After Facing Floods, Ensure These 7 Car Components Remain Safe

Recently, heavy rainfall has often caused flooding in several cities in Indonesia, especially the capital Jakarta. This condition forces drivers to wade through floods with their vehicles when they need to go about their activities. Forcing a car through a flood can submerge several important components in water and may cause the car to break down in the middle of the waterlogged area. 

Tips for Checking Your Car After Wading Through Floods

Some drivers sometimes feel that there is no need to check the engine when their car successfully wades through a flood, as they do not find any serious symptoms. However, it should be noted that this can lead to damage to the car's components in the future. To maintain the quality of the car, try to perform a check after wading through a flood with the following tips.

1. Air Filter

The air filter functions to filter the air entering the engine compartment. If the car has to wade through a flood, you should check the air filter afterward, and if the condition of the air filter is poor, try to replace it.

2. Transmission and Differential Oil

Transmission oil and differential oil are difficult to assess in terms of their condition. Make sure to quickly replace the oil in this area, as it is highly likely that water can enter this transmission system, especially in vehicles with automatic transmission. 

3. Engine Oil

This part is also important to check, especially if the car wades through a flood of considerable height. You can check the oil dipstick in the car; if it is brownish in color, then the oil is definitely contaminated with floodwater, and you need to replace the oil as soon as possible. 

4. Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Wires, and Coil

Similar to engine oil, a high flood can damage these three components. If the car feels unstable as usual, immediately go to a workshop and ask the mechanic to dry these parts.

5. ECU

The ECU is a component that has a vital function in cars that have an injection system. Some vehicles place this device behind the dashboard at a relatively low position, making it very likely to be submerged in water. Ensure the ECU is in good condition after the car successfully wades through a flood, especially when the flood height allows it to reach the ECU area.

6. Brakes

For cars equipped with brakes with a drum system, wading through floods is something that should actually be avoided. However, if the vehicle has to wade through a flood, make sure to immediately check this part to prevent rust and ensure it continues to function normally.

7. Suspension

Most drivers will ignore this part after wading through a flood because they assume there are no symptoms at all. However, in the suspension, there are components that are water-resistant, although they will not cause immediate problems. However, if left unchecked, this will lead to a decline in the car's performance in the future.