In recent days, it has rained heavily in many parts of the country, and many cars can be seen wading in the water in videos on the Internet, and some will be flooded and turn off. All car owners are reminded that if there is standing water in front of you, you cannot confirm the depth of the water and do not enter rashly. There are many people who know that the water is very deep, and they may be in an emergency or do not know the danger of the water, so they drive directly into it, and only stop halfway and cannot walk. Generally speaking, if the water is two-thirds of the way to the wheel, you must not continue to drive, otherwise there will be danger. Of course, there aren't many places where you can submerge your car, and most people are wading through the water, but the car doesn't turn off. So what kind of inspection should be done on the vehicle after wading in the water?
1. Check the air filter
Checking the air cleaner is an important reference factor to determine whether the engine is flooded, and there is a small amount of water in the intake tract due to the high water level when wading in water, although the engine is not turned off. Because water enters the air cleaner first, it can be judged by whether the air cleaner is wet or not. If the air cleaner is dry, there is no water ingress. If the air cleaner is wet, a small amount of water has entered and a new one needs to be replaced. At the same time, check whether there is any stagnant water in the air filter box, and clean it up if so.
2. Check all kinds of fluids
Focus on inspecting the engine oil and transmission oil to determine if it is watering. Wading in water makes a splash, so even if the water doesn't seem deep, it can get into the engine oil and transmission oil. Pull out the dipstick to see if the liquid level is elevated or if there is emulsification, and if so, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
3. Check the sunroof
Nowadays, there are many cars with sunroofs, and one of the most annoying problems with sunroofs is rain leakage, which is caused by blocked sunroof drains. For maintenance after rain, clean up the sediment or leaves adhered to the sunroof seal, and check whether the sealant is deformed or notched to prevent excessive rainwater from seeping into the sunroof and causing water leakage in the car. Vehicles with a long service life should also pay attention to whether the sealing strip of the body is aging and hardening. In heavy rainy weather, first of all, make sure that the sunroof has been closed, and pay more attention to the sunroof around to see if there are traces of water leakage, and if so, you need to deal with it in time to prevent the car from being soaked in water.
4. Check the engine compartment
The main thing is to check whether there is dirt on the engine, because where there is stagnant water, there will be a lot of dirt. After wading through water, dirt such as leaves and plastic bags may remain on the engine, and it needs to be cleaned up in time. If the wading is deep, there is more dirt on the engine, and a professional cleaning is required. The acidic components in the waterproof corrode the engine wiring and rubber parts, resulting in the acceleration of aging, and even the failure of various wiring harness plugs directly into the water after soaking in water for a long time.
5. Check the spark plug and ignition coil
After wading, the spark plug and ignition coil may be damp and water, which will affect the ignition effect, and in severe cases, it may cause a short circuit, resulting in the spark plug being broken down, resulting in the engine being unable to work normally. Therefore, it is necessary to check whether the spark plug is working properly. The inspection method is to pull out the ignition coil and check it with the naked eye to see if there are water stains on the spark plug and inside the ignition coil. If there is, it needs to be dried with compressed air and then put back on.
6. Check the trunk for water ingress
There are exhaust holes on the sides of the trunk and drainage holes under the spare tire. If the rain is too deep, it may enter the trunk through the exhaust hole. If the rear of the vehicle has been repaired with sheet metal, the drain hole at the bottom of the spare tire may not be well sealed, and water may enter here after wading for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to check the trunk for the presence of stagnant water. Because there is water in the trunk, it is difficult to evaporate on its own if it is not cleaned, and it will become moldy and odorous after a long time.
7. Wash your car in time
The stagnant water on the road is very dirty, and it will contain acidic components, which has a strong corrosive effect on the paint surface of the car. Most of us are still concerned about the appearance of the car, and we don't want the car to look shabby. Therefore, washing the car in time after the rain can wash off the dirt and corrosive substances on the body and protect the paint of your car.
Whether you're driving or parked there, the deeper you wade, the more you should check carefully to prevent rain from harming your vehicle. Finally, when driving in deep water, if you find that the vehicle has stalled, do not ignite it again. Because there is a high probability that the engine will be stalled due to water ingress inside the engine, another ignition will damage the engine, resulting in piston injury, bent connecting rods, and the need to overhaul the engine. When a vehicle with automatic start-stop function needs to pass through a relatively deep waterlogged road, turn off the start-stop function first to prevent the car from automatically igniting after being flooded and turning off the ignition, resulting in damage.