Yes, we went wheeling today, 4 wranglers, an XJ, and myself. The day was going great, I silenced the critics early conquering the first gnarly hill while 2 YJs bailed out and a TJ tried and failed. Also, got in and out of a ravine that something the size of an XK had no business in. Then, I followed the XJ (lifted 6" on 33s) through(mostly) a river crossing..... I went in about 30', felt the current push me just a bit so I goosed it, while in 4 LO. The XK sprang to life lurched forward and suddenly died. I made the mistake of immediately trying to start it and got nothing. Stuck for about 5 minutes in moving water 3" higher than the chrome trim on the doors while said XJ found his recovery strap and extracted me. Water inside the XK reached the bottom of the brake pedal. Two hours of airing out the soaked air filter and intake and pulling plugs (that were dry). Only to try to start it again and get nothing but a click from the starter before wafts of smoke started rolling up the left side of block. Trailside diagnosis: Fried the starter while in the water (it was submerged). Got towed 7 miles back to pavement, where I was towed another 26 miles by wrecker to the nearest dealer two hours later. Upon arrival at dealer, oil was pouring out of my 4xGuard belly guard. There was no oil leaking alongside the river, or on the road prior to towing, or even when winched onto the flatbed. This changes trailside diagnosis drasticallyPics to follow as soon as they are done uploading to smugmug.
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