3.4 running lean

On friday after our big rainstorm in socal, my buddies and i went wheeling. We found a pair of mud holes and I went through no problem but once i got out my truck died. Right before it died the battery light came on, so i simply dried the soaking wet battery, checked if the intake got wet(dry as a bone), then it started back up after siting for a bit. But it ran very rough as if a vacuum line came off or the MAF was disconnected so in order to keep it running i kept the motor reving at 2k. leaving at 2k for about 2 minutes seemed to solve the bad idle so i went on my way. I went thru the mud hole later after that 3 more times and no problems.... until i was driving home and my battery began to die. My ultra gauge read 6 volts when the truck finally died, I got towed home figured out it was an alternator problem so i replaced the alternator and im all good now.
but i still have a some questions about the alternator:

1) How long has everyone else's lasted? (truck is at 116,000)
2) the tow truck guy thinks it was just a coincidence but I think otherwise what do you guys think?
3) Has something like this happened to anyone else?

EDIT: *New problem* Truck threw a p0171- bank 1 O2 sensor picking up to much oxygen aka it's running lean.
Going to check intake system, vacuum, and check the actual sensor..anything else I should check? Any tips? Should I do a sea foam treatment?
I know it's not a fuel filter I just replaced that


I hate mud never again

heres a video of the mud hole:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5anQStPbHA&feature=youtu.be[/URL]

 

Was there evidence of dirt/mud on/in the old alternator?

That'll be your best answer.

 

there was dirt and mud on it, when i took it off the truck i took it apart and there wasn't mud inside. but arent these things designed to be wet, muddy, dirty etc..?

 

i considered that i killed it since i was stuck on the side of the 405 for 2 hours

 

Title totally made me so no way and here I visit and it didn't happen. As I thought.

 

Not really. That's why the engine has a hood, splash pan, fender liners, etc...

It's obviously not a hermetically sealed environment and it's much dirtier than the inside of a disk drive.

But it's not designed to be bathed in muddy water either.

There's a possible middle-ground hypothesis: this alternator was worn/fatigued and was killed by an amount of water/dirt intrusion that a brand new factory fresh one might have survived.

#RIPelectronics

 

x2

 

I did something similar, went through a mud hole and had a lot of mud in the alternator, wouldn't charge. I followed a buddies advice and took a pressure washer straight to the alternator while it was still in the truck, fixed mine. It even had over 300k on the odometer at the time.

 

If you're going to be going through muddy water holes, expect to change out the alternator every 20,000 miles. Either that or you need to fabricate some sort of mud shield with some sheet metal to go underneath the alternator (with some drain holes too).

You will eventually outgrow doing that crap. I still go through some mucky mud on occasion, but I make a point to avoid those big ass water holes. Those are pretty much bad for your truck on every level.

 

me too lol, i was gonna ask for some engine parts for my crawler

 

dude, lol, change the title

Like everybody said, prolly mud or just old age. Great time to upgrade to Bamatoy's high power alternator setup.

 

No matter if they are out in the open,,they are not meant to be dunked in mud and water at rpm, or any rpm.

If you are going to mud bog the thing,, make sure you have a real good battery and/or a spare alternator to get home on.

Pressure wash out the radiator and AC condenser both ways,,once you get done mudding.

 

This, or at least go through water crossings the right way so you aren't slamming water up over the hood. Slow and steady, create a wake.

 

I hate mud. I avoid mud. Mud kills.

 

I don't do this often this is actually the first time living in LA i don't find mud very often

 

Mud + Alt = bad day. Looking at the video I would think that hole was too deep to do that kind of driving through without a snorkle, extended diff breathers, and SLOW movement to avoid the bow wake I see crashing over the hoods there. If you don't have diff breather extenders, I would check for choco milk. I say you are lucky only the Alt died. For now. Especially as you went through it repeatedly.

 

Same here, I stick to snow wheeling in the winter and avoid mud at all costs if I can. Snow melts off, mud is one messy cleanup. Once I get another Toyota strictly for wheeling, I will go mudding more often but not in my daily driver.

 

probably ingested some water through the air filter and missed with the MAF readings or fried the o2 sensor. open up the ai filter box and check for signs of water. check the ube all the way to the throttle body.