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Original poster

Drove car through big puddle of water

33 replies

ValerieFlowers · 10/11/2019 12:35

Hi, I had a nightmare journey yesterday when the a1 northbound was closed. The diverted traffic was hardly moving and desperate to get home I tried an alternative route. Anyway one of the roads was closed due to a large puddle of water but some cars were still going up and down so I decided to drive through it too. It wasn't that deep and my car seems fine but now I'm really worried I might have damaged it. Would it be a good idea to get my car looked at to check for damage? Thank you. Ps I know i was foolish to drive through but I was driving somewhere I'd never been before and there were signs for alternative routes. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
ValerieFlowers · 10/11/2019 12:36

That should say there were no signs for alternative routes.

OP posts:
Likethebattle · 10/11/2019 12:38

The main thing that would fail are your brakes, were they fine afterwards? If so then your car is most likely fine.

jomaIone · 10/11/2019 12:38

How far up your car did it go?

HMArsey · 10/11/2019 12:39

Unless you went through at speed and something is now clonking about underneath I'd say you'd be fine. People drive through fords all the time.

Nat6999 · 10/11/2019 12:39

I wouldn't worry, as long as your car didn't stall in the middle of the water. The main thing to do is as soon as you get out of the water, check your brakes gently, unless the water is as deep as your exhaust it is fairly safe to drive through.

habipprtyh · 10/11/2019 12:43

The main thing that would fail are your brakes, were they fine afterwards?

Eh?

The biggest risk of driving through flood water (with the exception of unseen objects because obviously OP is out not) is engine damage. Brakes work when they are wet all the time.

SerendipityJane · 10/11/2019 13:40

Brakes work when they are wet all the time.

So why do they put up signs saying "try your brakes" ?

Drove car through big puddle of water
habipprtyh · 10/11/2019 13:42

Because they could have things stick in them from driving through an excess of dirty water.

Brakes do work when wet.

OP had driven after the water so it's safe to say her brakes were not clogged with shit.

habipprtyh · 10/11/2019 13:46

Wait, did you just photoshop that?

The image is a roadworks sign originally

Evilmorty · 10/11/2019 13:50

Actually you should always test your brakes after driving through water

www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/control-of-the-vehicle.html#

Point 121

SerendipityJane · 10/11/2019 13:58

Wait, did you just photoshop that? The image is a roadworks sign originally

I got it from a site selling roadsigns - £172.80 (plus VAT) to you. Feel free to check my working

www.directa.co.uk/shop/traffic-signs-try-your-brakes-sign/

The reason I selected that sign, is last week I had to drive through some floodwater, and the local authority had put up that sign at the other side.

So given we're in the middle of a climate apocalypse, why would anyone waste the carbon footprint needed to make a sign if it's not needed ?

I'll get back in the knife drawer.

habipprtyh · 10/11/2019 14:05

Actually you should always test your brakes after driving through water

I wasn't suggesting that you shouldn't.

habipprtyh · 10/11/2019 14:05

@SerendipityJane

Ah I see, they photoshop them!

Sorry, easy mistake to make.

SerendipityJane · 10/11/2019 14:07

habipprtyh

Grin
Evilmorty · 10/11/2019 14:09

Well you said twice that wet brakes work, thought that was a fake sign saying to test them and didn’t mention testing them yourself so I assumed you didn’t know. Smile

ControversialFerret · 10/11/2019 14:12

I've always checked my brakes after driving through deep puddles during flooding.

I was driving earlier this week for work, returning to my B&B late at night via a rural country lane, which included a huge and very long puddle. It was just before a large bend in the road. I went through and checked the brakes a couple of times. I went round the bend I came bonnet to face with an enormous stag. He was right in the middle of the road and absolutely magnificent. After looking at me (rather disdainfully) he very calmly picked his way through the hedgerow and disappeared.

I'm very glad I tested my brakes!

SerendipityJane · 10/11/2019 14:12

The thing about testing your brakes is to make sure you've enough space to do it. Your brakes may work. The car behinds might not ... (that's before you factor in the fact they may be daydreaming, and not expecting you to brake, and that's if they even see you from looking down at their screen, as stopping in a queue to ford a flood is the ideal time to check your emails ....)

habipprtyh · 10/11/2019 14:13

Well you said twice that wet brakes work, thought that was a fake sign saying to test them and didn’t mention testing them yourself so I assumed you didn’t know.

Wet brakes DO work. Initially I was replying to a comment that brakes were the biggest worry. They are not. OP had already driven after leaving the water and the brakes were ok. The biggest worry about driving through water is engine damage.

I know signs exist to warn people to check brakes, that particular sign was a photoshop from a place that sells signs

So to clarify; I am not saying not to check brakes.

ControversialFerret · 10/11/2019 14:16

I was always taught as well to slip the clutch when driving through deep puddles, keeping revs high and staying in second. In an automatic you need to gently brake with your left foot whilst staying on the gas which will help keep the revs high.

SeaToSki · 10/11/2019 14:20

Drive your car round the block, check its safe and do an emergency stop. If you brakes work well, your car is fine. If they are sluggish take the car to get checked over

Mummyoflittledragon · 10/11/2019 14:22

My dh killed the engine on diesel doing this. As in it needed replacing. Luckily a company car. 😬

You’d know by now if there was damage imo.

StCharlotte · 10/11/2019 14:27

I was always taught as well to slip the clutch when driving through deep puddles, keeping revs high and staying in second

Yep. Low gear high revs.

LadyFlumpalot · 10/11/2019 14:41

Brakes work by applying friction from the brake pads to the wheels. If the brake pads have gotten wet/cold they will work, but less effectively due to a cold, hard, wet surface being not very grippy.

The same principle also applies if you continuously apply the brakes gently when driving downhill, your brakes will get too hot and the surface of the brake pad will glaze over, making them slippy and less effective.

SerendipityJane · 10/11/2019 14:45

The same principle also applies if you continuously apply the brakes gently when driving downhill, your brakes will get too hot and the surface of the brake pad will glaze over, making them slippy and less effective.

There's also a danger of the brake fluid boiling - and you can lose all your brakes ...

There's supposed to be additives to brake fluid to raise the boiling point (it's why brake fluid is so corrosive) but generally, relying on your brakes for long periods is a Bad Thing. It's what God gave us gears for Grin

Campervan69 · 10/11/2019 14:51

I did this in a VW Sharan and it completely killed the engine. Had to have the whole thing replaced it was really annoying.