The floodswhether sudden or not, are a possibility to take into account during the wettest months. These meteorological phenomena can occur from one moment to the next and, many times, without prior warning. If you get stuck in a large puddle while driving or your car has flooded while parked, here are some survival tips you can follow.
If your vehicle is totally or partially submerged in water and your insurance doesn’t cover it, you could be forced to pay expensive repair bills or, worse yet, take a total loss of the car.
Whether you’ve driven through a big puddle, accidentally left your windows open, or there’s a problem with one of the door seals; Water is an element that can cause serious damage, affecting the mechanics and its appearance.
What to do if your car is trapped in a flood
First of all, try to avoid flooded areas. If you see water on the road, turn around. It can be much deeper than it seems. In fact, in case of flash floods, they are considered the most dangerous type of flood due to their speed and destructive power. And they can occur within minutes of a light rain and with little warning.
Under 10 centimeters of water They can cause you to lose control of the car. If the water is higher, it is even more dangerous. That’s because tires can act as a flotation device in shallow water, which is called aquaplaning. If the car is parked while the water level rises, there is a chance that your exhaust will end up submerged, and never start the vehicle.
If the area where the car is parked has flooded, you should pay special attention to it. If it is more than halfway up the wheels in water, or if you see a line of mud and debris indicating that the water has reached that height, You have to take precautions in case you want to keep your flooded car alive. For example, turning the key to start when there may be water in the engine could cause further damage and render the car unusable.
If any water has gotten into the engine, exhaust system, gearbox, or fuel line, it will only make the problem worse. This liquid so vital for human beings can destroy internal engine parts and cause a “hydraulic lock.”when the pistons do not compress or move as they should. If a hydrolocksay goodbye to pistons and connecting rods (which can be bent), the exhaust catalyst and even the silencer.
What if my car is already partially flooded?
Light flooding
When you find your car flooded, it is possible that the mud covers the entire radiator and gets inside the car and into the internal drains that the body has to evacuate rainwater. If the radiator becomes clogged, it will not allow air circulation between its cells and the engine will overheat. So if your car gets soaked from top to bottom, clean the radiator.
If water enters the car, it may be necessary to replace upholstery,control knobs, insulators and fixings… A good expense, come on. It is also advisable to replace the air filter, whether it is metal or paper. If you don’t, the mold will take action. And if the differential or gearbox oil has mixed with water or mud, you will have to change it too; and yes together with their respective filters.
If the internal drains of the bodywork are clogged, the water will rust the sheet metal and can cause a serious economic setback for your pocket. Furthermore, many of the electrical connections may be affected. It is possible that these terminals will not fail when they dry, but a layer of oxide will be generated that will end up causing electrical problems, which both mechanics and users hate the most (by far).
Severe flooding
In this case the situation is complicated. The engine is the first thing to rescueas it may be seriously affected. Can you do it yourself? Yes, but it will not be an easy task. As the water and mud will have reached every part of the car, everything would have to be disassembled as it were to clean it, dry it and replace everything that has been affected. If you don’t, don’t be surprised if a fault appears later.
It is also advisable to dismantle seats, floor coverings and doors so that the recovery of the car is more effective. To do this, use a hair dryer. As each upholstery has its crumb, the first thing you should do is remove as much dirt as possible with a brush and a sponge. It is best to have a professional cleaning machine. The bad thing is that all this repair may exceed the price of a new and identical model.
Most of the vehicles affected by these floods are parked. But as we said at the beginning, it is very possible that you will find one of these storms underway. To do this, we recommend our tips for driving in the rain and that you take a look at the recommendations for driving in the wind, one of the most unpredictable weather phenomena. Of course, mud and mud are materials to consider.
