What happens if alternator gets wet

It can also help to leave the hood open to allow airflow through your engine bay to dry it out. Again, alternators are designed to handle water. Normally this is an issue when someone washes the engine bay while the engine is still on. This is also an issue when you use a power washer — which can destroy your alternator. If you washed your engine bay with the engine on, your alternator is toast.

Follow the instructions above with a can of CRC electric clean and then let it sit for 24 hours. Think about it. Facebook 0 Tweet 0 LinkedIn 0.

Our goal here at Protect My Car is to eliminate your worry of being financially responsible for an expensive mechanical breakdown. Flickering or dim headlights are a strong signal that your alternator may not be working correctly. The alternator provides power to the headlights, so the flickering usually means the alternator is struggling to perform. When the alternator is going bad, other systems that are powered by the alternator may start to act up. These can include the power windows, power locks, dashboard lights, air conditioning, even your car radio.

Other things might be causing these failures, but it's worth taking it to a trusted auto repair service to have it checked out. This seems like a vague symptom--after all, lots of things can cause unusual noises in the car. It may also come on while you are driving, and this means that you will need to get it looked at. The alternator can also go bad when there are plates in the car that are not working correctly.

This can cause the battery to fail. Even more, it can make the whole ignition system to die. Sometimes, you may notice that your headlights or the dashboard lights are dimming or going out completely. The car alternator in itself is fully equipped to be water-resistant.

However, if you want to make sure that you do not want the water to rust the exposed parts of your alternator such as the brass and bronze brushes, then consider using an Engine, Splash Shield.

Also, an Engine Splash Shield protects the engine compartment from water and dirt. It is primarily made out of either plastic or metal and its primary objective is to shield your engine from a number of elements such as water, dust, and dirt.

To a small degree it reduces the aerodynamic drag and as a result, improves highway fuel economy. In some cars, the engine splash shield redirects the airflow over the components that need to be cooled down, such as an oil pan or alternator.

In this light, keeping your alternator clean and free from debris, dust, or dirt is an integral part of your car maintenance. Car owners, however, are discouraged from pressure washing their cars. What will happen is that the exposed parts of your alternator will get damaged. These are the brass or bronze brushes of your alternator, usually lubricated to keep the wear and electrical arcing down. When these brass or bronze brushes get exposed to still or flood water, the lubrication wears away, and the actual brushes get damaged.

Frequent exposure to water will cause these brushes to rust and thus, will no longer function properly as it is out of sync with the slip rings.