back window question

R

RoyB

New member
how much backflow (?) is there when you have the rear window down? i usually keep it down if i have the fronts open so that i dont get a parachute of air in the back. (better gas mileage in theory).

however, if im on the gas hard i can smell the exhaust (yay, running rich) coming in the car. i can only assume that it is coming from the rear window. is it sucking in the exhaust? and if it does it when im flooring it, does it do it all the time?
 
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The owners manual suggest not driving with the rear window down for this very reason. I'm not sure what the ratio is, I just don't do it
 
you create somewhat an air pocket if you only leave the back window open and the rest closed, just open the second row window (slightly) to keep the air flow going.
 
i never drive around with just the rear open. ill usually have the fronts open and the rear cracked. if it doesnt make a difference ill just keep all the side windows down.
 
I remember reading an article a few years ago where they interviewed a ranger from Yellowstone Park who worked there during the 60's and 70's. That's when station wagons were the SUV's of the day and everyone let their kids ride in the back. He stated that they regularly had to resuscitate kids who had passed out due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Apparently there's not enough airflow, even with the front windows open to offset the vacuum created at the rear of a vehicle and keep the exhaust out. This is especially true at low speeds. It's less of a problem at highway speeds although even then it's still not recommended that you drive with the rear window down.
 
I like to roll with all my windows down, but most of the time it's not practical. If I go over 50, that back cover thing puffs up and starts flapping around and the sulfur smell comes into the cabin. Summer just got here yesterday. It's been warm, but the nights have been cool until yesterday. Right now, it's 6P and we're still in the high 90's. Driving around with all the windows down when it's nearing 100 doesn't feel very good so they are up most of the time.
 
You may not be as unhealthy riding with the rear open as most of us here. The 4Runners prior to 2003 have the exhaust pipe going to the side. The 2003's and newer having it going directly to the back, which causes alot of fumes to get sucked back in. On occasion I'll ride with it open about 2" max... just enough to offset the wind buffeting from having the front windows down.
 
no wonder ive been so sleepy ;)

i dont have an owners manual either. but its pretty scary that its not more well known. guess its like a cowl effect.
 
What a load of crap !!

Why would they make the back window go down then ? For carrying loads of lumber that are long so it can hang out the back window ?

Then Toyota should have made a regular lift gate like it has only with a window that opens up like the other suv's . You could drive with the window opened up and still carry those long loads of lumber. I see them coming out of Home Depot all the time. It would have saved them some money.

They are just covering their ass.

I also think the exhaust pipe coming straight out the back is quite a stupid idea when you have a back window that goes down. Personally if it didn't have that ( what ever it is big bulge) before the exhaust tip I would have had mine bent to side exit by now with the rotten egg smell.

Then why would they have a TSB for the stink coming in the back window ??? They should just say you CAN NOT drive with the back window down and send the people who complain about it on their way and tell them to read the manual. I don't smell the rotten egg thing unless the back window is down , thats what everyone is bitchin about.

Even on a pick up truck like the Tundra with the window down creates that air flow. Thats why all the crap in the bed sucks into the window/cabin area.
 
RoyB said:
no wonder ive been so sleepy ;)

i dont have an owners manual either. but its pretty scary that its not more well known. guess its like a cowl effect.
Click to expand...

It would be better if you did not have a rear spoiler. The rear spoiler is designed to push wind down across the rear window. When the window is open the rising exhaust fumes come up and the wind coming down force it into the cabin area.
 
Only time I open the rear window is if there is the smell of "Taco Bell" gas in the cabin...... And with the new leaky sunroof open, and the back window, it flushes out the offending odor in short order!! :D
 
Carbon Monoxide

Hi you guys.
I've been driving my 4 runner with the check engine light on and the ASC lights on for a while. They actually ruled it was not an ASC problem but more a check engine light. May indicate a caletic (spelling?) coverter problem. Told me not to worry to much about it....BUT... I've had major sleepy issues when driving and when i get home feel like I can't possibly keep my eyes open. Flu like symptoms follow. Has anyone found any issues with Carbon monoxide poisoning with the 4 runner. I feel like crappola!!! and really cant sit here long enough to find anything! My doctors think I'm crazy because they can't find anything wrong with me, but I feel like I am a bobble head and can't stay awake....This thought woke me up out of a dead sleep this morning. Because I remember smelling egg and hearing a louder thoaty noise from my V8 lately. Any help would be appreciated.

Hope to feel better soon!

Kim
 
Back window

I had a 99, the tailpipe went out the side of the truck. I thought that the 4th Gen would have the same. I did not really notice until after I purchased. They should have stayed with the old design.
 
Roadstar01 said:
I had a 99, the tailpipe went out the side of the truck. I thought that the 4th Gen would have the same. I did not really notice until after I purchased. They should have stayed with the old design.
Click to expand...

Agree.
Another option is to re-route the exhaust to the side. I did this MOD a little while back for about 100 bucks. Well worth the money, IMO.
 
what i have found out is that if i drive with more than 1 window in the front is open along with the back i'll get the exhaust fums, but if u just have one front window and the rear window down i dont get any of the exhaust smell.
 
Whenever I used to ride with the rear window down, I had the rotten egg smell, which translates to CO coming into the cabin. I therefore just stopped doing it. Last spring I upgraded to my Magnaflow full cat-back system, which has a two tipped exhaust routed to the side behind the passenger side rear wheel. The smell is gone and I think it is safe to ride with the rear window down now.
 
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