I drove my car through a creek

could be a lifter, one way to check if its the alternator, is to use a long screwdriver, with the engine running, place the metal of the screwdriver on the alternator, place your ear to the handle, do the same for valve cover, if the sound is louder from one then that is where it is coming from.

Why would you drive thru a creek, even if it's known as a local fording spot??? There's a place near my house where a local road fords a creek, nice smooth rock bottom, I wouldn't consider driving my car thru it at anytime.. you'll be lucky if it's only the alternator.. imagine if you had one of those much-hyped cold=air intakes that are known for sucking up water, even in a rainstorm...

i have a 96 taurus gl 108,000 miles. we got alot of rain here in miami and did not think the water was deep, turns out it was, water went over my hood and car stalled just like you. i kept trying to start but it would't. finally got it started and got home and heard a loud ticking noise, the more i pressed the accelorator the louder it got. Come to find out when the water went over the hood it went through my air filter and tha maf sensor sucked water into the intake manifold and straight to where the pistons are and when i tried to start the car the piston had no lubrication because water and oil dont mix and the piston slammed right into the head bending the piston rod, the noise you hear is the piston rod slamming into the crank, not good. do not drive the car like that you will make it worse and it will cost you more. look at your air filter i bet it is soaking wet!! Cost me 1800.00 to repair