Jeep and mud question

[SusanH]

Sorry if I'm posting wrong but help please? I have a one day old 2 door wrangler JL sport. I wanted to make sure the four wheel drive worked so I drove it into a nearby field and got it really stuck deep in mud. $400.00 later the tow truck guy says I need to take it to the dealer for inspection to see if there is mud in something (maybe he said transfer something or another) Now I'm freaking out. Do I really need to worry about this?
The mud didn't go up to the frame and I think that big black thing that hangs down in the middle of the underside didn't get in the mud.
Sorry as you can tell from my post I know nothing about cars or 4 wheeling. I only know to stay out of grassy fields!

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[Jondrew]

Not really sure if I can provide any useful advice here. I will follow the thread though to see what responses you get

 

[GreyFox]

Ouch... $400? I'm no help either but maybe some pictures would help?

 

[TrailTorque]

I think my first question would be:

1. When the wrecker got you out, did you have issues driving the vehicle?

You don’t mention what happened when you were pulled out?!

1a. Did you drive off?

1b. Did it drive weird?

1c. Did it not start?

 

[NFRs2000NYC]

No need for dealer visits. Clean up the underside with a powerwasher, and open the fill plugs on the diffs and check the fluid, make sure it doesn't look milky (has water in it.) If not, and you don't have any issues, you're good to go, only a bruised ego.

(If you have a manual, I hope you didn't try to shift it while it was submerged.)

Also, before you go out again, do a lot of reading before you get yourself into a really bad situation. Learn about the drivetrain, how to handle conditions, when to be in what gear, etc.

 

[HoundDude]

the differentials (big round pumpkin) sit along the axles half way between wheels. there is one in the front and one in the back. there is a breather tube that sticks out the top/side of the differential for air transfer, you dont want that to suck in mud. if it does, the gears inside the differential could get chewed up over time. talk to your dealer, let him know what happened and see if you should get the oil changed in the differentials. its no big deal but do follow-up.

 

[Firecracker18]

@SusanH don't be hard on yourself. You DO know something about 4 wheeling now - don't do deep mud in a stock JL. Hey - my little brother tried driving my dad's Jeep across a frozen pond...turned out it wasn't all that frozen and he sunk it. Ha ha! Stuff happens.

Ok so the Jeep is rated at 30" water fording. What that means is you can (IF SAFE) drive in pretty deep water without hurting a thing. 30" is just above the bumper. But that's water and this is mud. First thing you want to do is take it to one of those do it yourself car washes and spray off everything underneath the Jeep. Don't forget the inside of the wheels.

I think the tow truck driver is just covering his bases and told you to take it to get it checked out because in regular cars the "big black thing(s)" between the wheels (those are axles and differentials) have breather caps that sit low and will take in water/mud. Yours are vented much higher via tubes thus the 30" standard above. I really think you'll be fine after cleaning it up. And you'll have a story to tell.

If anyone out there thinks I'm wrong due to it being mud and not water feel free to correct me and maybe I'll learn a thing or two as well

 

[robaw]

Was it at least fun before having to call for help?

I did basically the same thing when I bought my JL - it was a recently harvested corn field that was moderately muddy. I luckily didn't get stuck, but was pretty close a couple times.

I'm by no way qualified to offer advice on what would need to be checked after your experience, but I would think that if you weren't past your axles in mud then it shouldn't be a big deal (of course I could easily be wrong).

 

[stil2low]

Completely fine and no need for a dealer visit. Either stop in at your local self wash or throw your lawn sprinkler under the Jeep over night to wash off any mud stuck underneath. The mud left underneath will hold moisture and eventually lead to rust

Grassy fields are the worst to wheel in, tend to hold a lot of ground water and will bury to the frame in no time so don’t be too hard on yourself! You’ll learn what has good bottom and what doesn’t

 

[stil2low]

Been in lot deeper with my JK, hand on the key the whole time just in case the hood went under hahahahaha all is good

 

[KrispyKotex]

The only thing about mud is getting it cleaned off. invest in a pressure washer. Also, each time I have been in mud, one of my wheel sensors have went out. It was common in my JK, and usually locked up a wheel. If you are going down the interstate, with cruise control on, and it kicks out, or at an intersection, and your wheel locks up, it is an indication of a bad sensor. Lots of fields around here, with plenty of mud, but have not taken my JLRU in any of it, nor plan to...especially after harvest time and in to spring.

 

[SusanH]

I think my first question would be:

1. When the wrecker got you out, did you have issues driving the vehicle?

You don’t mention what happened when you were pulled out?!

1a. Did you drive off?

1b. Did it drive weird?

1c. Did it not start?

It didn't drive strange at all, seems fine. I guess I'm just worried that it might break the next time I drive it.

 

[SusanH]

I took it to the car wash and pressured it at lease five bucks worth. Think I got all the mud from the undercarriage. It seems to be driving fine and I'm starting to calm down a bit. Thanks so much for the advice.
I do feel like I got ripped a bit from the tow, he only winched it about 50 feet but at least I can sleep without worrying about my brand new jeep being stuck.

 

[TrailTorque]

It didn't drive strange at all, seems fine. I guess I'm just worried that it might break the next time I drive it.

It’s a Jeep Wrangler it’s sole purpose is abuse off-road. People get stuck all the time no worries. If it’s driving fine then no worries, it was just mud.

Next time though try to have someone with another Jeep or truck with you haha.

You should have taken pictures

 

[XJrider]

Buy a winch and get it stuck again....0

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