The phenomenon of car flooding is not a new concept for Metro-dwellers (Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and very recent Bangalore).  Rampant construction over sewage and drainage lines, ill-managed public works, and deforestation is the perfect recipe for Urban Flooding.

Urban Flooding is 100% manmade. Unlike naturally occurring Flooding due to heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, or a storm surge. Even the slightest drizzle is enough to cripple a bustling Metro City. Bottlenecks, power outages, flooded houses, vehicles, inundated roads, and streets come to a standstill. Flooding also causes tens of millions in productivity losses.

We are here to talk about your car and what you should and should not do when and if your vehicle is Flooded. 

BTW, if you ever find yourself in such a situation, pull out your phone, download the GoMechanic App and call our RSA (Roadside Assistance Service). Our Service Buddy will be at your help in no time 👨‍🔧

What TO DO when your car has Flooded?

When you find yourself in your car in a flooded situation, here are a few things you should do in a fateful event.

1. Get Out Of The Vehicle
   A flooded car is a potential electrocution risk. If your vehicle has been immersed in water more than halfway up its wheels, it has been severely flood-damaged. As simple as that, immediately get out of your car and seek higher ground. 
2. Dry Out the Interior
   When the flooding is finally over, you somehow manage to get the vehicle out. The water has seeped in, and there are only a few things that you should do. Drying out your car is one of them. The first thing you should do is dry out the car. Get some newspapers and old rags on the car’s floor. This will absorb most water that might have gotten into the carpeting. Make full use of a vacuum cleaner if you have one.
3. Inform Your Insurance Company
   Flood damage is generally covered by comprehensive insurance. You will have to call your insurance provider to check if you are covered for repairs or replacement. Your car insurance company will probably be flooded (sorry) with claims, so it’s a good idea to start the process early.
4. Call An RSA Service
   All is not lost, my friend. Get your car towed via flatbed to the nearest GoMechanic Workshop, where our highly skilled mechanics will take care of the rest. When every measure fails, your fallback should be to call the GoMechanic RSA Service.

What NOT TO DO when your car has Flooded?

1. Do Not Start Your Car
   We cannot stress this enough, but positively do not start your car. Abstain yourself from cranking the engine; you must assume that water has entered your car. We know it gets tempting to see if the vehicle returns to life but refrain from doing so, especially when it’s muddy. You will be inflicting more damage on the car. Have it towed to a mechanic to have the water cleared and the fluids changed.
2. Stay Away From The Electricals
   Water and Electricity don’t mix. That is elementary science. Stay away from the engine and the surrounding electricals. Don’t attempt to start the car, even the ignition and accessories. Don’t pop open the bonnet to fiddle with the battery. This can be a severe shock hazard.

The problems that come after…

Now that your car is flooded, there are only a few things that you can do and deal with it. Or let us deal with it 👨‍🔧

Look at some common problems that usually pop up after a flooding situation.

1. Hydrolocking: Hydrolocking is when an engine either seizes or suffers catastrophic failure due to the ingress of a substantial volume of water in the cylinders. Trust us, Hydrolocking is a bad thing.
2. Rusting: Water + Metal + Oxidisation = Rusting. When water seeps (and stays) onto metal parts, it causes Rusting and Rusting only paves the way for exterior issues.
3. Electrical Problems: If the water has gotten into the electrical components. Say goodbye to the 10″ infotainment system, as an electrical malfunction is one of the most expensive problems that can happen to a flooded car.
4. Mechanical Problems: Stuck brake pads, jammed drum brakes, and a dead starter motor are only a few mechanical problems that can happen to a flooded car. Mechanical problems occur due to rusting, which erodes the mechanical parts and causes significant problems.

Wait… There’s still hope!

What if we told you that you could still recover and refurbish a flooded vehicle? Well… to an extent, you can. Depending on the water damage level, a flooded car can still be brought back to life.

Minor flooding means that water has not gotten into the electricals and just the carpeting and subframe level; in that situation, a car can be rescued.

However, suppose we are talking about a car that has seen significant water damage and outright brutal flooding, which has seeped into the electricals and stayed that way for a long time. In that case, it is a different story. Upon filing a claim, your insurance company will most likely declare your vehicle a total loss.

If you drive around in flood-prone areas or know any loved one who commutes in such a situation, download the GoMechanic app and make full use of our RSA Service. We are just a call away!