Mudding + improper engin oilnusage.

[Russ.Cere]

Rough day for the Bronco bashing around with the kids. Got stuck in the mud and had to get recovered. Got high centered really good and got drug out. I have engine bashplates but no transmission bashplate.

No obvious damage.

Drove out to the wash station and rinsed everything down. Check engin light flickered on and off once while driving out of the park. But cleared after rinsing down the bronco. After driving about 15 miles got the pictured check engine light.

I checked oil via dip stick looks good. Temps on the ride back looked nominal. No unusual engine noise on the 25 mile trip back home. Alert clears upon restarting but I'm suspecting it'll come back. Ill get code read tomorrow.

Figured I really need the codes for anyone to help but maybe yall got some ideas I can queue up to look at.

*UPDATE*
Hopefully this makes the set of issues more searchable to help anyone facing a similar problem in the future.

Initial Diagnostic Trouble Codes: P0025, P054D, P0300, P0305, P0316, P0306, P0304, U3003, U3001, P065C, P065B, P0019, P05FF.

First I cleaned the engine bay to remove excess dirt and mud.

Replaced the alternator, cleared trouble codes and started the vehicle.
* This took care of the DTCs directly related to the 12V charging system. (U3003, P065B, P065C)

Pulled and cleaned electrical connections in the engine bay, specifically Engine Electronic Control.
* This cleaning had no effect on the codes.

Pulled ignition coil packs and spark plugs.
Saw signs of water fouling in the plugs IAW the Ford Workshop Manual.
Cleaned the ignition coils and plug wells with water displacing contact cleaner and isopropyl alcohol. Replaced the spark plugs.
* Cleared the remaining codes except for P0025, P054D and P0019

Removed cam oil control solenoids and cleaned with pressurized air.
* Cleared the rest of the codes

I flat cranked the engine for 5 seconds and none of the engine trouble codes have returned after ~50 miles of driving.

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[Brian_B]

Maybe some random sensor harness got some water in it. I know my old Ranger did something similar with a crank position sensor , but ran fine otherwise

 

[Newbie]

Got stuck in the mud and had to get recovered.

 

[jh3113]

Had something very similar when we were offroading in snowy/slush conditions. It went away once things dried up so I would let it sit a couple days even if it reads some scary looking codes!

 

[Russ.Cere]

100% Kermit starting back up for recovery. Honestly this is the 3rd alternator. I'm surprised this one has made it home.

 

[Glade Runner]

Got stuck in the mud and had to get recovered.

 

[telenerd]

You might want to change your front and rear diff fluid and transfer case oil. Might as well change the engine oil too. That’s a pretty good mud hole

 

[contented]

Based on your pic, if its a four cyclinder, you may have sucked a bit of water into the air filter and on into the engine. Open up the filter box cover and pull the air filter. Is it damp / wet on the bottom? Is there mud, dirt or grit in the box holding the filter? VERY bad things can start to happen a few days down the road (no pun intended). Don’t ask me how I know. Hopefully you’ll be luckier.

If you didn’t suck water and mud into the engine your issue is likely an electrical connection and can be chased down.

If you haven’t already, give the alternator a good rinsing. It will have been submerged in that mud.

IMHO, It takes no skill whatsoever to get through a mud hole like that, only luck. I NEVER go into muddy water or even reasonablely clean water unless I can see the bottom or watch someone else go through it first. If I must go through for whatever reason, my shoes come of and I walk through it first. I’d have turned around.

Good luck.

 

[Fordified1]

100% Kermit starting back up for recovery. Honestly this is the 3rd alternator. I'm surprised this one has made it home.

Seriously you’ve already ruined 3 alternators and you go in unknown depth water again?

 

[Russ.Cere]

Based on your pic, if its a four cyclinder, you may have sucked a bit of water into the air filter and on into the engine. Open up the filter box cover and pull the air filter. Is it damp / wet on the bottom? Is there mud, dirt or grit in the box holding the filter? VERY bad things can start to happen a few days down the road (no pun intended). Don’t ask me how I know. Hopefully you’ll be luckier.

If you didn’t suck water and mud into the engine your issue is likely an electrical connection and can be chased down.

If you haven’t already, give the alternator a good rinsing. It will have been submerged in that mud.

IMHO, It takes no skill whatsoever to get through a mud hole like that, only luck. I NEVER go into muddy water or even reasonablely clean water unless I can see the bottom or watch someone else go through it first. If I must go through for whatever reason, my shoes come of and I walk through it first. I’d have turned around.

Good luck.

Mine is a Wildtrak with a 2.7 6 cylinder. Alternator is lower passenger side of the engine bay. I am on my 3rd alternator. I enjoy the Florida mud more than I hate putting in new alternators. I am surprised this one didn't die immediately. You're 100% right alternator was definitely submerged in mud for around 20 minutes. Went straight to the wash racks and gave the underside a good rinse. I didn't open the air box as it looked clear at the inlet but its part of my post bashing maintenance so ill take a look.

I normally walk this sort of thing as well. Where I was gets dug out by SxS, especially at the entry and exits for these holes. Unfortunately... this time I didn't.

I appreciate the notes I'll add these to my list for tomorrow.

 

[Russ.Cere]

Seriously you’ve already lost 2 alternators and you go in unknown depth water again?

To be fair the first two where not from being in water/mud of unknown depth. It was from some comparatively light off roading with some mud intrusion.

No I don't usually go into water of unknown depth. However I am guilty of failing to walk this segment today. Especially dumb of me as I had just walked a section not 5 minutes before getting stuck.

 

[Fordified1]

To be fair the first two where not from being in water/mud of unknown depth. It was from some comparatively light off roading with some mud intrusion.

No I don't usually go into water of unknown depth. However I am guilty of failing to walk this segment today. Especially dumb of me as I had just walked a section not 5 minutes before getting stuck.

Hey if you love getting wet and muddy that much, go for it. It could get very expensive though. But you probably know this.
That being said, the alternator is definitely mounted in a bad spot.

 

[SevenT]

Ribbed gives better grip in the mud....

 

[scolumbo]

This is why I hate to wheel in Florida, too much water and mud, particularly where I'm at part of the year in NE Florida. It's a hassle, but it's 6-8 hours to get to decent places to go off-road in N. Georgia, Tennessee (e.g. Windrock) and Alabama (Chocolocco, Morris Mountain, and othes).

After several people lost clutches, and someone hydrolocked their jeep in my old jeep club, I swore off going into water and mud as much as reasonably possible in the Southeast.

 

[mpeugeot]

Pull the actual codes. It sounds like a cam sensor failure or a cam actuator not properly functioning, both from possible water intrusion into the relevant connectors. That would be my first guess.

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