Sunk 4Runner.... The epic (picture) novel of love and loss
- Thread starter pjackson
- Start date
Flooding a vehicle is just about the worst thing you can do to one. Plan on replacing all of the driveline fluids, maybe more than once depending on how many times it takes to get all the water out of the rear axle, front diff, T-case. If it has an automatic transmission, pray the water didn't get into that.
Edit: I see you have a manual trans. That would likely be okay after a few gear oil changes.
Pull out the interior to let it dry.
Be prepared for electrical gremlins that will inevitably crop up sometime in the future. Wires that were never intended to get wet, do get wet, and then start to corrode. Eventually that corrosion causes a disruption in the flow of electricity.
I worked on a few customer flood cars back in the day. What a major pain in the ass. Despite my warning of what it might take to get the vehicles back up and running reliably, they insisted on going ahead. Once the repair bill exceeded the vehicles worth, they had second thoughts.
I'd consider having it totaled by your insurance, just to avoid the future hassles.
Edit: I see you have a manual trans. That would likely be okay after a few gear oil changes.
Pull out the interior to let it dry.
Be prepared for electrical gremlins that will inevitably crop up sometime in the future. Wires that were never intended to get wet, do get wet, and then start to corrode. Eventually that corrosion causes a disruption in the flow of electricity.
I worked on a few customer flood cars back in the day. What a major pain in the ass. Despite my warning of what it might take to get the vehicles back up and running reliably, they insisted on going ahead. Once the repair bill exceeded the vehicles worth, they had second thoughts.
I'd consider having it totaled by your insurance, just to avoid the future hassles.
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BrianSD_42
New member
This may actually be a best route. If you call your insurance and tell them you drove it into a lake their assessor may total out the vehicle and then you can legally buy it back for ~$1500.
TFJ-4runner
New member
Pull the carpet and unplug all easy accessible electrical plugs. Let it sit and bake in the sun with ever door open and window open. You're not the first and wont be the last. I have rescued a friend who did something similar and also have done a deep body of water myself. Feel better and reps for having the balls to share it with us.
Me pulling a friend out
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hVI4udz63xc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Me doing a deep water/mud hole...never again mud= stupid inconvenience to clean
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hUlljSRk0wg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Me pulling a friend out
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hVI4udz63xc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Me doing a deep water/mud hole...never again mud= stupid inconvenience to clean
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hUlljSRk0wg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
afg10000
New member
I, too, have experienced this. I now own the most expensive stock 3rd gen Runner in existence. Much help can I offer but it will have to wait until later. You live and ya learn. JWaldz, wanna chime in?
In the meantime...
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/148210-sunk-4runner-x2-please-help.html
In the meantime...
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/148210-sunk-4runner-x2-please-help.html
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JWaldz
Moderator
JWaldz now, had my name changed a while back
I actually directed him to T4R. I saw his post over on YotaTech and we all know YotaTech is kind of dead lol.
I did, however, give him some tips already. So hopefully everything works out for him.
and just for sh*ts and giggles.. pretty sure most ppl on here have seen it. I never knew I was such a good magician. How to make a 35" tire disappear!
If you want to read my traumatizing incident Paul here's the thread >> Click Here
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Thanks everbody! Yeah as far as flood threads are concerned I have probably read most of them lol but its cool to see people I have been reading about post with their advice. Carpet and seats are coming out first thing Saturday then I'm going to start troubleshooting electronics! After talking with Doc2012 I feel a lot better about how to approach the body ecu (sounds like this and my alarm brain are giving me most the issues)
Insurance is liability so we can take that of the table haha but I'm fairly confident my old roommate and I can figure it out this weekend...if not I will tow it home on my dad's trailer. Anyone in south ga this weekend?? Haha
Insurance is liability so we can take that of the table haha but I'm fairly confident my old roommate and I can figure it out this weekend...if not I will tow it home on my dad's trailer. Anyone in south ga this weekend?? Haha
DizzyDoyle
New member
I am in Athens if you need a hand.
Singtoe
New member
You need bigger tires.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Bd4UIGl1fvA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
You ECU looks like it was safe. It is up behind the airbag.
Take the starter apart, put new contacts in it and regrease it.
Alarm ECM should be able to be flushed out with distilled water and dried up. It might come back to life.
Alternator should be hosed off with water and blow dry. It should come back too.
I think all of DOC2012 stuff came back to life.
For sitting so long in the water, definitely change out some of your fluids.
front diff, tranny, transfer case, rear axle.
Power steering, antifreeze and brake fluid should be fine.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Bd4UIGl1fvA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
You ECU looks like it was safe. It is up behind the airbag.
Take the starter apart, put new contacts in it and regrease it.
Alarm ECM should be able to be flushed out with distilled water and dried up. It might come back to life.
Alternator should be hosed off with water and blow dry. It should come back too.
I think all of DOC2012 stuff came back to life.
For sitting so long in the water, definitely change out some of your fluids.
front diff, tranny, transfer case, rear axle.
Power steering, antifreeze and brake fluid should be fine.
audiness
Senior Member
Drain /flush/ fill front ,center , and rear DIffs. Drain Flush/ fill transmission. The gas tank is pretty well sealed ( to create a vacum) so i wouldn't worry about that.
The electronics are going to be a *****, but I wouldnt troubleshoot too much until it is 100% dried out. Buy yourself a dehumidifier and run it in your truck. it will suck lots of moisture out of there.
good luck
The electronics are going to be a *****, but I wouldnt troubleshoot too much until it is 100% dried out. Buy yourself a dehumidifier and run it in your truck. it will suck lots of moisture out of there.
good luck
Brique
New member
Dehumidifier is a great idea and a small investment relatively speaking...
So sorry to hear about your rough weekend. Ain't gonna give you a hard time, someday I'm sure I'll do something worse.
Somewhere on a jeep forum there's a thread that starts "so, I was out wheeling this weekend and you'll never believe what some [dude] in a 4runner did..."
So sorry to hear about your rough weekend. Ain't gonna give you a hard time, someday I'm sure I'll do something worse.
Somewhere on a jeep forum there's a thread that starts "so, I was out wheeling this weekend and you'll never believe what some [dude] in a 4runner did..."
Doc2012
Senior Member
I know man. Crazy shit.....
Southern4Runner
New member
Im in Atlanta if you need a hand!
Diesel_Dog
New member
Is it running again?
:::::::::::::::UPDATE:::::::::::::::::
Cleaned the VIP alarm brain out (it was disgusting!) with Circuit Board cleaner and toothbrush. Looked like body ECU/fuse box was above the flood plane, all the terminals were dried and cleaned (and greased) and carpet was yanked out. Still needs to be shampooed but it will happen one night this week (or maybe just Saturday). We realized the AM1 fuse was blowing when I turned the ignition so that lead me to believe the starter was bad. (you may recall that we actually pulled the starter out and cleaned/regreased, but what you don't know is that I know nothing about how to properly test one, so we just threw it back in with hopes it would work again - no need for useful links friends, I had the diagram in my hands...but me and electrical diagrams...ugh) We roll started it and it drove around the block. Loaded her up on the rescue trailer and drove home.
----------
Been busy with work but managed to put a few hours of wrenching in the last couple nights. Yanked off the starter again, and (with the help of my father who actually knows how to read electrical hieroglyphics) discovered that the starter was fried. Bought a new starter for 89$, threw in a new 40amp AM1 fuse and she cranked right up.
Total investment so far:
time ripping carpet and cleaning
tranny/diff/ect fluids: TBD
gas back and forth from Valdosta: $120
new starter: $89
sea foam: $7
AIR FRESHNAHS! ???? Yes, river water has lost that special appeal it once held in my heart....until next summer.
....to be continued....
So cranked up no problem, but there is a definite stutter when there is a load on the engine (particularly in low RPM range) I am going to run a can of SeaFoam through the gas to see if that will clear this up but plan on searching a little more about the Throttle Position Sensor (I have read a couple threads where this was the solution to a very similar engine stutter ((after being submerged in water)))
Thanks everyone for your help (Especially DOC2012!!), suggestions, and humor! Hopefully all this will be sorted out soon and then I can begin to waterproof my stuff and put a proper snorkel on it (AND WINCH!)
Cleaned the VIP alarm brain out (it was disgusting!) with Circuit Board cleaner and toothbrush. Looked like body ECU/fuse box was above the flood plane, all the terminals were dried and cleaned (and greased) and carpet was yanked out. Still needs to be shampooed but it will happen one night this week (or maybe just Saturday). We realized the AM1 fuse was blowing when I turned the ignition so that lead me to believe the starter was bad. (you may recall that we actually pulled the starter out and cleaned/regreased, but what you don't know is that I know nothing about how to properly test one, so we just threw it back in with hopes it would work again - no need for useful links friends, I had the diagram in my hands...but me and electrical diagrams...ugh) We roll started it and it drove around the block. Loaded her up on the rescue trailer and drove home.
----------
Been busy with work but managed to put a few hours of wrenching in the last couple nights. Yanked off the starter again, and (with the help of my father who actually knows how to read electrical hieroglyphics) discovered that the starter was fried. Bought a new starter for 89$, threw in a new 40amp AM1 fuse and she cranked right up.
Total investment so far:
time ripping carpet and cleaning
tranny/diff/ect fluids: TBD
gas back and forth from Valdosta: $120
new starter: $89
sea foam: $7
AIR FRESHNAHS! ???? Yes, river water has lost that special appeal it once held in my heart....until next summer.
....to be continued....
So cranked up no problem, but there is a definite stutter when there is a load on the engine (particularly in low RPM range) I am going to run a can of SeaFoam through the gas to see if that will clear this up but plan on searching a little more about the Throttle Position Sensor (I have read a couple threads where this was the solution to a very similar engine stutter ((after being submerged in water)))
Thanks everyone for your help (Especially DOC2012!!), suggestions, and humor! Hopefully all this will be sorted out soon and then I can begin to waterproof my stuff and put a proper snorkel on it (AND WINCH!)
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nor_cal51501
New member
Been following your thread since the main event, sorry to hear about the hippo. On a better note though, damn happy to see that you got 'er up and going again. Just can't keep a Yota down!!
