How to handle a flooded car

(Baonghean.vn) - Water not only has a negative impact on the electrical system, dirtying the interior, but more seriously, it can also damage the engine when it enters the combustion chamber; causing water compression or hydro-hammering.

After being unfortunately flooded, which part of the car is most seriously affected and how to reduce damage when driving on flooded roads. This is a problem that many car owners are concerned about.

Consequences of flooded cars

- Water is harmful to the ball bearings and bushings under the car, affecting the starter, generator, fan blades, electrical components, sensors...

- Water is the number 1 enemy of the engine. If water reaches the hood, through the air intake pipe, water will flow in and damage the engine and cause it to suddenly stop. This is called hydro-lock.

- When the vehicle is water hammered, in the mild case, only the connecting rod needs to be replaced, in the severe case, the entire engine and electrical system may need to be replaced at a high cost.

- The electrical system is also sensitive to water. Short circuits and damage to the vehicle's control system occur when water penetrates from the undercarriage to the floor. This leads to errors in parts or many functions of the car may malfunction. The deeper and longer the vehicle is submerged in water, the more likely the electrical system is to be damaged.

- If water only enters the cylinder, it is also dangerous. At this point, the cylinder can rust and then the car will "drink gasoline like water".

Solutions to reduce damage when driving on flooded roads

- When having to go through a flooded area, first determine whether the water level is shallow or deep and whether the vehicle is an SUV or a sedan. Normally, if the water level is not more than 20 cm, the vehicle can move through safely.

- When going through flooded areas, the driver must not open the door to avoid water flooding into the vehicle.

- When going through flooded areas, you should turn off the air conditioner switch (AC button), go to 1st gear, run the throttle at a moderate level, keep the engine running smoothly, and drive calmly. For automatic transmission vehicles, switch to semi-automatic mode and leave it in 1st gear. If left as is, the vehicle will automatically shift to 2nd gear, causing the throttle to be weak, leading to water entering the engine through the exhaust pipe. Be careful not to press the clutch of a manual transmission vehicle when going through flooded areas to avoid stalling the engine.

- For cars that have been flooded and stalled, the driver should not continue to start the engine because when water gets in, it is easy for the engine to seize. If there is water in the engine, transmission or fuel system and you still try to start it, this is the fastest way to… destroy the car.

- Avoid accelerating suddenly because accelerating strongly will cause water to overflow the radiator grille and pour into the intake pipe. In addition, when accelerating suddenly, the engine speed will increase, if water gets in, it will cause stronger hydrostatic shock, leading to a bent connecting rod.

- Once you have passed the flooded area, you need to continue a bit, apply the brakes to remove water from the discs. Then get off and check the engine and undercarriage again.

- If the vehicle suddenly turns off in a flooded area, do not attempt to restart it. Remove the key, push the vehicle to a high place and call for help immediately.

- If the car is not towed out of the flooded area immediately, it may lead to damage to the electrical control boxes. In this case, the mechanic will have to remove the engine to handle it. Therefore, when the car stalls due to flooding, the best way to handle it is to call a tow truck and have the car towed to the dealer for inspection. Each car is different, so do not try to fix it yourself if you do not have technical expertise.

- A flooded car door will accumulate a lot of water inside, affecting the speaker system and wiring. The lighting system is also severely affected. Even if the water is completely drained and dried, the possibility of future risks such as short circuits, exposed wires, and corrosion at the contacts is inevitable. After each flooding, you should bring your car to the workshop for a complete inspection and maintenance.

- If you see the water level is higher than half the wheel, you should not risk driving through.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)