8 things to do immediately when your car is flooded

(Baonghean.vn) - A car submerged in water can destroy many parts of the car, especially the engine, electrical system and interior; usually when the water reaches half the wheel, the car can be damaged. In this case, the driver needs to promptly perform the following steps to avoid damage to the car.

1. Dry the interior

If water gets into the interior, the damage can be very quick. So, after getting the car out of the flooded area, open all the doors to let the water out. Use any tools you have, including towels, to absorb any remaining water. Then use a fan or hair dryer to dry the interior before the rescue team arrives to take it to the garage.

2. Clean the car floor

The bottom support of the car floor is made of metal and treated with soundproofing materials, so it is very tight. When water flows in through the door and falls down, it creates large water tanks that cannot drain out by themselves. The air conditioning duct is dirty, and can even be blocked when dirty water flows in.

After you have sucked out all the water, dry it completely with a hair dryer. Bolts and screws that have been exposed to rainwater can rust quickly, so it is important to use anti-rust oil and grease when cleaning the car floor.

3. Check the brake system

After driving in the rain or through flooded areas, the brakes are easily damaged due to direct contact and penetration of mud and water.

If this system is not cleaned and maintained, the vehicle can easily lead to the phenomenon of the handbrake being stuck or the brake releasing slowly because the movable joint of the brake caliper is rusted; if left for a long time, it can easily lead to damage, causing danger when the vehicle is operating on the road.

4. Belt and chassis system

The belt in a car is usually located quite low in the engine compartment, so when mud, dirt, or water sticks to it, the belt will slip. If the belt slips too much, it will not have enough force to pull the compressor for the air conditioning system, power steering, and generator.

According to experience, users can check the belt system by themselves with the naked eye after turning off the engine. If the belt is found to be covered with mud or dirt, use a cloth to clean the belt and pulley.

5. Check engine oil and air filter

Open the hood and observe, if there is a lot of water in the air filter, engine or oil tank, there is a risk that your car has water in the engine. For normal people who do not know about technology, the best way is to let a technician check and repair.

6. Check the electrical system

If the car starts, check all the electrical components such as headlights, turn signals, air conditioning, audio, door locks, power windows, power trunk release, seat adjustment, mirrors, and even interior lights. If any of these components are not working properly, it is a sign that water is causing the electrical system to malfunction.

7. Check tires and rims

Before driving, check your tires, rims, and brakes for debris, mud, metal, or glass. Mud that gets into your brake discs reduces braking efficiency and can cause damage over time. It is best to wash your vehicle thoroughly in this area.

8. Scan for control system errors

On many car models, the center console is the area that contains many complex control systems such as the gearbox, intelligent multi-function control system, communication... Water can paralyze the operation of this system.

Maintaining the electrical system components is not simply a matter of draining and drying them, but also considering the operating status, the possibility of risks when the wires are short-circuited, exposed or corroded at the contacts... An indispensable operation for high-end cars is to reset the system using a fault scanner.

Expert advice, do not attempt to repair it yourself if you do not have technical expertise; you should remove the battery cable as soon as possible, call for help, clearly state the type of vehicle and the flooding situation to get advice on how to avoid further damage as well as necessary actions if your vehicle is insured.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)