Driving in the rain and engine failure – what you need to know…
Consumers all too often do not know that a simple “drive through the flooded intersection” can mean engine death on their cars. It can also happen on flooded roadways of any type.
The air duct that leads into your vehicle’s engine is located somewhere at the front radiator support area just behind your front grille. These plastic airways have an air filter “box” that has a hole in the bottom IF a little water gets in. Water gets in – water drains out.
But what happens if you drive through heavy standing water on city streets (we’ve all seen them) or are traveling behind a car that goes through it just ahead of you and sends a wave of water to the front end of your car? These types of situations cause a massive amount of water to enter the airbox “snorkel” (air opening) and travel into your cars injection system. If water makes it into the engine’s cylinders, a phenomenon called “hydrolock” occurs, “freezes” the engine, and the engine is typically rendered worthless and needs replacement. Here comes the bad part.
Engines can run from $3,000 to over $40,000 dollars on many low to high-end vehicle. Ultra-luxury vehicles can have $80,000 engines. The bad news is that all automobile manufacturers, within their vehicles owner’s manuals, INFORM and WARN the consumer about driving through water. Hydrolock is considered ‘owner abuse/mis-use’ and any warranty claim will likely be denied. What if you bring it to your insurance company? They *may* pay, but then if they do the claim is under “collision” (because you were driving the car) and can increase your insurance premium.
So, what is a driver to do? When you approach a flooded area, first – slow down. On a city street carefully slow down to about 3 mph to cross the area with standing water. What if the area is flooded (we’ve all seen this). Do NOT attempt to cross! Safely make a legal 3-point turn when there is no oncoming traffic and head away from the flooded area. What if you’re driving on the freeway? Avoid the two “fast lanes”, which are closest to the center median/barrier. This is the side that floods first. What if it’s raining so hard on the freeway that you see there is a “blanket” of water on the freeway, and other cars are throwing up a huge amount of water? – Exit the freeway and wait for the weather condition to pass.
So, please keep in mind that this situation is NOT the responsibility of the auto manufacturer under their limited new vehicle warranty, nor is it a “covered event” under most vehicle Service Contracts (“extended warranties”) either. If you want to avoid the potential of a huge engine repair/replacement bill, slow down, assess the situation, and take the necessary steps to ensure your safety, then the safety of your vehicle’s engine. Your maximum standing water to traverse is about 3” at roughly 3-4 mph. Be SURE to check YOUR vehicle’s owner’s manual to see what guidelines it sets forth for driving through water. Every manufacturer/vehicle/model/year can be different. It pays to read-up!
Do YOU have a vehicle’s that has had 2 or more documented repair visits to the dealer while under factory warranty? You may be entitled to receive thousands in cash compensation, or a buyback of your vehicle. Please call our law firm at 1-800-225-3666, or visit our website at: www.CaliforniaLemonLawAttorneys.com
You can also call the firms auto expert, Randy Sottile, at 1-858-342-0073 on any vehicle 2013 and newer about the vehicle’s in-warranty problems.
“Lemon Law Bytes” is Copyright 2/1/2019 The Law Offices of William R. McGee, APLC
Disclaimer: all Lemon Law Bytes articles are for informational purposes only. None of the content should be construed or assumed to be legal advice. If you desire legal advice on your or newer vehicle, please call us to speak with one of our attorneys.