What are the procedures in driving a car through a waist deep flash flood standing water?

Question

Should I shut off my car air conditioning?

Answer 1

DO NOT DRIVE ANY VEHICLE THROUGH WATER THAT DEEP!!!!!!!!!!!! Even the biggest pickup truck will suffer severe damage, (if its not washed away, and hopefully you live to tell about it). Any piece of your vehicle under water will damage it, the trans and differentials (rwd and 4wd) have vent tubes and are usually mounted to the frame or floor boards.....this is a water entry point, severe damage will result but maybe not straight away. On the other hand, the engine will most likely injest water and hydrallically lock. This will be certain engine destruction.
The door seals on vehicles are designed to keep moisture out and air tight, the will not and cannot keep water out if submerged. Did you know your vehicle has holes in it.......intensionally. All vehicles ar built with air vents to let out air, pressurized when doors slam. Also many other water entry points.
NOT ONE COMPONENT ON YOUR CAR IS DESIGNED TO BE SUBMURGED IN WATER.
I work at a Gm dealer and we ar located 200 yards from an under pass which floods with even slightly heavy rain.
Do you have any idea how bad vehicle interiors smell after the have been submurged. And its not usually just water you are driveing through, storm sewers and sewage sewers usually back up into deep water. TRY GETTING THAT SMELL OUT.
.......................BOTTOM LINE, IF YOU DRIVE INTO WATER WAIST HIGH OR EVEN LESS, CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO RIGHT IT OFF..........
A puddle with 3 inches of water can do enough damage.

Answer 2

There are only two procedures I know of when it comes to driving a vehicle in high water...

1. Just go!
2. Don't go!

1. If you are going to just go, you need to be driving an amphibious vehicle... outside of the possible military applications, you could get one by starting at this web site:

http://www.amphibiousvehicles.com.au/New.html

2. Procedure number two applies to all vehciles currently manufactured for US roads and laws.

If you consider the force of the water against the sides of your wheels (let alone the sides of the body at waist level) and then consider how easily a car hydroplanes on water, it is easy to see how even just a little water can wash a vehicle away. The damage to the vehicle, assuming you make it across, would make the car virtually unsellable from that point on... of course, you wouldn't tell anybody you did such a senseless thing now would you?

Sure, run the AC... might as well keep that water flowing!

Answer 3

unless you are in a raised F-250, you don't. you can try, but the chances of you actually making it through ( in say . . . a honda) are pretty slim. it'd be better ( and safer ) to find a different route, or wait till the flood subsides. if you try to drive though waist deep water in an average vehicle, you run the chance of haveing you car swept away in teh flood. The roadway could wash away whil eyou are driving over it. or your car could stall and you could be stranded.

if either of the first two scenarios happen, there is a high probability of death. I fyou get caught in the third scenario, you may have to be rescued by helicopter. after that you wil be fined uncer the stupid moterist law. yep, you will pay for the one way helicopter ride and for any costs of removing your vehicle .

Answer 4

Keep your AC on, but hit the brakes! Don't even THINK of trying it!

Forget about ruining your engine. It takes less than 1 FOOT of moving water to wash a car away!

I used to live in San Antonio, also know as "The City of the Low Water Crossing". Every time it rains, the police and fire department block off all of the low water crossings. Each time they block it off, some IDIOT moves that barricade and tries to drive through anyway. Statistically, one car is washed away every rainstorm resulting in fatalities. Several more are rescued. They are billed -- typically over $20,000 -- for the rescue.

The idiots in the raised pickups and SUVs are the wost of the lot. They think that since their vehicle is raised that they are not vulnerable but learn the hard way that their high center of gravity actually makes them MORE vulnerable.

Answer 5

Unless you own a military hummer , do not drive through waist deep water. Your engine is less than that and will drown out. It is dangerous also in flash flooding, you could get swept off the road.

Answer 6

just go as carefully as possible as to not rip anyholes in your transmission or oil pan.. .. if its waist deep you really dont know what you could be running over.. As far as the air conditioning? i couldnt tell ya but if i was driving in a waist deep flash flood, the air conditioning would be the least of my worries

Answer 7

Roll your window down 3 inches- that is enough to fit your fishing pole through. you DO have you pole don't you? You will need it to catch something to eat so you don't starve, as you will be there a while. As for the A/C go ahead and cut it off, the water has a very cooling effect as it rushes in. Don't forget the hibatchi to cook the fish.

Answer 8

Don't find an alternate route!!!! This is the only safe way to go about it.Your car could be swept away and you could drown.Unless you have a lift kit on that Saturn just don't do it it is not safe.

Answer 9

Don't do it.You engine in a car is below waist eighth.Your engine will suck in the water and destroy the engine.

Answer 10

Don't drive a car, maybe an amphibious Duck (WWII) would do fine.