Sunk my 4Runner... can it be saved?

[MENTION=70631]pjbrownva[/MENTION] I would say it maybe saved. I had a friend that sunk his truck in the lake launching his boat. It was like a 98 chevy. He got it home drained everything, and filled it up with ATF and went out and hand cranked it with a breaker bar for about a month everyday to keep pushing the water out and he is still driving it today with out problems. Results may not be typical but its worth the shot i guess if you love it. He also named his truck lazarus lol since it has risen from the dead. He said he got almost 5 gallons of water out of it before the oil came out when he drained it. His truck was 100% under the water too.
 
There is absolutely no reason that a person with full insurance coverage should be trying to dry out and keep a full sunk newish vehicle. None.

That might be something you'd do if this were just a 'wheeling rig, or if you weren't insured. Otherwise, you are just asking for months of work and a lifetime of problems.

Total it and buy another.
 
Total it out, and if you think it's worth saving "buy it out" from insurance and pocket the rest or buy a diff vehicle with the rest of the money
 
First, thank goodness no one was hurt! Stuff happens in life. Like yourself, I've never considered a boat ramp a dangerous place. I'm an avid boater and the only problems I've seen were related to the boat, not the tow rig. I'm certainly going to use a greater level of caution after hearing of your misfortune.

Having fixed a few damaged cars, I wouldn't take on a submerged car that was running when it went under. If you don't have a lien, then the insurance company should offer you the option to keep the car for a lesser settlement vs them taking ownership of the car. If you keep the car, then the title remains clear which might make it of value to someone wanting to repair/rebuild one. As your body is still good, someone could take a wrecked one and swap over the interior and mechanicals. Lot of work but sometimes a project isn't really like work.

Good luck finding a replacement. Fortunately they sold a ton of 4Runners so there should be plenty to choose from.
 
well that sucks, I wouldn't say its done.

I pulled a friend'ss FJ from a beach after a few hours of sucking up salt water about 3 years ago and its still running with no issues.

He did invest in a full tune up, detailing job, anti corrosion stuff and a new wiring for the whole rig still using the original electrical gear after the incident.

So its possible it can be saved but I guess we will never know.:noidea:

Good luck on the new 4runner.
 
Wow sorry to hear what happened to your 4Runner! So it was in park and the linkage broke? Btw I'm in Arlington too.
 
Last edited:
Forty6and2Ahead said:
...and here I was upset that I left my passenger window cracked open during a thunderstorm and my floors were damp. Thanks for the reality check.
Click to expand...

I'm happy to oblige, 46 and 2.

At least my truck didn't go down for nothing.

I feel much, much better now, knowing that it's helped give someone a sense
of perspective. :bounce: :bounce: (LOL).

So... maybe I can get my wife to upgrade me to a Lexus LX????

I guess a guy can dream, huh?
 
V8Limited4wd said:
Wow sorry to hear what happened to your 4Runner! So it was in park and the linkage broke? Btw I'm in Arlington too.
Click to expand...

Hey, V8 Limited. The linkage either broker, or it just slipped out of gear... not sure which.

We've got a few of us in the NOVA area (Northern Virginia for those who don't live around here!).

I'd also like to give a big shout out to Zach for offering to let me check out his 4Runner Limited !!!

I'll take a rain check for now (hehe!). I have to let the idea soak in for awhile. :jump:

On the good news front, the tentative quote from the insurance company is very fair. In fact, I had the truck for 4 years, put almost 30K miles on it, and I'm getting back all of my money less $4K.

I can't complain about that! (But I *can* complain that the price of 7 year old used T4R's today are quite a bit higher than what I paid for a 7 yr old T4R 4 years ago!)
 
Wow, that's crazy! At least it makes for a cool picture.

If that was salt water it would for sure be totaled. When I worked at a dealer if any salt water made it into the interior it would automatically be totaled. For fresh water there might be a chance that it isn't totaled. It all depends on how much your damaged control units cost. They will pull your whole interior and let it air dry before the mold sets in. If it's already moldy then they will replace it all. But with the way 4runners hold their value they have a lot to work with. The damage would have to be over 75% of the value of the vehicle.

Kind of surprised the transmission didn't hold it. The ramp doesn't look that steep and when the boat is in the water it's floating and not putting much strain on the transmission. I also always set the parking break if I am parked on any incline.

Good luck! I hope they total it, I wouldn't want it back after that.
 
Am I allowed to ask what the payout was and what the buyback option was? I buy many cars (toyota and lexus) from insurance and I am just curious...

I am a bit of a data nerd and curious as to make a correlation to what these sell for at salvage auction vs what they are willing to pay for it vs what the buy back is...I know for a while back in 2010-2012, there was a mad rush on 93-97 Corollas...and the auction prices adjusted accordingly and so did the buy backs...they were more inclined to total them with very little damage knowing they would get big bucks (relatively speaking) at the auction...

Also, I'm local. What goodies can you sell off of it before insurance hauls it off...assuming they haven't yet.
 
Update on sunken treasure!

lunchindabox said:
Am I allowed to ask what the payout was and what the buyback option was? I buy many cars (toyota and lexus) from insurance and I am just curious...

I am a bit of a data nerd and curious as to make a correlation to what these sell for at salvage auction vs what they are willing to pay for it vs what the buy back is...I know for a while back in 2010-2012, there was a mad rush on 93-97 Corollas...and the auction prices adjusted accordingly and so did the buy backs...they were more inclined to total them with very little damage knowing they would get big bucks (relatively speaking) at the auction...

Also, I'm local. What goodies can you sell off of it before insurance hauls it off...assuming they haven't yet.
Click to expand...

Hi Lunchbox. I sent info on the salvage values via a PM.

Here's an update for everyone else...

Totaling the 4Runner was the right call for me. When power was applied, the dash board illumination didn't work, the stereo was dead, the right blinker flashed continuously, and when the key was moved to the "run" position, only one or two dash lights lit up... one of which was only partially lit (it was too dim).

The vehicle didn't want to crank at all, the steering wheel wouldn't lock regardless of the key and shifter position, and the ignition lock was difficult to turn.

Lastly, the trip computer and clock display only partially lit up, and the LED display showing the mileage didn't work. In fact, the salvage yard was unable to read the mileage from the OBD II port.

So enough was wrong with my runner that, at least for me, totaling it was the right call.

I *almost* got the wife to agree to getting me a Lexus GX... Only she doesn't like the look of it (she thinks it looks too big)... so after a long search, I'm back to looking for a 4th gen 4 Runner in White with some nice goodies.

I'll be back on the road before I know it! :lookout:

-Phil
 
pjbrownva said:
Hi Lunchbox. I sent info on the salvage values via a PM.

Here's an update for everyone else...

Totaling the 4Runner was the right call for me. When power was applied, the dash board illumination didn't work, the stereo was dead, the right blinker flashed continuously, and when the key was moved to the "run" position, only one or two dash lights lit up... one of which was only partially lit (it was too dim).

The vehicle didn't want to crank at all, the steering wheel wouldn't lock regardless of the key and shifter position, and the ignition lock was difficult to turn.

Lastly, the trip computer and clock display only partially lit up, and the LED display showing the mileage didn't work. In fact, the salvage yard was unable to read the mileage from the OBD II port.

So enough was wrong with my runner that, at least for me, totaling it was the right call.

I *almost* got the wife to agree to getting me a Lexus GX... Only she doesn't like the look of it (she thinks it looks too big)... so after a long search, I'm back to looking for a 4th gen 4 Runner in White with some nice goodies.

I'll be back on the road before I know it! :lookout:

-Phil
Click to expand...

Good luck Phil.
You've had a great attitude through this whole thing. I hope you get the next perfect 4runner soon...
 
What an interesting read this thread was. OP, I'm sorry that this happened, but I'm glad to hear that no one got hurt. Good luck finding a new Runner. :D

Note to self - When (and if) I ever decide to get a boat, while launching, turn truck off, set parking brake, leave in 1st gear. 0.o

PS - I daily drive a 1996 Honda Prelude that was COMPLETELY submerged in freshwater for 6+ hours at one point. Due to financial circumstances, I had no choice but to attempt to save the car. I didn't even THINK about putting the key in the ignition for 2 weeks or so. Both computers (ECU and ABS computer) were pulled and completely dried out. Interior was completely removed and washed/shampooed/dried. Lots of other stuff was done, but that was the big stuff. This was years ago, and I haven't had a problem with this car since then. Keep in mind, this is on top of it being ~20 years old. TL;DR - Flooded cars CAN indeed be saved, if you have no other options. :D
 
Time to fix the parking brake

Well thanks for posting - made me nauseous reading it.

I'm going to go fix my parking brake ASAP.
 
Seen it here many times after hurricanes. I would total it. If it does run it will be one problem after another. Off-roading through a creek or stream is not the same as submerging it. Sux sorry
 
gm350reratliff said:
Anytime you are parked on a slope like that, always engage the parking brake and if you are towing, it may not be a bad idea to also use some wheel chocks. Just be glad it didn't take you down with it. One of my co-workers was run over and killed by his own truck a few years ago because the transmission slipped out of park on a hill while he was closing a gate.
Click to expand...

Yet another reason why a manual transmission is superior. Even if the clutch is worn out, it will never give way suddenly like that.
 
How easy is it to break out of park? Good thing I read this. My parking brakes are terrible and doesnt hold at all until the very last click, even with constant adjustments at the drum. Always rely on park to hold the truck unless to winch somebody.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 831 (members: 1, guests: 830)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,088
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top