Replacing all fluids doesn't seem to be following any procedure. "All fluids." I have since determined 4Runners are like other Toyotas, no dipstick. Drain and fill is proper, not flush. If I owned this vehicle, I'd say let's all play Canada's favorite and fun game, take a step back. And another step back. And yet another, step, back. Any action taken should be for a reason, let me know what they are before you start doing anymore at this point.

 

I don't know what Toyota's procedures are for a situation like this (do you?), but it sounds to me like they searched for the most obvious explanations and came up empty handed. So now they "take a step back" and go to the next level. Checking fluids can tell you a lot about what going on inside of an engine and transmission.

I'm impressed with how they're handling it. They are still looking for answers when they could have said "we can't replicate it, here's your car back".

 

Like I hinted at, when delving into the unknown and with **apparently** no DTC or other stored errors they have to prove what they can with what remains. Thus if they found water somewhere it didn't belong they could speculate why say xxx sensor went offline.

That said, pure water is not all that conductive and low impedance/low voltage sensors are not the weak link.

I suspect something else to be root cause vs water intrusion but we have no facts, just speculation.

 

surprised to hear this about a 4Runner...
i often contemplate getting a 4Runner.
my buddy is on his 3rd 4Runner(2014 trail), and he has never had an issue.

hope they figure out the issue...keep us posted

 

Looked at the 5th generation forums online and there isn't a whole lot about it. There is talk about the rear differential ingesting water in certain conditions (like driving in a foot or so of water), but these are mostly hard core fans who mod their trucks etc.

Maybe Toyota is trying to see if that rear diff somehow sucked in some water. I like these trucks too. Only thing that kept me from having an 03 was the low seating position. Tall people who want one of these usually have to sprawl their legs out in front and sit low to the floor, race car style. Just didn't work for me.

 

Did you adjust the seat-cushion all the way up? One thing about the 4Runner is that the roof is high enough that you usually have plenty of headroom if you DO raise the seat height.

 

03-09 4Runners have lower seat and higher dash so it feels like you are in race car.

 

I actually seen your 4 runner on the side of the 401, going eastbound I think, and a flatbed was ready to pick it up iirc

If the car wasn't on a warrantee then not finding any issue would be the best news possible, but since its on their dime id rather they find something and repair it

 

Weird. I would want to find the issue regardless. Nothing sucks more than not knowing if it hapens again, late one winter night in the middle of nowhere.

 

Yup. That would be it.

 

A Yot forging a creek...
Skip to 1:40....
Surely this isn't what happened? lol

 

Any news on your parents' 4Runner? What did they find out?

 

was at my parents on Wed for dinner. Saw their work order. A P0021 code came up. Something called a Timing Advance A or performance bank 2. The tech did a Isoection then cleared codes. Then they called TCI. Performed a swap of a Variable Valve timing valve. Then performed at complete engine flush. Road test and now all good.

 

That's good to hear everything is good now. Hopefully the car stay problem free for a long time.

 

Thanks. Hopefully that is the end of it.