Stuck in mud...overheated A/T

[DEKA3]

I was visiting my buddy in his new house in upstate NY and we decided to take a drive through the country to see whats around. I let him drive since he likes my truck.
Long story longer...after about 45 minutes of driving, we come to some open land that looks muddy with spots of green grass. I get out and walk around to check the depth and see how bad things are. It wasnt bad so we decided to go for it. I figured lets test my Silent Armors on some mud. 5 minutes later, we get stuck. We get stuck REALLY bad. Half of the wheels are deep in the muck. My door is about an inch away from the mud. Now, nobody around for miles and no cell coverage. No trees around to get hooked up to. My shovel was useless. We tried pushing, pulling, bouncing, nothing... 3 hours later (yes, 3 hours) of trying to get out, my A/T light comes on. Wheels stop spinning but engine still revving. My heart stopped, so I shut the truck off and started walking. Almost an hour of walking and we come across a flat bed towtruck that has stopped on the side of dirt road because he hit a deer.
Long story short... apparently local wheelers get stuck at that same spot as we did all the time and he usually drives up there to the spot once a day to see if anybody needs help. I guess we missed each other. FML!

Guys, 4 hours later, we are hungry, exhausted, muddy, and I am pissed to say the least. My buddy stays behind with the deer, because the tow truck driver called it in, and the driver and I go to my truck. He gets me out and I pay him. He brings me to my buddy's house and I test the truck once more to see if the tranny cooled down. It was back to normal...I guess.

Now to my question: WTF should I do? My truck has since been cleaned thoroughly. Thank God the engine compartment was not affected...dont ask me how, since we had mud EVERYWHERE! It runs fine from what I can see, hear, and "not" smell. I am going to the dealer this weekend. What should I tell them to look out for? Should I get the A/T oil changed? This has never happened to me before so I am clueless as to what to expect and do.

Moral of the story....I do not recommend Silent Armors for deep mud. But YMMV...

 

[KidVermicious]

Personally, I don't recommend anything for deep mud, especially if you don't have to be in it. Not unless you hate your truck.

Pull your AT dipstick and check the color of your fluid. If it's brownish or smells burnt, I'd change it. Check the codes, and if there aren't any current I'd count your lucky stars and don't worry about.

 

[DEKA3]

Personally, I don't recommend anything for deep mud, especially if you don't have to be in it. Not unless you hate your truck.

Pull your AT dipstick and check the color of your fluid. If it's brownish or smells burnt, I'd change it. Check the codes, and if there aren't any current I'd count your lucky stars and don't worry about.

The oil looks and smells like it should at 20K miles. No codes as of yet. Been checking my obdII everyday 'just in case'. Thanks for your insight. I can breathe easier for now!

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

First off mud sucks ass. I avoid it like the plague but sometimes you either misjudge an area of cannot avoid it.

Second, dollars to doughnuts your truck is fine. It has enough nanny systems on it to keep us boneheads from screwing it up. Take it to one of those self wash places and pressure wash the hell out of the belly, they loooove it when you leave 100lbs of mud in a stall after you wash your truck, ask me how I know. Then just tell your service adviser about the issue so they can document it and check for codes and check the fluid. How many miles on your truck? Are you due for an A/T fluid flush? If so, may be a good time for it.

EDIT - Woops, saw your response above. You are a ways off from an A/T fluid flush. Just have your dealer inspect it and check for codes since its is still under warranty.

 

[DEKA3]

First off mud sucks ass. I avoid it like the plague but sometimes you either misjudge an area of cannot avoid it.

Second, dollars to doughnuts your truck is fine. It has enough nanny systems on it to keep us boneheads from screwing it up. Take it to one of those self wash places and pressure wash the hell out of the belly, they loooove it when you leave 100lbs of mud in a stall after you wash your truck, ask me how I know. Then just tell your service adviser about the issue so they can document it and check for codes and check the fluid. How many miles on your truck? Are you due for an A/T fluid flush? If so, may be a good time for it.

The truck was cleaned to death. No trace of mud. Both air filters are clean.
I have about 20k miles on her. Work and play pretty close to home for the most part.
Taking her to the dealer this weekend. As for codes...none as of this morning.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

The truck was cleaned to death. No trace of mud. Both air filters are clean.
I have about 20k miles on her. Work and play pretty close to home for the most part.
Taking her to the dealer this weekend. As for codes...none as of this morning.

Sounds like your sittin pretty!

Hit the button and enjoy!

 

[JustinFro]

Tell me you at least took a picture of the crap your were stuck in.

Glad to hear you had enough luck to find the flatbed.

 

[NHinAK]

Personally, I don't recommend anything for deep mud, especially if you don't have to be in it. Not unless you hate your truck.

Pull your AT dipstick and check the color of your fluid. If it's brownish or smells burnt, I'd change it. Check the codes, and if there aren't any current I'd count your lucky stars and don't worry about.

What's an AT dipstick?




:spy:

 

[DEKA3]

Tell me you at least took a picture of the crap your were stuck in.

Glad to hear you had enough luck to find the flatbed.

No pics. Didnt have my head screwed on properly to think of that at the time. But my mental image of what happened is enough for me!

 

[1engineer]

Personally, I don't recommend anything for deep mud, especially if you don't have to be in it. Not unless you hate your truck.

Pull your AT dipstick and check the color of your fluid. If it's brownish or smells burnt, I'd change it. Check the codes, and if there aren't any current I'd count your lucky stars and don't worry about.

Kevin, 4Runners have not had an AT dipstick for a looooooong time lol.

OP listen to [MENTION=74569]SOcalTRAIL[/MENTION]. Next time you see mud, go around. if you have to go through, no deeper than the bottom of your rims. Any deeper and you are walking, no matter what type of tires you have. Ask me how I learned that little rule of thumb lol.

 

[phillyd2]

I too think you are fine but if you do take it to the dealer I would say nothing about the mud - just tell them the light came on and you want it checked.

Next time........

 

[DEKA3]

Kevin, 4Runners have not had an AT dipstick for a looooooong time lol.

OP listen to [MENTION=74569]SOcalTRAIL[/MENTION]. Next time you see mud, go around. if you have to go through, no deeper than the bottom of your rims. Any deeper and you are walking, no matter what type of tires you have. Ask me how I learned that little rule of thumb lol.

Trust me, I didnt want to get stuck. When I got out to check out the situation, the mud was no deeper than a couple of inches. But, oh how fast things changed!

 

[DEKA3]

I too think you are fine but if you do take it to the dealer I would say nothing about the mud - just tell them the light came on and you want it checked.

Next time........

Thanks for the tip. But I didnt have anything like that on me at the time. I even used my Husky cargo mat, but no luck :toilet:

As for how I am explaining this to the dealer? "Hey, can you check my A/T oil, 'cuz all of my miles are in stop & go traffic"

 

[Jesse1983]

or if only one side is stuck, get a buddy to lift the stuck side out

 

[phillyd2]

As for how I am explaining this to the dealer? "Hey, can you check my A/T oil, 'cuz all of my miles are in stop & go traffic"

IMHO one of the main problems in life is everybody way over explains everything

Its like talking to the police, less information is usually better and saying nothing is almost always the best policy. Again, its just me but I would tell them the light came on and you want it checked out. Period. If asked why it came on I would tell them that its THEIR job to figure it out.

 

[DEKA3]

IMHO one of the main problems in life is everybody way over explains everything

Its like talking to the police, less information is usually better and saying nothing is almost always the best policy. Again, its just me but I would tell them the light came on and you want it checked out. Period. If asked why it came on I would tell them that its THEIR job to figure it out.

I agree. Less is best. But no light is on. No light ever came on. No codes showed up. If I tell him this, wont he just tell me "No lights are on and no codes came up"?


UPDATE: uhhhh...nevermind. Looks like my head STILL isnt screwed on properly. Got it now! :hatsoff:

 

[KidVermicious]

What's an AT dipstick?

Kevin, 4Runners have not had an AT dipstick for a looooooong time lol.

:: checks forum ::

Oh, it's you guys. I'll just see myself out then, shall I?

 

[Titanpat57]

too bad you didn't have my number...

I got some new straps I want to get dirty...

oh yea..



pictures or GTFO

 

[DEKA3]

too bad you didn't have my number...

I got some new straps I want to get dirty...

oh yea..



pictures or GTFO

Oh straps...good idea...just a couple of problems: no trees or other vehicles and open land with soft ground. my buddy is kinda large, but don't think he was down for 'mule duty'. As for pics......................gotta go! :blah:
Your number would have been pretty useless. No cell coverage. Thanks , though!

 

[INDYMAC]

Thanks for the tip. But I didnt have anything like that on me at the time. I even used my Husky cargo mat, but no luck :toilet:

As for how I am explaining this to the dealer? "Hey, can you check my A/T oil, 'cuz all of my miles are in stop & go traffic"

Just tell the service writer the truth. You're allowed to get stuck in the mud. It's an off road vehicle. Don't settle for anything less than a full fluid transfer flush with Toyota WS ATF. Heat is the enemy of ATF and transmissions.

It's possible that water/mud got into differentials too. I would change those fluids too. Make sure the breathers are clean and clear of mud (especially rear), or you well develop seal leaks from over-pressurization.