Killing yourself via back window

I have seen it posted here and there about exhaust fumes being sucked into the rear window but Jesus I never thought it was this bad. Never rolled down the window until this week or so and at first I thought it was another vehicle somehow. Getting on the highway with the rear window slid down and sunroof open enjoying the fall temps I literally was gagging hard after getting into traffic. Such a good thing ruined!

 

I have the TRD side exit exhaust and no sunroof. I have no problems. When I run the rear window down, I also run all of the other windows down, too.

 

I have my back window down and sunroof cracked or fully open daily to and from work. Not once have I had this issue... weird.

 

never any issues with mine...no sunroof but don't know if that makes a difference

 

The only negative thing about having it down is the ceiling gets dirty pretty quick

 

It will smell bad while the engine is cold and it’s running open loop. Once it warms up, it’s fine. Also, crack the sunroof or any other window just a tiny bit to avoid back pressure.
Or don’t use the feature.

 

That’s when I notice it really bad is when still cold I have not thought of that. I won’t have the feature to much longer it’s getting traded in.

 

Because of the rear window?

 

There’s a big swirling vortex of air at the rear of the 4Runner. And a vacuum effect pushing against the window. That’s why the rear window gets coated with dust after driving on dirt roads. Opening that window is going to let exhaust and dust in. You can minimize it somewhat by opening other windows but some is still getting in even if you don’t smell it.

 

If you're flooring it trying to merge with traffic or go up a hill, yeah you'll definitely smell it. What I do is I wait till I'm at cruising speed before I roll down the window, and I don't get any smell. If you're not working the motor hard, it's fine.

 

No, numerous issues since day one of owner ship

 

Just curious, what are you replacing it with?

You had an issue with front end vibration, right?

 

But did you die?

 

I do think its a design flaw. I mean a side exit exhaust is supposed to fix that issue but there shouldn't be an issue in the first place.

 

Something I never thought I would or should have but pickup truck wise right now is what I like the most. 2022 ram classic crew cab 6’4 box with the hemi 5.7L, 4x4, and 3.92 gears. Would have went tundra if they were not new this year. 4 runner was last true and good looking SUV I saw out there. I had numerous issues with the paint since day 1, the needle bearing which was fixed for now, and I have the front end shimmy that I chased and drove me nuts for a year almost. The shimmy is the main reason in the end, paint the second. The shimmy gets violent when it wants to. Multiple garages and eyes all over it and I am done.

 

Such a bummer, man. Enjoy your new rig tho! Especially that Hemi

 

This is on a 2022? How many miles?

 

I believe it literally says in the owner's manual not to drive the vehicle with the window open.

I think Toyota's intention was just to allow access the rear of the vehicle without opening the hatch. It could be that engineering the roll down window was easier than a separate opening hinged glass.

 

Man, I don't blame you getting rid of it. I know people on this site fanboy over them, but they have their flaws, no vehicle is perfect. If you look at them objectively it's just a car or a daily driver, they're really not that good.

Dodge makes a great truck, I think you're really going to enjoy that. Reliability is a concern, but if you like the vehicle so what if you have to put some money into it here and there. Better than dealing with a vehicle that you hate simply because it's reliable. Which it sounds like your 4R didn't even have that going for it.

Incidentally, some really popular YouTubers that had 4Runners have switched to RAM in the last few years, so there's gotta be something to it.

 

Had the isssues since driving home @ 2 miles now at 6100

 

Thanks I hope it works out, believe me Reliability is on my mind with the ram lol, but you never know what your going to get. Wish the 4 runner turned out to all I wanted it to be happiness wise, wanted and saved hard for 3 years for it to be disappointed the day after Christmas.

 

The Hemi.

 

But whats the point then?

 

Almost

 

Well you know your manual lol…

 

To get in the cargo area without having to open the hatch. It's handy if you have a bike rack or are attached to a trailer or something.

I mean I drive with my back window down all the time, but I know that Toyota does not advise it and I do it at my own risk.

To call at a design flaw is inaccurate when Toyota specifically advises not to do it.

 

Yeah, driving a vehicle that's able to get out of its own way is going to be quite the change for him, lol.

 

Had to go with it now since that might be dropped in the future as well now for a TT 3.0L I-6 I guess like the way others are going. Weirdest part will be having a pick up truck finally after being a SUV person for 14 years.

 

I’m new but drive with the back window down after every walk with the dog. Put him in his kennel. He is stinking the place up, open the rear window and both driver and passenger windows and drive off. Never noticed even the slightest exhaust smell. I’m sure it an issue but I haven’t noticed.

 

Not all roses there either.
Been helping my best friend with his 2016 Ram Hemi exhaust manifolds, they warp, leak and break the bolts off(both sides). Luckily we both have some machining experience and he has a Bridgeport mill so we have flattened the sealing surface, slotted the holes slightly and had lotsa fun getting the remains of the broken bolts out of the heads, not to mention the R&R of the manifolds. He also has a Jeep with a Hemi but that has that engine shut off at stop/restart thing and he absolutely hates it, but no exhaust leaks yet.
I have a older Dodge Cummins, the greatest engine, time bomb transmission($5k to fix right), legendary for steering shake(mine is $upremely upgraded, +$3K), bizarre electronic gremlins but solvable. It is my baby.

What they say about Dodge Cummins…..the best hotdog you ever had in a moldy bun……..

….but it will run forever and pretty easy to spin wrenches on.

Avoid the newer diesels of any brand, EPA has ruined them for day to day reliability. A contractor I know that has a newer 2020+ Cummins has offered to buy mine on multiple occasions, he can’t keep his out of the dealer’s shop. My neighbor has a brand new F350 and it has serious steering head shake, waaaay, waaaay worse than my 4R had(I expect it to come back sometime).