Wind Tunnel!!!

[Buckfever]

Yesterday was the first day we've been over 50 since I've picked up the 4Runner. I was driving my daughter home from basketball and she said open the moonroof. Well I opened up moonroof, all the windows and then the rear window. WOW is that sweet!!! It's as close to a convertible effect as as you're going to get in a truck. What a treat!!!

 

[sharp4runr]

Yeah the moonroof is pretty huge. Just keep an eye on it as it's given us owners problems in the past.

 

[hulk311]

What kind of problems?

 

[Uneek]

What kind of problems?

Some have reported rattles and others have had issues with it not fully closing and being stuck. I heard a rattle once when it was open, hasn't reappeared. I haven't had any other problems with mine yet, knock on wood. Then again I don't use mine very much.

 

[Mark86]

Did you get the wonderful sulfur smell when driving with the back window open?

 

[hulk311]

I was curious about that. I just got a 4Runner couple weeks ago, once it's nicer out I plan on driving with all the windows down, including the back one, can the fumes from the exhaust enter the truck? I have a '97 by the way.

 

[Buckfever]

"Did you get the wonderful sulfur smell when driving with the back window open?"

Yeah you know the last time, we caught that, it kind of killed it. At least we can use it to vent it in the summer time, before getting in.

 

[TheBlueWave]

I was curious about that. I just got a 4Runner couple weeks ago, once it's nicer out I plan on driving with all the windows down, including the back one, can the fumes from the exhaust enter the truck? I have a '97 by the way.

I haven't tried yet, but my buddy had an old full size bronco ('89 I think) that had a power rear window. When we went grouse (partridge) hunting one time he left it down the whole time. Exhaust entered the cab, and the dust coming in from the dirt roads was really too much for me. Its really a problem when going slow or stopped. Curious to see what happens with the runner.

 

[hulk311]

So can it be harmful to your health to drive with the back window down? I don't see how its any different than driving a convertible with the top down.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Its different because in a convertible, you have a vast amount of open space, where as in the 4Runna, you only have the air inside the cab, plus some escaping air. Now if you have ALL your windows down, or even just 2 its alot more like a convertible.

 

[spud72]

So can it be harmful to your health to drive with the back window down? I don't see how its any different than driving a convertible with the top down.

You can actually get a lower air pressure inside the vehicle and cause some of the rear air to get sort of "sucked in."

Kind of hard to wrap your head around, I know, but it happens.

 

[JungleJim]

So can it be harmful to your health to drive with the back window down? I don't see how its any different than driving a convertible with the top down.

Maybe. But remember all those years of station wagons? My owned '71, '77, & '84 Chevy wagons. We always drove with the back window down (the dog loved it!). And we're all still here...