Survival Guide: Driving Through Floods 101

[niky]

Survival Guide: Driving Through Floods 101

When faced with a flooded roadway, ask yourself the following questions: (1) How deep is the water? (2) Where are the gutters and open manholes? (3) How far it is to dry ground? (4) Is the current is strong enough to carry you over the edge of the road? and (5) Where are the edges of the road?

If you can’t answer even one of these questions, then why risk it? Choose your battles wisely. Whenever possible, find an alternate route, preferably one leading to higher ground or the nearest multi-storey car-park.

Two weeks late for some people who didn't learn their lessons from Ondoy... but it might save someone in the future...

[basti08]

This is a very very good article. Very simple and easy to understand. Thanks for this article :D

[niky]

Hehe...

One thing I feel is lacking in most guides is an explanation of intake placement. Most people assume that just because their car is tall, the intake is clear of any water.

This is just not true. The Ford Escape and our 2007 CR-V are prime examples of this. They both have intake placement at a mere bumper level. S.O.P., whenever someone new drives the car, I pop the hood and point it out to them... to make sure that they won't get it into their heads to try flood fording with the CR-V.

[basti08]

I like the graphics, it made the whole explanation simple. Then, out of nowhere, it reminded me of the intake placement of my old Mazda 626 (hood level) hahahaha I dont know why

[ecneret]

Avoid crossing against oncoming traffic or beside trucks. Bow waves from large vehicles can push flood water up into your air intake. On the contrary, driving behind the wake of a truck can help you ford deeper areas than you normally could. Of course, if the truck should slow down or stop for any reason, you’re toast.

ganito yung nangyari sakin dati, ok na yung andar ko tapos biglang may humarurot na bus na kasalubong ko.. ayun! tirik! buti na lang malapit na sa flyover so naitulak namin then patuyo ng konti...

anyways, tfs! very informative!

[niky]

I like the graphics, it made the whole explanation simple. Then, out of nowhere, it reminded me of the intake placement of my old Mazda 626 (hood level) hahahaha I dont know why

Ah, the 626. Perfect intake placement. Too bad the car was ground-scrapingly low.

[ghosthunter]

At least in the ASX, the intake is about headlight level.

[vinj]

Same with the A32 Cefiro, the intake was right above the grill and it had a myriad of tubing for sound reduction (it also restricted the engine quite a bit it seems). Kalaban mo would be the bow waves really when you encounter idiots who think they can part the red sea by driving hot through the flood.

[oj88]

Another consideration is that many cars have plastic intake resonators. On the 06 and up Civic, this is located behind the driver-side bumper and about the same height as the front axle. If the resonator or the tubes connecting to it isn't water-tight, it doesn't matter where the intake spout is.

FWIW, the Civic's intake spout is located about a foot behind and a couple of inches above the driver-side headlight.

[Ry_Tower]

Pajero and strada, above the wheel well and air intake.

[niky]

Even if the resonator is not water tight, it will take some minutes for water to get in. But you shouldn't ever drive for more than a few seconds through a flood. If it will take half-a-minute or more, don't even try.

[jut703]

Trust me, I’ve been there and done that, and it’s just no fun at all.

Might I ask niky, what car were you in when this happened?

[niky]

Nissan Sentra, one kilometer down Jose Abad Santos. Was doing okay, then a truck passed by...

[IMm29]

Ah, the 626. Perfect intake placement. Too bad the car was ground-scrapingly low.

Oh! Fellow Former 626 owners, I see. I miss that car.

[IMm29]

Pajero and strada, above the wheel well and air intake.

About the same place for the Prado. The Grand Starex, not sure. Behind the grille, I think?

[niky]

The 626 was the most under-appreciated car of its time. Shame Mazda had so many problems back then. And shame it didn't get a 1.8 or 2.0 V6 from the MX-3/Lantis instead of that turd of a four-cylinder it had.

About the same place for the Prado. The Grand Starex, not sure. Behind the grille, I think?

Between the hood and grille. High up naman.

[Retz]

Thanks for the heads-up sir Nicky! This is indeed very informational. How about when the car is at rest. Is it advisable to unplug the battery terminals as so to protect the ECU?

[niky]

Thanks for the heads-up sir Nicky! This is indeed very informational. How about when the car is at rest. Is it advisable to unplug the battery terminals as so to protect the ECU?

It helps prevent blown capacitors and the like, but a car standing in a flood is still a big, expensive headache.

[jhnkvn]

Same goes with the Sonata. Hood and grill. It has pretty nice air intake placement IMO.. I swear surviving that Quezon Avenue U-turn with floods splashing up my windshield was strikingly frightening.

[_Cathy_]

I can't access the link anymore.

I just drove through gutter deep flood waters tonight in Buendia. It was so frightening I was already crying while I was driving. I could hardly see the road. It was raining too hard and I have bad eyesight. I could only see the flashing of those cars with hazard lights.

It's a good thing I was with my Mom and she told me to just keep in mind what Dad taught us when driving through floods. The problem is that was with a manual car! I just know to stay in gear and not to shift then pump the brakes after passing the floods. Tinuloy ko na since I saw a Civic and City pass the flood.

What's the protocol when driving an AT car through flood? What do I need to do after?

OT: I followed an exsior about half the drive from Lucky Chinatown to Quirino/Taft. He seemed to know where to pass. I was adamant taking Lagusnilad but when he did, sumunod na ko and it was a good call. It started raining hard about 10 mins pa lang and Lagusnilad was not flooded yet.