What to do when your car is flooded and what are the signs?

The complicated weather situation with widespread heavy rain in the Central region has caused many areas to be flooded. In particular, heavy rain has caused many main roads in cities such as Hue and Da Nang to be deeply flooded, affecting the traffic situation of people.

The risk of flooding can be high and the high speed on many roads can make many vehicles, especially cars, unable to react in time, leading to water entering the car, affecting the vehicle's ability to operate later. Below are some things that car owners need to know to avoid bad situations happening to their cars.

Do not risk driving through puddles of unknown depth.

First and foremost, try to avoid deep flooded areas as much as possible. If you see large puddles on the road, turn around immediately if possible, as these puddles are likely to be much deeper than we imagine.

According to Forbes, water depths of just 15cm can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. A 5cm deep area, combined with the self-floating ability of tires, can lift a car weighing the same as a Honda Civic.

Move your vehicle to the highest possible level, dry or flood-free location for safety.

In case of sudden flood water or the car enters a deep flooded area, you will not be able to open the car door and will be trapped inside. For cars without a sunroof, the difference in water pressure between inside and outside will cause the door to get stuck and unable to open. This is the time to stay calm and alert, wait until the water has flooded into the car compartment to the same level as the water outside, at this time the water pressure is balanced, which can create an opportunity for people inside to open the door to escape quickly.

For cars that are submerged in water, do not approach the vehicle until the flood water has completely receded to avoid the worst possible situation.

Handling flooded cars

Never attempt to start the engine when the car is submerged in water. Water entering the engine will cause further damage to the car, leading to hydro-locking, which can be very expensive to repair and can even devalue the car.

Use a vacuum cleaner and a towel to dry the interior and remove any standing water from the car. Use a towel with good absorbency to absorb water from the seats. Use a dehumidifier and fan to quickly dry components and avoid damaging electronic devices such as the entertainment screen and center console.

Contact insurance companies for claims (for cars with flood insurance).

Don't worry too much because a flooded car is completely repairable, depending on the severity of the condition. If it is a minor flood and water has not entered the engine compartment, it should not be too complicated to fix.

However, if the car is submerged in water for many days, all electronic devices, interior, and engine will be completely damaged by water, meaning the car is completely damaged and almost impossible to repair.

In addition to temporary solutions, it is important to purchase flood insurance for cars. The repair costs for a flooded car can be very high, which leads to the need for insurance packages and especially for the weather conditions in Vietnam in big cities, where localized flooding often occurs.

Ultimately, a flooded car will lose its resale value. Consumers are reluctant to buy a used car that has been flooded due to concerns about its reliability and mechanical longevity.

For cars that have been in a state of localized flooding, there are some “tips” that can be easily recognized by consumers as follows:

The interior will smell musty, the upholstery and carpeting will be loose. Carpets will often show signs of moisture. Rust is inevitable, especially around the door frames, on the gas and brake pedals, inside the hood and under the dashboard. Floodwaters will cause mud stains under the seats and inside the passenger compartment, which are difficult to clean.

Fog damage, moisture inside the headlights, interior lights and dashboard due to prolonged water infiltration. Seat belts have stains due to prolonged water immersion or signs of seat belt replacement, as it is very unlikely that a normal car will need to replace the entire assembly.

No one wants a valuable car to be damaged by objective factors such as local flooding. Therefore, equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to protect your car during the current rainy season. And if you need to buy a used car, you should also carefully consider whether it has ever been flooded or not, to avoid unnecessary situations.