What to Do When the Car Stalls After Driving Through Water
2 Answers
Here are the steps to handle a car stalling due to water ingress: 1. Push the car to higher ground: Simultaneously call your insurance company or a repair shop for towing and proceed to the repair shop for inspection. 2. Do not attempt to start the engine: If you start the engine, it will be considered intentional damage by the driver, and the insurance company may refuse compensation. Below are the reasons why a car stalls after water ingress: 1. Excessive exhaust pressure: At low RPM, the exhaust pipe being submerged in water causes excessive backpressure, leading to stalling. 2. Wet air filter: Insufficient air intake due to a wet air filter causes stalling (water has not yet entered the intake manifold). 3. Engine damage: Minor or significant water ingress into the engine prevents normal operation, resulting in stalling.
Last time I drove through a puddle and my car stalled immediately. Luckily, I didn't panic. My first reaction was not to attempt restarting the engine—this is crucial because water might have entered the engine cylinders, causing what's known as hydro-locking. Forcing a restart could bend the piston rods or even destroy the engine. Then, I smoothly brought the car to a stop, engaged the handbrake, and turned on the hazard lights to ensure safety. If the water level exceeded the wheel height when getting out, I would quickly move to a safe spot to avoid being trapped. I immediately called for roadside assistance to have the car towed to a nearby repair shop for inspection. Technicians typically need to clean the air intake, replace the air filter, or check the electrical system to prevent short circuits. Such incidents are annoying, but don't skimp on towing fees—safety comes first. When driving normally, I've developed the habit of avoiding deep water areas. Before driving through water, I estimate the depth doesn't exceed half the wheel height and pass through slowly. Prevention is better than cure, so during regular maintenance, I check the car's waterproof seals.
