ARSON

I drowned my 1990 3VZE v6 4Runner last weekend and now it won't run.
I removed and dried out all air intake components.
I changed the oil (had water in it).
I disconnected the exhaust from the cat and drained it ( a lot of water came out).
I drained the fuel tank and the fuel filter and refilled with clean fuel.
I ran a diagnostics check and no red flags. I checked the ohms on the air flow meter and it is within specs.

It starts, but dies out within seconds.
I know I need to change the diff and transfer fluids still, but what next?
Anyone have pointers on how to get it going again?

Jay351

Any vacuum leaks in the intake??

ARSON

No idea, but if there was???

Jay351

If there are leaks in the intake hose your motor won't want to run.

When it does run for a few seconds, how does it sound?

A start then stall really leads to a bad AFM, but if you tested it and its fine.....

ARSON

It sounds like it's bogged down and about to stall...then it does. It only runs for maybe 3 seconds before it dies.

scuba

Did you pull the plugs and turn the engine over.. There could be water in the combustion chamber, water doesn't combust..

chili

Double what scuba said you remove the pluggs crank the starter and watch the water come out through the plug holes when the piston moves upward. after i would replace the pluggs with new ones, change the oil again and add maybe a fuel water remover such as Heat. anyway should run better since it isnt running. I helped a buddy with his 91 pickup. principals are the same

ARSON

Forgot to mention that in my laundry list. I pulled the plugs and turned it over about 5 or 6 times. Water blasted out the first two times, but no more after that. I did this again a couple of days later when it still wasn't running after the fuel drain.
Good advice though.

ARSON

I also added HEET to the fuel tank, but doesn't the rig need to run for this additive to work its magic?

JeEVeS

distributer?

(if there was water in the cylander you might bend a valve), first step when flooded should always be pull the plugs and get the water out. do you have the ability to check compression? did you try and start it right after wards?

i pulled a brand new gran cherokee out of a lake a couple months ago cause the guy tried to floor it to get out of the lake and im pretty sure he fubared his motor but his didn't even turn over.

is there a story that you care to share about how? not needed and if i did id prolly keep it a secret but stories are fun

Jay351

If he bent a rod he would hear it.

I would make sure there is no water in the dist, fuse box and alike. did the water get up to the ECM??

JeEVeS

a rod yes, a valve more than likely, but possibly not to my knowledge

again compression check will tell you this but imo other things to check on first like the electrics named earlier

woodendude

Last time I did this (which was fairly recent) undoing the exhaust bolts is not enough. When she stalls out under water the exhaust becomes a vacuum, pull it off from the cat back and run a garden hose through it. You'll be amazed at what comes out of there, when you drain the water a large amount of dirt stays behind and it doesn't take much to clog a cat. The first time I drowned mine I was lucky that nothing made it to the cylinders but I had to take a screw driver and hammer to the cat and muffler just to get it off the trail and home.

woodendude

Also pull a couple of plug wires and do a simple spark check.

Bigblock

Double check the VAFM ,dirt will stop the vane from moving freely.If it dont move freely the engine will not run!Also take the top plastic cover off the VAFM it may have water in there.
Bigblock

ARSON

I'm not as concerned with a bent rod (yet) as it did not run before water purging and after drowning AND it starts up without acoustic incident...it just doesn't run.
After reading a little more on the Vane Air Flow Meter, it sounds like this may be the culprit as the engine dies out after a few seconds.
I have dried it all out but I don't see how to open it up and check for debris. I looks solid with a sealed cap on top. I may hit the junk yard at first chance and hunt one down.
Also, I will rinse out the exhaust and scope out the debris.
Thanks all.

jusfloorit

Dude, do a compression check. I killed mine earlier this summer and bent a valve. Had 40psi in one cyl. Although it took a while to start mine did. Starting fluid helps. Also re-check your wiring. Like an idiot I forgot to plug in my VAFM and wondered why it wouldn't start.

Good luck.

toyota4x4907

AFM x(whatever)

ARSON

PROPS to Jay351 and Bigblock! A used VAFM from the wrecking yard got 'er running. I swapped mine out for the same part number, but out of a '93 (mine's a '90). It runs rough, but it runs damn it. Lots of smoke and slow to accelerate.
Does anyone know if the air flow meter needs tuning from truck to truck?
Now I can check the compression.