Alternator/serpentine belt?

[MattB488]

I have a 2000 focus se, when driving everything works fine, however if I have the blower on or the headlights and drive through a muddle and it splashes under the car, everything "bogs" down for a few seconds and the lights get real dim (high beams were dimmer than lows are normally) and the blower sounded as it nearly shut off. After a few seconds there's a loud squeal and then everything begins to run normal again. What do you guys think it is?

[Sponsor]

[zetecDon]

Moved to "General Technical Chat".

[Magus2727]

Perhaps a really loose belt? When it gets wet it slips a lot and you have a large voltage drop from running everything instantly off your battery.

Other possibility is alternator going, if your splashing through puddle hard and fast enough, could have a alternator on the way out that when it gets wet takes a few min to then re "dry out" and work again. do you have power steering during this event? or does the AC stop working for those few seconds?

Could mount a Go-Pro in the engine bay if you had one to see the belt. My guess since their is the squeal something is going on with the belt.

[amc49]

If it only happens when you run through water you have damaged or lost the plastic water shield that stops much water from getting on the belt to make it slip. They commonly disappear when you hit a deep puddle, the impact tears them off. The squeal is the belt suddenly peeling out as it runs all the water off it to get normal traction again.

[elsolo]

Originally Posted by amc49

If it only happens when you run through water you have damaged or lost the plastic water shield that stops much water from getting on the belt to make it slip. They commonly disappear when you hit a deep puddle, the impact tears them off. The squeal is the belt suddenly peeling out as it runs all the water off it to get normal traction again.

my thoughts as well

[Magus2727]

With a proper tension pulley working correctly you should be fine with water though right? Should have enough tension so during extreme heave rains where water will always be flung on the belt. So possibly a pulley to replace?

[amc49]

You have proper 'tension' with 3000 lbs. of car on road too, until you run through water, do the tires spin easier then?..............think it out................the water is a lubricant and hydroplanes as well.