Sunken 4Runner reborn

mshaner152

mshaner152

New member
I had posted a while back with some questions and concerns regarding my half sunken 4runner. After about a month of taking stuff apart, traveling for work, and coming back to finally fix the rig...I am happy to say I have successfully redone the interior and everything is like new. I still have the squalling noise from the alternator, but it works and I plan to change it out soon.

Here are some before and after pics:
 

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No. Had to use one of those computer keyboard duster things to clean out the relays on both sides of the front doors, but other than that no issues. The only squeaking issue I have is with the alternator. Everything on the interior works properly.
 
Unfortunately with vehicles that have been submerged there could be some problems years from now. That's why car there was such a bother after Katrina with all the cars that were flooded were now being sold as new. Dealers would buy a $40,000 car for $5000...then do a complete cleaning like you did..then resell it for $40,000. Their total out cost was less then $15k. And then 3-4 years later the unsuspecting owner is having all these weird electrical problems.

I really do wish you luck with it. Hopefully everything works out OK.
 
MikeInNH said:
Unfortunately with vehicles that have been submerged there could be some problems years from now. That's why car there was such a bother after Katrina with all the cars that were flooded were now being sold as new. Dealers would buy a $40,000 car for $5000...then do a complete cleaning like you did..then resell it for $40,000. Their total out cost was less then $15k. And then 3-4 years later the unsuspecting owner is having all these weird electrical problems.

I really do wish you luck with it. Hopefully everything works out OK.
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i agree to a point. if it was salt or brackish water i would have gotten rid of it or worried about it. if it was just fresh dirty water he should be ok.

as an insurance appraiser if it gets salt or brackish at all in the vehicle, it is gone. GM believe it or not has the best procedures for water in a vehicle and they lay out what needs to be done.
 
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^Wow! That's sketchy!

OP, the new interior looks great! How much is OEM and how much did you upgrage in the course of working on it? Really hope the electrical system doesn't crap out on you.
 
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i agree to a point. if it was salt or brackish water i would have gotten rid of it or worried about it. if it was just fresh dirty water he should be ok.
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Fresh water isn't CLEAN water. It'll leave deposits on or in what ever is submerged. Insurance companies total flooded cars all the time (fresh or salt). Many of the cars flooded in Katrina were not from salt water....but muddy water from the Mississippi.
 
I think the electrical system will be ok. All wires are insulated that run through the vehicle. I graduated with an electrical engineering degree so I have enough knowledge and was able to make my way around/through the car and check the wiring and electrical components for any issues. Everything else that was submerged was/is sealed. I changed out the diff fluids (they were ok before the change just wanted to be sure), I spent approx 4 to 5 hours cleaning every part of that vehicle (interior and exterior). If there are any deposits of some sort anywhere, they are minor. As for what I changed, the only thing I changed out was the padding underneath the carpet. It's super glued to the carpet so I had to cut it off and scrape off the remnants. I found a local shop that sold pretty much the same stuff and bought some heavy duty glue from home depot. I was able to cut out the pieces to match what I had taken off and glue them on no problem.
 
Some 30 years I took apart an alternator and starter that was on a flooded vehicle. I scraped out about 3lbs of dirt/mud that was left behind. Hopefully you won't have the same problems this car did.
 
Well I'm sure my alternator has some dirty because the bearings are squalling. I am going to replace that in the next probably 2 weeks and yea if I have any issues with the starter I will probably just replace that as well. Thanks
 
The Real Question

So, I'll ask a question that everyone else hasn't. When is the next time you will take that truck mudding/off-roading or whatever it was that you were doing?

I'll bet not anytime soon.
 
Did the water leak in while the doors were shut?

Or did it come in when you opened your door to attach the tow strap?
 
MikeInNH said:
Fresh water isn't CLEAN water. It'll leave deposits on or in what ever is submerged. Insurance companies total flooded cars all the time (fresh or salt). Many of the cars flooded in Katrina were not from salt water....but muddy water from the Mississippi.
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a fresh water flood would get totalled if the water level was up to the dash area or higher. a salt water flood would be totalled immed. the cars from Katrina were totalled because of multiple things, salt, brackish water, water over the dash, completely submerged etc... its not just the Mississippi that totalled cars down there. Gulf water had alot to do with it. i have alot of info on this due to who i work for.


to the original op just keep your eye on the electrical components. its good that you got it all out and redid it. looks good.
 
Thanks. The water was leaking through the seals on the doors. I haven't had time to redo the seals yet. I never opened the door. I climbed out of the sun roof :)

As for what was I doing? Haha well it was my rookie ride with my new 4Runner off road. I had made it through a few nice side mud puddles and for some dumba$$ reason thought I could make it through this one.
 
li_runner said:
So, I'll ask a question that everyone else hasn't. When is the next time you will take that truck mudding/off-roading or whatever it was that you were doing?

I'll bet not anytime soon.
Click to expand...


I'll be going back out. Maybe not through that same spot. Just have to put the lift on and get my new tires.
 
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