Top 10 Precautions to be taken
during Wet Weather Driving
1. The first thing to keep in mind
before the wet season starts is to check your brakes, especially if it is
grabby or hard or if you experience delayed braking or any other faults. Get
your brakes serviced with a trusted mechanic.
Common faults to be aware of
a. Pedal going inside: Replace Master cylinder.
b.Grabby feel (inconsistent braking) : Overhaul front caliper assembly & replace your rear wheel cylinders.
c. Pedal staying on top: check your Power brake booster & Vacuum lines.
2. Get your wiper blades changed. Old wiper blades tend to cause & smears in glass during wet weather, reducing visibility. If you are confronted with reduced visibility due to heavy downpour and/or because of a broken down wiper, a layman’s solution is to wipe your windscreen using dried tobacco leaves. It will reduce the rain droplets remaining on the windscreen. (Available in all petty shops throughout India).
3. During wet weather driving, smooth driving should be the top priority. Avoid hard moves such as sudden braking, acceleration and turning sharply.
4. Give more space to the vehicle in front than you usually do in normal dry weather. It gives additional space for braking. The stopping distance will increase while braking in the wet.
5. Always brake gently and do not brake harshly.
6. When you are driving in lightly flooded roads (water level coming up to brake drum level or ankle level). When you come out of the flooded water, always tap your brakes and dry it before trying any emergency stopping. (Keep your foot on the brake lightly without stopping, left foot on the brakes & right foot on the accelerator).
7. When the flooded water is up to bumper level (Knee height) think twice before driving in these roads. If it is absolutely essential to drive in such conditions, make sure that water does not enter your exhaust tail pipe. If the water enters the tail pipe the engine will stall & stop.
An important trick is to keep the engine RPM steady. To get this thing done, select 2nd gear and slowly enter the flooded road (Make sure water level does not go above bumper level). Always control your Car/SUV speed through the Clutch & not via Accelerator (Applicable only in flooded roads/wet weather). Keep the engine RPM @ 200 to 300 rpm above engine idle speed & hold the accelerator steady. Do not take your foot of the accelerator at any cost. Control your speed through clutch and hand brake.
8. When the water level is above bumper level (Think 10 times before entering the water). Chances of water getting into electrical components is more, hence leading to more chance of a breakdown.
a. Petrol cars: Chances of water getting sprayed into electrical system, spark plug, ECU’s etc., is more. Even if you drive carefully chances of stalling the engine is high.
b. Diesel cars: See to that water level does not get above intake manifold, exhaust manifold, Alternator, Electrical fans and ECU’s etc.
9. Causeways/ culverts: Do not enter such unknown waters. Even if you see some buses or trucks crossing the channel do not attempt to cross it. Remember your family is more important than crossing such wild waters (flash floods).
10. Here’s what to do if you have been forced to drive in flood water. Start your car the next day and drive it to dry out the brakes. Remove any remaining water in the clutch casing. Take your vehicle to the mechanic and check your engine oil, Gear box & Differential for water mixing in the oil. If you find any trace of water in any of these areas, immediately drain the oil &replace it with fresh oil. Check your alternator & starter for water ingress.
As far as water entering the cabin and soaking up the carpet. Keep the car in sunlight & open your windows and doors. Allow it to dry thoroughly otherwise you will get a stale smell in the car/ SUV.
Have a safe journey!
photo courtesy: www.commons.wikimedia.org
