Model-Specific Water Resistance Mods

[carbon60]

(I'm building my notes up for the purchase of a 4th gen.)

I didn't find a thread, so point me there if I missed it, please.

What should be done to a 4th gen to increase the water resistance of the vehicle? (Aside from the really obvious like the intake.)

- Breathers? Front, rear diff? T-Case? Transmission?
- How are the door seals?
- Anything in the engine wiring harness that is susceptible?
- How do the CV joints handle a little water immersion?
- Etc?

Thanks all!

A.

 

[NuclearN8]

(I'm building my notes up for the purchase of a 4th gen.)

I didn't find a thread, so point me there if I missed it, please.

What should be done to a 4th gen to increase the water resistance of the vehicle? (Aside from the really obvious like the intake.)

- Breathers? Front, rear diff? T-Case? Transmission?
- How are the door seals?
- Anything in the engine wiring harness that is susceptible?
- How do the CV joints handle a little water immersion?
- Etc?

Thanks all!

A.

- rear differential is most susceptible, most worried about water extend it north, lots of posts about it on here.. (Front diff and transfer case are already pretty high in engine compartment, pop the hood you'll see them on right side of engine near the top of the wheel well), not sure where the trans breather is, if there is one...
-no idea on door seals, never tested them
-you can put a snorkel on and all the breather extensions you want but in reality unless you plan to relocated the ecm and electrical this is your limiting factor as I can't imagine the vehicle will run too long with these electrical components submerged... you could increase your chances of success by siliconing the connection/ fuse box lid etc to prevent water intrusion but this hardly seems worth it in the long run
- not sure about cv's but i hear axle seals/ hubs are an issue although I've never experienced it, even backing mine down to unload a boat pretty regularly.

good luck

 

[jdigitty]

My $0.02

The door seals don't do much. If you go into water beware there are some plugs behind the driver side kick panel that can short the ecm. This is what i got in to see pic. I was in the water for 1 hour~ until i got pulled out. The two of the plugs where submerged and the truck was running the whole time.I was lucky from other peoples story's on here. The only side effects i had where my rear window didn't work the rear wiper had a mind of its own and i could open the rear hatch.

All that sorted itself after a few days.

What i did in case that happens again and it might not even work is I put silicon on the rear of the plugs and then put electrical grease on the fase of them.

 

[t-man]

My $0.02

The door seals don't do much. If you go into water beware there are some plugs behind the driver side kick panel that can short the ecm. This is what i got in to see pic. I was in the water for 1 hour~ until i got pulled out. The two of the plugs where submerged and the truck was running the whole time.I was lucky from other peoples story's on here. The only side effects i had where my rear window didn't work the rear wiper had a mind of its own and i could open the rear hatch.

All that sorted itself after a few days.

What i did in case that happens again and it might not even work is I put silicon on the rear of the plugs and then put electrical grease on the fase of them.

Did you open your doors or did it seep in? We have a double door seal and it is supposed to be pretty good. I have never tested it of course. lol

 

[jdigitty]

It seeped, I climbed out the rear window.

 

[Jeremy556]

Did you open your doors or did it seep in? We have a double door seal and it is supposed to be pretty good. I have never tested it of course. lol

Seals out dust, not water. There are drain holes in the bottom of the door, designed to let water out that has gotten in from the window opening. It will let water in, just as well.

 

[t-man]

Bummer

 

[gm350reratliff]

Last summer I dunked my 4runner multiple times during a record monsoon season. I have extended breathers on the diffs and although it handled everything with ease, months later the rear wheel bearings started going out. When I pressed them off the axle shafts it was clear that water had made its way into the bearings. That being said, I believe the wheel bearings are a point of concern for deep water forging even though they are "sealed".