Is it okay if the car didn't stall when driving through a puddle?
5 Answers
If the car didn't stall when driving through a puddle, a comprehensive inspection should be conducted. Here are some precautions for driving through deep water: Avoid excessive speed: First, do not drive too fast. Use a low gear to enter the water smoothly and proceed slowly to prevent water splashes from wetting the engine's electrical components, which could cause the engine to stall. Maintain steady acceleration: Keep the accelerator pedal steady to ensure smooth and sufficient power for the car. Try to avoid shifting gears, stopping, or making sharp turns midway. While driving, look ahead and focus on distant fixed objects rather than the water surface to prevent visual disorientation and deviation from the intended water-crossing route.
A while ago, I drove through a puddle without stalling, but later noticed a clicking noise from the left front wheel. When we lifted it at the shop, we found the steering linkage rubber boot had water ingress and bubbled. The mechanic said this kind of partial water submersion is the most troublesome, as water pressure can force its way into various seals. He advised me to always check for rust on chassis bolts afterward, especially the exhaust pipe mounting brackets. Now after every rain, I habitually check under the floor mats for musty smells, since sound insulation padding absorbs water and can breed bacteria inside the car. It's best to pop the hood the next day and feel if wiring connectors are damp. After all, once electronic components oxidize or corrode, faults tend to develop gradually.
Last week when picking up my child from school in a heavy rain, I had no choice but to drive through a flooded section. Although the engine didn't stall, the next day I heard a sharp metallic screech when braking. The mechanic found fine sand particles lodged between the brake discs and pads after removing the tires. The grit had scratched the surfaces during friction, like sandpaper grinding against metal. A reminder to everyone: don't wash your car immediately after going through puddles - wait until the brakes cool down. Also recommended is a thorough inspection of all four wheel bearings, as dirty water can wash away the bearing grease. It's best to perform an undercarriage rinse within 48 hours to prevent dried mud from corroding metal components.
Our team's veteran driver said never force your way through if the water level exceeds half of the tire height. Once I drove my SUV through a water pit without stalling, but the front wheel balance was completely messed up—the steering wheel vibrated violently at 80 km/h. Turned out the counterweight blocks on the inner side of the aluminum alloy wheel were washed away by water, and aquatic weeds were stuck in the wheel hub grooves. What's worse, the soundproofing cotton on the engine guard plate turned into a water-absorbing sponge, and a pool of black water poured out when removing the guard plate. Now after crossing water, I always check the transmission cooling vents carefully, as they're prone to clogging with mud.
After driving through a puddle during the last typhoon, the AC started blowing out a fishy smell. During maintenance, the mechanic disassembled the blower and found the snail-shell-shaped fan blades covered in fibrous dirt. It turned out that the water mist sucked in through the air intake mixed with dust, forming a mud film inside the blower. This wet mud would dry out and flake off, potentially clogging the evaporator. Now, after crossing any standing water, I turn the AC to maximum fan speed for ten minutes to let the airflow carry away the moisture. Also, a reminder to everyone to check all the light connectors—my fog light connector had developed green corrosion by then.
