So yesterday i let some friends talk me into taking the truck off road, had a lot of fun, but really kicking myself for taking a vehicle i care about and doing that with it, got into a little more than i intended. Anyway, the truck did pretty well, but a few issues arose. First being there is a clicking sound coming from my front passenger side when in 4wd, not sure if this was a previous issue or not, but something isn't right. The 4wd is still working fine.

Second thing is, what do you guys recommend for cleaning off the engine. There is a good amount of mud spalshed up in there, but im really not big on spraying water in there and just washing it all off. I know when the weather stripping went bad, that little bit of water leaking in caused all sorts of issues. Am i good with just covering the distributor, alternator and spraying it off or?

Last issue is one probably not much advice i can be given on, but leaving the buggy wash after getting her cleaned up, i noticed the truck is not shifting into overdrive. Probably completely unrelated as im not sure how i would kill overdrive while off roading, but none the less looks like im up for a costly repair.

 

The clicking in 4wd is probably a u joint. Make sure you didn't snag any connectors off the trans.

 

U joint was my first thought. As for the trans, i'm glad you mentioned this. Come to think of it, i had this happen on a jeep i used to have. Went through some deep snow and over drive quit, looking up under there at something unrelated i noticed a connector came off. No idea what the connector was even for, but it fixed my issue. Really hope its something that simple.

 

wash the engine off with water. it won't hurt it. its really no different from driving in the rain. i prefer to spray it off with ignition off, that way the fan isn't blowing it around. i don't cover anything.

OD might possibly be related to water or mud in the electrical connector. if you can locate the transmission connector, unplug it and spray it out with wd40. or just wait a day or two for it to dry out.

test front axle u-joint with wheels on ground, t-case in 2wd. grab the inner axle and rotate it back and forth against the outer stub. if it clicks or clacks, its bad.

 

Ok OD going out is a common problem with water in connector a good day usually will let it dry out, I spray my motor down with a pressure washer and gunk early in the morning and let it dry with the hood up for a couple hours, let it run some and should be good to go

 

1. Possibly ujoint like others have mentioned.

2. Ive sprayed my motor with engine degreaser, and pressure wash it with it running...never had a problem...(i off road ALOT)

3. Make sure you didnt take in any water into the trans....and yes check the connector/dry it out.

 

Thanks for all the replies. The trans actually was shifting into over drive after i got done off roading, it was after pressure washing all of the mud out from underneath it that appears to be when it quit working, hopefully i just disconnected it or sprayed water/mud inside it. Haven't drove the truck all day and haven't looked at it either with it raining literally all day, and it is dark now so in the morning i will test drive it and look underneath. It actually would make more sense if that was it, because it has never once slipped going into over drive, trans fluid is full and nice and red, so for it to just quit like that would be very odd.

One other thing, i didn't go driving through lakes or anything but there were times when my axles were sitting in water/mud for several minutes at a time while i was stuck. I've always been under the impression if your axles are in water for any length of time, you need to change the differential fluid, is this necessary?

 

You must live in Michigan..... sounds like what we have had here all day...... Lovely weather... if you're a duck....

Pull the fill plugs, stick your finger in there, and look at the fluid on your finger. If it is contaminated with water, change the fluid.

 

Haha. I do indeed live in Michigan, Metro Detroit area. And thanks for the suggestion on the differential fluid.

 

I know my axle has had a fair share of time under water without a problem, that cheap little plug seems to work pretty good.....just check it for piece of mind and if it did get water in it clean it out real good, and refill