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Flash floods hit Malaysia in December 2021, causing havoc in various states. Worst of all, we’re still getting rain alerts from the Meteorological Department for January 2022. More than 50,000 cars have been reported damaged throughout the country so far. With many owners unable to collect their insurance! Just imagine if this is happening to you! What to do if your car is stuck in a flood?
So, it’s better to be prepared in the event of a flash flood because we don’t know how severe the next floods will be. A flash flood can be particularly frustrating. Especially, when you’re trying to get home and it’s blocking your path.
Here are some tips to protect your car from rising water and minimising water damage:
Park at a secure location
When there’s a flash flood standing between you and your destination, the safest thing to do is park your car at a secure location. The higher, the better! That way, your vehicle will not be exposed to flood waters sipping into your engine.
Better not risk fighting against the flood when you don’t have to.
Reduce gear when driving through flood
Should you need to drive through a flood, the best thing is to use low gear and maintain a steady speed. The reason behind this is to avoid creating a large ‘bow wave’ which would allow some water to find its’ way into our engine.
Drive slow & steady
While driving in a flooded environment, maintaining your tyre grip is highly important. Hence, it is best to go slow and avoid sudden acceleration. Otherwise, your tyres will lose grip and control, leading to an accident.
Get a waterproof exhaust pipe cover.
If possible, try to get an exhaust pipe cover to prevent floodwaters from getting in. This option works as an extra precaution when you park at a secure location of your choice.
Check and inspect your vehicle condition.
Once the flood subsides, it’s time to check on your car’s condition for any flood damage. The main focus is to look at whether your car has been submerged in water. More importantly, did any water get into your engine!
Do not turn on your engine
THIS IS IMPORTANT! Especially when your car has, in fact, been submerged in water. The logic behind this advice is that starting your engine right after would cause a short-circuit within your car’s electronic system.
Plus, if flood water manages to get inside your engine, igniting your car would just cause more damage.
Check your engine and gearbox
Although it’s pretty much self-explanatory, here’s an extra tip just in case. Use a dipstick to check for water droplets. And if you find that the dipstick has too much oil, chances are your engine has water in it.
Flush the fuel out from your engine
What to do if there’s water in my engine? The next thing you need to do is flush out wet fuel within the engine. Fuel mixed with water will cause catastrophic damage, so remember, do not start your engine!
Detach, Dry, and Repair!
Lastly, detach all parts within your car to enable drying quickly. Your cushions, dashboards, air filters might need some cleaning too. We certainly do not want a damp, musty smell to stay in our car when it’s back in action.
There you go, make sure to remember these tips as they can save you time and money! Write it somewhere or an important note in your phone labelled as “what to do when the car is stuck in flood”.
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