rockin'robin
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Experts give advice on being stranded in flooded roadway
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -
All the heavy rain and standing water from Tropical Storm Debby may mean difficult and expensive automotive repairs for owners of flood-damaged vehicles.
What should drivers do if they get stranded in a flooded roadway? Do they leave the engine on or turn it off?
"Probably one of the worst things you could do is open the door because computers and stuff like that are all under your carpeting," said Aaron Nelson, of Aaron's Car Care.
AAA says engine computers and other electronic devices can sometimes be salvaged, but corrosion and oxidation can occur several weeks after the components are cleaned.
In a worst case scenario for drivers who are stranded in an area where they don't see other drivers for help and are without a cellphone, they could try to roll the window down to exit the car, safety experts say.
As far as whether to keep the engine running or turn it off, Nelson said it's tricky.
"Hold one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake, and try to keep the RPMs in the engine higher as possible because what you're fighting is the water coming in the tailpipe," Nelson said.
He said if water comes through the tailpipe, it can destroy an engine.
"A little car like this, you can do a lot of damage," Nelson said. "You don't stand much of a chance going through deep water, and you could do a lot of damage extremely quick."
The riding height of a car versus a pickup truck, for instance, can made a difference. But drivers shouldn't think just because they drive a truck they can survive water-filled streets.
"As soon as I got halfway through the puddle, I realized how deep it was," said one man who drove his truck through a flooded road. "I was trying to back up, and it just picked it up and started running to the left and threw the truck in the ditch, and water started coming up got to the steering wheel. I had to climb out of the passenger's door."
Nelson said even with insurance, repairs can still get very expensive.
The bottom line is, car experts say if drivers can avoid driving through water and can find an alternate route, that's their best option, because otherwise it could cost them a lot and maybe even total their car.
Drive through water? That's a no-no | News - Home
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -
All the heavy rain and standing water from Tropical Storm Debby may mean difficult and expensive automotive repairs for owners of flood-damaged vehicles.
What should drivers do if they get stranded in a flooded roadway? Do they leave the engine on or turn it off?
"Probably one of the worst things you could do is open the door because computers and stuff like that are all under your carpeting," said Aaron Nelson, of Aaron's Car Care.
AAA says engine computers and other electronic devices can sometimes be salvaged, but corrosion and oxidation can occur several weeks after the components are cleaned.
In a worst case scenario for drivers who are stranded in an area where they don't see other drivers for help and are without a cellphone, they could try to roll the window down to exit the car, safety experts say.
As far as whether to keep the engine running or turn it off, Nelson said it's tricky.
"Hold one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake, and try to keep the RPMs in the engine higher as possible because what you're fighting is the water coming in the tailpipe," Nelson said.
He said if water comes through the tailpipe, it can destroy an engine.
"A little car like this, you can do a lot of damage," Nelson said. "You don't stand much of a chance going through deep water, and you could do a lot of damage extremely quick."
The riding height of a car versus a pickup truck, for instance, can made a difference. But drivers shouldn't think just because they drive a truck they can survive water-filled streets.
"As soon as I got halfway through the puddle, I realized how deep it was," said one man who drove his truck through a flooded road. "I was trying to back up, and it just picked it up and started running to the left and threw the truck in the ditch, and water started coming up got to the steering wheel. I had to climb out of the passenger's door."
Nelson said even with insurance, repairs can still get very expensive.
The bottom line is, car experts say if drivers can avoid driving through water and can find an alternate route, that's their best option, because otherwise it could cost them a lot and maybe even total their car.
Drive through water? That's a no-no | News - Home
I hate snow when I drive in the snow. My office "ALMOST" never close when the heavy snow coming! 
