Flooded 2015 4Runner Trail Edition shudder advice

Hey guys,

I have a shudder issue with my 15' TE with just over 1000 miles. What's unique about this situation is the 4R has no factory warranty because it was involved in a flooded lower level garage with the water coming up to the middle of the doors. The insurance claimed it as a "total loss" with the truck only having 210 miles on it. I bought it knowing the situation because it ran/looked like new and I got it for 12k less than a brand new one.

Low and behold, a couple weeks after buying, I noticed a shudder, but only under a light throttle, and only between 25-35mph, and only with the tranny in "D", it doesn't do it at all in any of the auto stick modes (4, 3, 2, or 1). I took it to my local Toyota dealership and they flushed the tranny after finding water in in it. I also had the engine oil, both diffs and transfer case flushed. The flush didn't fix it and they said I needed a new tranny which would cost roughly 10-11k.

I decided to get a 2nd opinion because no way it needed a new tranny. It shifts perfect under normal, moderate, and heavy throttle. The local tranny shop recommended another flush but also dropping the pan and replacing the filter, which we did. Once again, it didn't fix the shudder and they didn't receive any codes with their tranny scanner. Their main guy said it has to be an engine misfire or vacuum related issue.

Now I'm about $1200 in tranny flushes and trouble shooting but still have the shudder. After searching online more, I've been reading about shudder issues possibly being caused from fuel/air/ mix and /or vacuum related and also possibly with the MAF and/or TPS. Also, it could be moisture trapped in one of the plugs?

At this point, I want to take it back to Toyota and have one of their master techs try to figure it out but then again maybe it's something fairly cheap and simple that I could trouble shoot on my own? I've read about having the ECU/ECM/PCM flashed could possibly reboot it to factory settings and I don't know if they were compromised with water or not? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Nate

*I wasn't discouraged about buying the 4R after seeing what this HiLux went through: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk

 

Could be electrical, clean all connections and use dielectric grease.

 

Has the ECM been replaced since being under water ?? If it was middle door level it might have been under water

What other electrical parts have been replaced ??

Electrical connectors for the most are watertight but not when under water for more then an hour .

It can be a Corroded connection almost any place.

There was a reason it was a total loss.

 

I'm not sure if ECM or other electrical parts have been replaced. Honestly when I test drove and looked it over, it looked brand new and this is the only issue, so far =( In hindsight, I'd never buy a water flooded vehicle no matter how good the deal is.

 

Sadly, now you know why flooded vehicles get totalled out, the water makes the gremin eggs hatch out and they take up residence in various wires, connections, and components.

My opinion FWIW, drive it while looking for a used transmission from a late model T/A victim. It's possible use will dry something out enough to ''fix'' itself or may cause the component to fail completely and be able to be diagnosed and repaired/replaced. Partial failure of parts can be a major PITA to find sometimes.

Good luck. At least you knew it was a flood vehicle, it's worse when shady dealers and sellers wash them through several title swaps in different states and then pawns it off on some unsuspecting sucker.

 

Agreed. My plan is to modify it as a trail beast as I have the lift, wheels and tires on order (similar to the pic attached). Aside from the minor shudder, it does drive and look like a brand new 4R. I've been testing out the 4x4, e-locker/crawl control quite a bit and it smokes my Tacoma

 

Personally, I'd stop worrying about it. Just get in the habit of driving in 4 untill over 35 mph. You saved 12k and now you have a semiautomatic, end of story. Don't waste all your savings chasing a non issue. Drive it as it is, make it work. sooner or later it'll totally fail or fix its self..

Good luck

 

Haha true... but I'd like to correct before it possibly grows into something worse

 

New tranny for $10k? Is that hawaaii prices?

 

How's this possible?? It's already as bad as it can get?? It was totally written off!! lol..

Stop worrying, drive it as it is, if it gets worse fix it, it just may cure itself.. Grief.. Be happy for all it is, it's a new vehicle and you saved money, period.

Good luck.

I bought and drive a "salvage" as well. It was 1/2 price, it drives well and looks great, it has gremlins, I live with them and don't mind them at all. We didn't buy new vehicles, choose your evil..

 

Gremlins! Lol What's crazy is the title is clean, not salvage with CarFax. Somebody got paid off on that deal

 

Yes, HI Toyota monopoly dealer tax for sure

 

Those parking garages can be murder.

 

Damn! I live in Houston too bro and i'm seriously looking at an airboat mod for my taco. You should read what @freedomriding went through buying a flooded 4runner. Let it go and buy a new 3gen.

 

Could be a dry u-joint (rinsed by the flooding?). Get 'em all greased.

 

Haha thanks for showing off my old girl! Miss that truck

 

Yeah that's was my truck from last years Memorial Day floods. I never parked on that level again lol. But I was with good company all the nice cars in the garage would park down there so no one would ding there doors

 

Of course the dealer recommends replacing the transmission for $$$$. I remember FJs experienced a similar problem. The shudder could be the torque converter or an engine miss. If it's an engine miss you will only feel it when the torque converter is locked up. When the converter is unlocked the misfire is absorbed by the fluid inside the converter. A good tech with a scanner can drive the truck with a scan tool and see if the shudder is the trans or an engine miss.
Read this thread:
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...s.html#/forumsite/20496/topics/122920?page=78