Car Stuck in Flood Water? What to Do Next

If your car is stuck in flood water, get yourself and your passengers out and to higher ground first; a car can be replaced, people cannot. If the engine has stalled in water, do not try to restart it, because water drawn into the engine can bend internal parts and turn a repairable problem into a destroyed engine. Once the water is down, have the car moved on a flatbed, inform your insurer if you have comprehensive cover, and have a workshop check the engine, electrics and brakes before you drive it again.

Monsoon rains bring urban flooding to Pakistani cities almost every year. Underpasses in Lahore and Karachi fill quickly, Rawalpindi's low-lying areas near Nullah Leh flood when the nullah rises, and many main roads turn into rivers for hours after a heavy downpour. The same advice applies to flash floods on highways and in hill areas.

Do not drive into flood water

The best way to avoid a flood-damaged car is not to drive into water in the first place. You cannot see how deep it is, whether the road underneath has washed away, or whether a manhole cover has lifted. Moving water is especially dangerous; even water that looks shallow can push a car sideways and off the road.

• Avoid underpasses during and after heavy rain. They are often the first places to fill.
• If you cannot see the kerb or road markings, do not drive through.
• If you must cross shallow standing water, go slowly and steadily in a low gear, without stopping or changing gear, to avoid making a wave that rises over the bonnet.
• Wait for buses and trucks to pass rather than driving into their bow wave.
• Test your brakes gently after leaving water; wet brakes are less effective until they dry.
• Check the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), PDMA and NDMA alerts before travelling in heavy rain, and avoid non-essential trips during warnings.

If you are caught in rising water

• If the water is rising around the car, get out while the doors can still open, and move to higher ground.
• Unbuckle children and help elderly passengers first.
• If the doors will not open because of water pressure, open or break a side window and get out through it.
• Do not walk through moving water if you can avoid it, and watch for open drains and manholes.
• Call Rescue 1122 if anyone is trapped or in danger.

Why you must not restart a flooded engine

An engine draws in air through its air intake, which on many cars sits low behind the front bumper. If the intake goes under water, the engine sucks in water. Water does not compress the way air does, so the pistons cannot complete their stroke, and connecting rods can bend or break. This is called hydrolock. It often happens when a driver tries to restart a car that has just stalled in water.

If the engine stalls in water, switch off the ignition, leave it off and do not crank it again. If it is safe, turn on the hazard lights, then leave the car. Many insurers may treat damage from restarting a flooded engine differently from the flood damage itself, so check your policy.

After the water goes down

• Do not start the car, even if it seems dry. Water may be in the engine, fuel system, gearbox or electrics.
• Disconnect the battery if it is safe to reach, to reduce the risk of electrical short circuits.
• Take photos showing the water level on the car, inside and outside, and the surrounding area.
• Inform your insurer and get a claim reference number before moving the car, unless it is in danger where it is.
• Open the doors and windows to let the interior start drying, if the car is somewhere secure.

Getting the car recovered

A flood-affected car should travel on a flatbed, not be towed on its wheels. The wheels, brakes or gearbox may be full of silt or water, and towing an automatic or a hybrid on its driven wheels can cause damage even in normal conditions. If the car is stuck in mud or a ditch after the water drops, it may need winching onto the bed first.

After heavy rain, recovery services across a city get many calls at once, and some roads stay closed. Be patient, keep your phone charged, and give your exact location with a nearby landmark or a WhatsApp live location pin. Tell the recovery crew that the car has been in water so they do not try to start it.

What a workshop should check

• Engine: whether water entered the air intake or cylinders; the oil should be checked for a milky colour.
• Fuel system: water in the tank or lines.
• Gearbox and differentials: water contamination of the oil.
• Electrics: connectors, fuse boxes, control units and wiring looms, many of which sit low in the car.
• Brakes and wheel bearings: silt and water can cause corrosion and noise.
• Interior: carpets, underlay and seat foam, which can hold water and lead to mould and smells if not dried properly.
• Airbag and safety systems, since their sensors and wiring may be affected.

Buying a used car after a flood season

Flood-damaged cars sometimes reappear on the used market after cleaning. When buying a used car, look for silt or a tide line under the carpets, in the boot and under the seats, rust on seat rails and bolts that should not be rusty, a damp or musty smell, and fogging inside the lights. If in doubt, get a professional inspection before you pay.

Prepare before the next monsoon

• Know which roads and underpasses on your daily routes flood, and plan alternatives.
• If you live in a low-lying area, find a higher place to park when heavy rain is forecast.
• Check that your comprehensive policy covers natural calamities, including floods.
• Save Rescue 1122 and a recovery service number in your phone.