THe Explorer wasn't happy in the snow yesterday

[saskman]

We had a storm that lasted a couple days here, not tons of snow but it drifted good. Of course it made some large drifts on our gravel road that I had no choice but to go through. The Explorer handled the drifts well but as I got about 3 miles up the road the check engine light came on and then the battery guage dropped almot to the bottom. THen everything went back to normal and this happend a couple more times. WHen I got home I let it idle for a couple minutes and everything seemed ok. I took the big old Dodge today as the roads had even more snow and the Dodge is pretty high off the ground so handles this stuff much better.

Anybody else ever experience stuff like this? I am assuming it is because alot of snow got rammed up under the truck. Guess I will find out if all is OK later today.

 

[Lakebum]

Alternator?

Years ago, I had a Datsun 260Z, took the splash pan off the front, and ran in snow. Snow got in my alternator and shorted it out and killed the battery. My guess is you got just a small amount of snow in the alternator, but not enough to kill it.

 

[corkey]

yes, as snow gets up under the hood it will get everywhere, including into the alternator, and being warm the alternator will dry itself out and everything will go back to normal.


Are the splash shields in the wheelwells on your Explorer in good shape ?

 

[saskman]

THe shields all seem to be in good shape. I guess it is because the Explorer is not real high off the ground and alot of snow hit the front axle and went up. I am not used to this happening as I have been driving my 2500 Dodge 4x4's for the last 6 years and they are high.

 

[corkey]

so lift that thing up, and put some big tires under it,,, lol,

 

[saskman]

so lift that thing up, and put some big tires under it,,, lol,

I may have to. THe snow was going right over the top of the poor old Explorer and I could really only go abt 60kph. Today with more snow on the road I took the Dodge and drove 80 or so and just blasted through the drifts. So I am sure it is all in the ground clearance. Of course an extra 2500lb or so probably helps to. The only issue is I have 3:27 gears in the Explorer and would need to step them up I think with bigger tires to at least 3:55's

 

[westfield]

Great suggestions about the splash shields in your wheel wheels. Years ago I had a 97 4 x 4 explorer and when time came for new plugs and overall servicing I took it to the Ford dealer. The lazy SOB Ford mechanic ripped out the splash shields to get at the plugs...Ask me how I know on a mushy wet winter's day. The mechanic never re-installed them,,....That was the last time I took any of my ford vehicles to the ford dealer ! Just my Thanksgiving day rant...

 

[huntman58]

fast speeds throw snow every were slowing down can also help some after all that is what 4x4 high is made for or at lest one of the things.

 

[ragajungle]

if the belts are worn or the tensioner is worn the belt may be slipping with water on it - then gripping (thus the batt gauge fluctuations) my BII does it when I go thru deep water - mud.

 

[Joe Dirt]

^ excellent thought raga ^

Had that exact thing happen to my Escort years ago, and had the exact same symptoms, and the exact same reason why...

 

[ragajungle]

even more weird --- when I had Goodyear Gatorback on it didn't squeal when slipping --- maybe a different formulation of rubber or polymer?? So I guess you wouldn't even know it was slipping accept by what the batt/alt gauge does.

 

[saskman]

Went out yesterday and it fired right up and have been driving it ever since, as a matter of fact it seems to be getting better gas mileage now for some reason. Of course that is just from filling it last night but who knows. Took it in to the Ford dealer for an oil change today and it got a clean bill of health other than the stuff I am aware of.