes. Once out of the hole the trans would not shift outta first. In summary: new tranny under warranty at dealership! Be careful....

Then again i've gotten my '90 XJ's carpet wet a couple of times with no problems. blaise :us: