Heavy rains the other night covered the roads with water. I am always careful to take it easy going through standing water, even though I don't have an ignition system that could short out. I know there are a lot of electronics under the hood and don't want to risk any damage (had an IDM go bad due to moisture getting into it in the wintertime last year).
Anyway, I am going nice and slow through the standing water when my headlights dim and the alternator/charge system idiot light comes on as well as a drop in the voltmeter guage. After a brief time, all returns to normal.
I suspected the serpentine belt was slipping perhaps, so next occurrence, I tried turning the steering wheel and found that the power steering did not work as it should under these conditions, either. Cleared itself up once out of the water and down the road a bit.

Conclusion: water splashing up and making serpentine belt slip until it dries out a few hundred yards down the road.

First Question: Will replacing the belt keep this from happening again? I don't know if they are more prone to slippage under wet conditions if they have some miles on them or not. Seems like it would be so, and I am going to replace the belt anyway as I have no idea how many miles are on it (at least the 25k I put on the truck since I bought it at 73k)

Second Question: FoMoCo belt or other? Price/quality differences that anyone is aware of?

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for any insight you may have to share!

 

A new belt never hurts. as for manafacturer, thats personal opinion. I use goodyear gatorbacks. Something else to check also, is the belt tensioner. It could be getting weak and putting less tension on the belt.

 

Agree with the belt tensioner, they tend to get stuck in one place and not put enough tension on the belt. As far as which brand of belt to use, there's nothing better than OEM, but that's just my opinion.

 

Very happy with the Gatorback (Autozone) as well, the OEM works well as a back up in the event you lose your main. My oem was slipping due to water as well, very similar to what happened to you...ok I have a ford ( one you drive through) in a pasture on the farm and tend to play in it. I have almost had the airbox in the water since the gatorback and Zero slippage. You might check the tensioner but I can not tell you the poundage. (no offense spike)

 

sorry double post

 

none taken, sneal

 

Thanks, gang. I'll be putting "Gatorback" on next weekend.