Sunk 4Runner.... The epic (picture) novel of love and loss

[lugueto]

I've been in these situations a couple of times before.

First off, I would've turned it completely off, just for the sake of electrics. Your engine shouldn't suck water through the exhaust, unless you know you're having trouble with valves. If not, it will fill with water and empty the moment you pull her out.

If you never shut the engine off while submerged, there was no need to pull the plugs, although its a good precaution. You do this when you know the engine was flooded with water (it shut down when submerged), so when you crank the engine you dont bend of break a rod(s) or crack the engine block, or both.

One thing to keep note After doing frequent crossings, or get stuck on a deep enough crossing, your starter will want to stick. Something to consider when you dont get crank.

Replace oil in both diffs, transfer case and gear box multiple times in short intervals. There will be water in there for sure, as said..

As for interior it's pretty basic. Pull everything out, clean up, leave to dry. Leave the truck in the sun without interior allowing everything to dry out.

Electronics, open every ECU, submerged connection, fuse box and liberally spray contact cleaner. For mechanical parts such as the seat mechanisms, WD40 is your friend. These things tend to rust easily..

To the person who said it's a truck, not a boat: I've seen a few land cruisers who had bilge pumps installed, everything completely sealed. They called them the submarines. They're used on competitions and extreme trips down here, but there are shades of gray lol

You'd be amazed at how easily Toyotas recover from such events as long as you take the measures needed afterwards..

Cheers,

Luis

 

[Jon]

Yeah water can be a *****. My buddy and me got stuck on a sand bar at low tide, didn't take long.

Mine ended up the same depth as yours, right below the radio. I, however, being the impatient ans smart individual that I am, could not put up with the horn blowing so I disconnected the battery standing "Bawlzdeep" in salt water. Now that I think back, it may have been what saved my electrical system. The only thing I replaced was the main fuse and it started right up like nothing had ever happened. Accept for the 5 gallons of water that got dumped out of the exhaust! Maybe not 5 but it was a bunch.

I'd start by checking all the fuses in cab and under the hood. But it definitely sounds like an alternator related power issue.

Good luck man. You're not alone in your stupidity! You gonna try it again? Lets see that vid!

 

[audiness]

Thank you all for logging your experience here, it will be helpful for the next person who inadvertently goes a bit too deep .

Glad you truck is almost back to normal.

 

[IBallEngineer]

some paint shops have giant ovens they park the cars in to cure the paint. Would parking your truck in a giant oven overnight help evaporate the h2o from all the nooks and crannies?

Paint baking ovens run at 140 degrees, not worth it. They barely dry the water on the floor, mostly just make things warm. The sun would do just as much if not more.

 

[Elcajon]

The river calls me and mocks me often too..:fencing: