[jclaudii]

Got the jeep stuck while out geocaching. I told my wife it didin't look deep and we ended up getting burried. Yes she was driving, but I should have poked it with a stick or listend to her! Out dog was with us to and he was sitting on the fender well trying to stay dry!

I forgot to put the drain plugs back in and the water started pouring in. I even put the carpet back in and it is completely soaked. It got as high as my seat in the cab. I was sitting kinda sideways with my right side up higher so not to get intake underwater. The left side front fender was under water, but not over the hood. It was touching the transfer case shifter. The fan was pumping water out the side where the fender and hood meet on the driver side. The tail pipe was under water so we kept it running for while. When we finally decided were going to have to walk to the road and flag down someone we killed it.
I was basically high centered in the puddle and it was super soft mud muck.

I'm going to include some pictures for your enjoyment. We did get out after one of the people we flagged down told some "good ole boys" in town(Thank you). Yes, the jeep was pulled out by a Jimmy. I am prepaird for any flames (flame suit on) for wheeling alone, but I guess that's why I need to invest in a winch! Geocachers usually don't travel in packs like wheelers do. But before you leave please leave me your ideas and comments on what I need to do tomorrow to get it clean again. I have taken the carpet out already and have the windows cracked. I have checked the transmission fluid and oil and it looks fine (not milky or frothy).

I know I'll have to check the diff fluid.

What I don't know is how to get the seat dry and clean. I know those seat "skins" come off somehow and it may help in keeping the stink out later.

my starter sounds sick, is there a drain plug on it or something; I need to check or take it off and dump it out. It sounds like water is in it.

Drum brakes, do I need to do anything with them.

[Rocky529]

I would start by changing all your fluids, regardless of their condition.

[azcoyote]

You did that hole stock with open diffs? Massive Huevos... Which can lead to $100 worth of fluid changes...

And alone to boot! You mad man! LMAO... At least the lady was driving! She can't say you got stuck!! Sometime you have to go for though...

Do your diffs, transfer case, trany, and oil...
Better safe than very very sorry...

[gawdzkitchen]

Buy a new one and tell the wife it's cheaper, lol. I would change all the fluids as stated. As for the seats and such, I would do a deep cleaning with a steam vac and if the weather is nice out, let it air dry. Then hit it again the next day. I have a convertible mustang that got soaked in a tropical storm and it seemed to do the trick. Also, when I reskined the seats, I put some baking soda on the seats to take out any remaining stinch. Till this day, you can't tell it was soaked. After you do all that, sell it, lol.

[Texan in Cali]

Originally Posted by gawdzkitchen

After you do all that, sell it, lol.

What he said

[Damage_ctrl]

As for the brakes, they should be fine, but I always do visual inspections at the very least....Fluids as all have said, and toss the carpet in the washer with the seat skins if pos. Thanks for the pics...

[jclaudii]

May I ask why replace the fluids even if there is no sign of water invasion. Seems like the heat while normal daily driving would evaporate any small amounts of moisture in the diffs, transfer, tranny, and engine. I know some of the parts may get condensation on a normal basis.

Is there a way to "skin" the seat so I can get down to the foam and clean it with fresh water and let it dry without the "cover" on it. Thanks for the quick replies.

Is it good till tomorrow sitting?

I want to sell it and get a rubi!

[JeepRocks86]

take the drain plugs out...

[connordanny]

By the looks of the TC shifter you were in 2wd.

You may have done a little better in 4Low!

Don't sell it - the smell goes away. I just powerwashed the seats and the rest of the interior after I did this: (minus the dash area)

[Gabe]

Don't tell me you were in 2WD. Were you????

[02tjsport]

Originally Posted by JeepRocks86

take the drain plugs out...

he had the drain plugs out...thats why all that water was in the cab.

[vector6]

now you know why they call those GSA"s get stuck anywheres..

make certin you change the transmission fluid... you look deep enough to have the vent submerged.


ohh.. and buy a winch.

[solarpower]

You should be in alot better shape than you think.

Look beside you transmission dipstick. is there a hose with a cap on it ziptied to dipstick tube?? there should be. that's your trans breather.

then look next to radiator cap...hose with cap...front axle breather.....remove your gas cap. take off the surrounding black plastic gas filler bracket that hold it to the tub, behind there you should find you breather for your rear axle.

the lowest breather tube is for your t-case. it is located at the back of the engine about 1/2 way up the firewall.

I've been in water deeper than that. I have done all the routine maint. on my 2004. I have not had water in anything.(knock on wood)

If I were you I probably would change the diff fluid just as a precaution, sitting in water can find pinhole ways to get into places and axles are kind of important.

I can post some pics of the breather locations (or where they should be) if you need, but if everyone at the factory was doing their job that day you should be fine. The engine compartment is a "wet area."

now if you had a pre 2003 auto.......you would be in alot more trouble.

hope this helps.

[ChuckDee]

Change all fluids ... it's cheaper than the repairs by a large margin
Get a set of Mastercraft Baja replacement seats - There, problem solved
Buy a winch - Future similar stuck solved
Buy some new AT or MT's and lose the GSA's - Future similar stuck prevented

[Flawed]

Change all the fluids, get out the garden hose and wash the interior, and invest in a case of febreeze. Don't direct spray the dash with the hose, but everything else is safe. Your jeep will be fine, a little stinky but fine as lone as you change the fluids.
Your starter might give you problems in the future but it should be ok for now.