Now that the dust has settled from Typhoon Basyang, it's probably time to address the issue of what to do when it's stormy out. Here's some tips:
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Before you drive:
1. If you know that a storm is coming and can avoid going out, stay in. Park the car in a spot where it is safe from flooding and falling branches or electrical/telephone poles. If you cannot find a high spot, disconnect the battery and jack up the front end to keep the engine and engine electronics as high as possible. If the rear carpeting on your vehicle gets wet, that's an inconvenience. If the electronics get wet, that's a problem.
2. If your trip is necessary, plan your route and know which streets are less prone to flooding. Also bring contingency money in case you get stuck somewhere and either have to wait it out or call for a tow.
3. Check your car before you leave. Ensure that you have more than enough fuel to make the trip, even if you get stuck in gridlock. Make sure that your car is in good condition, with a complete set of tools. Having a 24-hour tow service number saved on your (fully charged) cellphone is also a good idea.
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During the drive:
1. Drive slowly, drive gently. You can't avoid a falling tree at 140 km/h in the dark.
1. You should always, always know the flood-fording capacity of your vehicle.
If the fording height is not available from the manufacturer, lift your hood and find your airbox (where the air filter is). Look at the tubes connected to it. The the tube from the airbox that is open to the air is called the snorkel or intake tube.
The height of this tube indicates the theoretical maximum height of water you can ford in the car. A good rule of thumb is to NOT cross water that is less than six inches below the snorkel height, as bow waves from passing trucks and buses can raise the water level to the intake level.
Many people have bought SUVs assuming they can ford deep water... only to be sorely disappointed when their car dies in the middle of a crossing that the carbureted taxi in front of them successfully completed.
2. When in doubt, don't. If you are not sure how deep the water is (because no one else is crossing) or are unsure if your vehicle will make it through, back out and find another way. Saving yourself a few hours of waiting is never worth destroying your vehicle or endangering your life.
3. A note for trucks with high ground clearance and/or snorkels. Just because you can ford water that's three feet deep, doesn't mean you should. If a drainage canal or river sweeps over a bridge, it may have the power to carry you off the bridge and out into the water. Your SUV may weigh two tons, but guess what? The passenger cabin is full of air, and that makes it float. Anything that floats can be carried away by a strong current.
4. If you are stuck in traffic or a low-lying area and it becomes obvious that the water will cover the car, disconnect the battery (and, if you can, remove the ECU (electronic control unit)), and make for higher ground. Having the battery disconnected will help prevent a short circuit caused by water penetration from frying your ECU. Congratulations, you've just saved around fifty thousand bucks in repairs.
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After The Flood
1. If your car forded the water successfully and experienced no cabin leakage, check all fluids and suspension parts. Water can still leak into your engine oil or gear oil, and it can contaminate bearings and CV Joints.
2. If your car has been inundated by flood, do not attempt to start it. Have it inspected by a mechanic or electrician. Change all fluids and dry out all electronic sensors and systems thoroughly before even attempting this. Some vehicles have water resistant ECUs. Others don't. But even if the ECU is water sealed, there's no guarantee that everything else is. This includes sensors in the engine bay, electronics in the dashboard and various electrical couplings throughout the vehicle.
3. You may also want to take apart your seats and carpet and lay them out in the sun to dry. If the flood water contained mud, you will want to take the vehicle to a professional to disassemble the dashboard and doors to clean out everything thoroughly.
