Things that go "bump" in the night!

[mikeandpat]

Hello...TOTAL noob and total girl (about cars at least) looking for help and advice before I go to my dealer tomorrow AM. Would like to have some advance knowledge when I talk to them.

On freeway. What looked like a big piece of cardboard flying at us - but it wasn't. It went under the car - couple of bumps then out. We consider ourselves lucky it didn't come through the windshield or radiator in the middle of heavy traffic.

No apparent problems the remained on the 2 hour ride home. Inspected under vehicle. Inside front driver tire and wheel well are covered in black fluid - dark black, looked kind of grainy but felt smooth, no strong smell. Very focused within in that area, not all over the place. Runs fine. Hubby cleaned it off. Checked all fluids - brake, oil, power steering. Levels are good. Short drive - very small amount of splatter in wheel well...not much. Brakes, steering all seem fine this AM.

Friend here at work suggested leaky shock?

2006 4Runner Sport 30K.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.
Pat

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Did the debris cut the CV boot? There's two boots on each side and the boots keep the CV joints greased and clean.


I'd get it looked at.

 

[mikeandpat]

Did the debris cut the CV boot? There's two boots on each side and the boots keep the CV joints greased and clean.


I'd get it looked at.

Not sure - I'll check again tonight. We were focusing more on the lines to see if they were leaking or dripping. I do have a service appointment scheduled first thing in the AM...didn't want to wait then be one of those folks who show up a month later with a (now) emergency!

Thanks for the advice. It helps to have some more info to go on. I appreciate it.
Pat

 

[MikesToy]

Hope your warranty didn't expire yet. Then have the dealer fix it.

 

[<<<<]

If it's Sports Eddition then suspect X-Reas shock tubing leak. Those run along the frame and interconect all 4. I cant think of anything else, though. Engine oil pan is protected by skid plate, front diff the same, so is the transmission, transfer case partialy by skid plate. Check CV boot for damage as well.

 

[mikeandpat]

If it's Sports Eddition then suspect X-Reas shock tubing leak. Those run along the frame and interconect all 4. I cant think of anything else, though. Engine oil pan is protected by skid plate, front diff the same, so is the transmission, transfer case partialy by skid plate. Check CV boot for damage as well.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Can't tell you how much better I feel facing the dealer tomorrow. I've just done some forum searches on the X-Reas shocks and wondered what everyone thought about how much $$ if that debris did nick the tubing. Same for the CV boot?

Shame....just made my last payment in September. My first non-payment month and it's gonna go for repairs.

Thanks everyone.

 

[mikeandpat]

And the winner is

CJ3Flyr ! The dealership found a "torn left outer axle boot". Nice cheap part, but 2 hours labor.

They STILL could not tell me what all the black fluid was, but said everything else checked out OK. Service Manager said it could have been something unrelated that we ran over, but it was not anything coming from the vehicle itself.

THANK YOU all once again. With your advice on this thread, and researching /reading some other threads, I actually knew what he was talking about and was able to make an informed decision. This group really helped me. Thanks - Pat

 

[wolfgang]

Hope your warranty didn't expire yet. Then have the dealer fix it.

Warranty? Stuff you hit in the road isn't covered by warranty.