I drove my Swift through a river

rajatsingh78 · 19th June 2010, 01:10

Today was the longest day of my life in Hyderabad. I picked my wife from Madhapur and since it was raining since 6 pm today one of her colleague requested me to drop him. He stays near JNTU so we decided to take the route Madhapur-Malaysian Township-JNTU-Pune Highway-Miyapur (I stay here). All was well till we reached the Hitech city MMTS underpass. There was a huge traffic jamand the cars were barely moving. There was an I20 and an 800 in front of me. After nearly 45 minutes of crawling, we reached the underpass. The 800 guy took a U-turn which surprised me. The I20 guy was indecisive, since it was raining I was not able to make out what was the confusion all about.
Suddenly the I20 guy accelerated and then what I saw was something I never saw in my entire life in an urban scenario. The entire underpass was transformed into a small river and the water was touching the rear windscreen of I20, first I was not able to believe my eyes, and then my brain was processing very fast on what to do next. Behind me, as a true hyderabadi spirit the people started honking as if I was enjoying the scene by not moving my car ahead. I decided to literaly take the plung. Shifted to the first gear, made sure that the car was revving around 3000 rpm and started moving into the "river" about midway I noticed the I20 sliding in front of me and the driver frantically trying to keep the control of his car. The next moment I was in the same situation. I could feel all the four wheels of the car not in contact with the road and the steering suddenly went "free", somehow I managed to steer the car from getting banged by the I20. Then as the front wheels touched some road, things were pretty in control, and I could notice steam coming out of the bonnet (it was actually water that might have touched the exhaust pipe area). Brakes too were almost dead for quite a few seconds. I drove out and thanked my car because it got me out of this terrible situation. As I came out of the "river" I realised how tough it was because a Mahindra Commander Jeep guy was taking a U-turn on the other side not ready to take a challange that a Swift Diesel took and won!

As soon as everyone in the car gathered senses we noticed that there was a lot of water in the foot well area (rear and front). Dropped the chap at JNTU, reached home, changed and then started soaking out water from the carpet. Managed to soak out around 1-1.5 buckets of water but the carpet was still wet, so left the clothes that we were using so that overnight it might soak more from tha carpet.

Now my question is how to dry the carpet completely, will just leaving the car in the sun with windows rolled down a bit be helpul or shall I take it to M.A.S.S (which I want to avoid because all they know is how to burn a hole in the pocket). Any other alternative like removing the carpet, drying out and then fixing it back ?

Another thing, Hyderabad admin has to work a lot on the infratructure, on the route I mentioned above there was terrible water logging and "rivers" on almost all the roads....today I greeted another face of Hyderabad.

Moonraker · 19th June 2010, 04:03

i was in the same state with my esteem when there was a downpour in Chennai.. Literaly my esteem was swimming. The best way is to use high pressure air to remove as much water as possible from the carpet. Then take it to a local mechanic and ask him to remove the seats and remove the carpet and dry it. Simple task would save ur car from that nasty smell. Unfortunately i did all these after a week as i had to go on a long drive and had to live with that smell for a week.

Anandg · 19th June 2010, 04:42

You should be very careful if you love you car and yourself before performing such acts. The reason being your car is not only made of metal but electricals as well. They might get short and trigger unexpected. Better take it to maruti or call and ask them what to do to be on safer side. Also keeps heaps of old newspaper on wet irremovable areas and let the car stand in sun with windows rolled down to avoid smell. Take care that the rainy season is ahead and you do not want you car to be bitten by rust. Hair dryer might help in some areas as well.

.anshuman · 19th June 2010, 05:49

I would never do that with my car, Knowing the water levels were as high as the i20's rear windscreen. You tried to kill your car.

As Anandg has said get the car checked at a MASS asap, slightest presence of water in the engine can cause big damage.

akshay4587 · 19th June 2010, 11:30

No offence,but this was sheer carelessness from your side.
and you were lucky,that you came out unscathed.
its a swift,not a boat.
You also could have been looking at repair bills,running into thousands.
IMO get Car checked,and get oil replaced,its quite possible that oil may have slight contents of water.

humyum · 19th June 2010, 11:46

Man, Don't use a swift Diesel as an ATV. The first and last thing I would check if I were you is open the Air filter box and check for any dampness/water. If there is any get the filter changed ASAP.

I don't think anything else could have gone wrong, because if it had it would have shown by now.

goandude · 19th June 2010, 11:48

I had a similar experience last October.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...ml#post1515319

but this experience of yours was too extreme. Your car was floating on water. If you did not have two passengers it could have been much much worse outcome. After my experience I would never drive thru anything higher than a foot or so.
Surprisingly no water entered your air intake.

rajatsingh78 · 19th June 2010, 11:48

Thanks guys I understand...and later realized that I could have landed myself in a bigger problem. At that point of time I had two choices, either go back and get stuck in a jam which was standstill or drive through it. Fortunately I drove through it and the car survived this without any issues, just some water logging.

srishiva · 19th June 2010, 11:56

Please give it to MASS. They should take care of everything. Dont take any chances with the car electricals, filter etc.
Hope you have a learnt something and would never repeat the same thing.
Cheers

vikram_d · 19th June 2010, 12:03

The best way to dry the car would be to park it under direct sunlight with all doors and windows open.

Another way is to leave it idling with the heater on at full blast with all doors and windows closed. In this method you will have to go and open all doors and windows for about 5 minutes every 30 - 45 minutes of car running.

I followed a combination of both these methods when my previous esteem had been thru a similar situation.

sudev · 19th June 2010, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by .anshuman

I would never do that with my car, Knowing the water levels were as high as the i20's rear windscreen. You tried to kill your car......

Not just that he tried to kill himself!

Beware with that much of water level that electric door locks and windows can jam and the car become a deadly trap. Read up reports of some youngster dying inside the car in similar situation in Mumbai floods a few years back.

Similar safety issues are surfacing when cars catch fire and doors/windows jam. It is not easy to break the modern laminated glass as I have seen demo of a brick bouncing off a windscreen without damage!

aroop · 19th June 2010, 12:34

There is a brilliant thread by GTO here

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/owning...ing-rains.html

You probably would have followed the 800 if you had read the "Flooded areas" section.

I suggest let the experts (ie MASS) check if the water has caused any problem. Also, my experience has been that they also clean and dry the mats very well.

Regards,
Aroop

benzinblut · 19th June 2010, 12:35

Well rajat, you are lucky that you passed through. It could have been really bad. My suggestion: dont try this next time, (esp not after you see the car ahead of you submered upto the rear windshield) or you would have started a totally differnt thread.

About drying the carpets: go to Maruti A.S.S. They have high power vaccum devices to suck water out of wet carpets. Make sure you get the job done quickly or your carpet will lose its texture and also stink.
Electical connections also have to be dried if required. You must explain them the situation. But also be careful of being overcharged.

jaysmokesleaves · 19th June 2010, 12:37

A mans got to do what a mans got to do... even if it killed him!!

sachinj12 · 19th June 2010, 12:56

Get it inspected by MASS asap. Do not tell him you drove through such high water levels. If you accept that they is a very good possibility that they will void the warranty(assuming you still are under warranty coverage).

Also get those drying agents (Silica gel ?) and place them in your car.

19th June 2010, 01:10	#1
rajatsingh78 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Agra/Ghaziabad Posts: 291 Thanked: 29 Times	I drove my Swift through a river Today was the longest day of my life in Hyderabad. I picked my wife from Madhapur and since it was raining since 6 pm today one of her colleague requested me to drop him. He stays near JNTU so we decided to take the route Madhapur-Malaysian Township-JNTU-Pune Highway-Miyapur (I stay here). All was well till we reached the Hitech city MMTS underpass. There was a huge traffic jamand the cars were barely moving. There was an I20 and an 800 in front of me. After nearly 45 minutes of crawling, we reached the underpass. The 800 guy took a U-turn which surprised me. The I20 guy was indecisive, since it was raining I was not able to make out what was the confusion all about. Suddenly the I20 guy accelerated and then what I saw was something I never saw in my entire life in an urban scenario. The entire underpass was transformed into a small river and the water was touching the rear windscreen of I20, first I was not able to believe my eyes, and then my brain was processing very fast on what to do next. Behind me, as a true hyderabadi spirit the people started honking as if I was enjoying the scene by not moving my car ahead. I decided to literaly take the plung. Shifted to the first gear, made sure that the car was revving around 3000 rpm and started moving into the "river" about midway I noticed the I20 sliding in front of me and the driver frantically trying to keep the control of his car. The next moment I was in the same situation. I could feel all the four wheels of the car not in contact with the road and the steering suddenly went "free", somehow I managed to steer the car from getting banged by the I20. Then as the front wheels touched some road, things were pretty in control, and I could notice steam coming out of the bonnet (it was actually water that might have touched the exhaust pipe area). Brakes too were almost dead for quite a few seconds. I drove out and thanked my car because it got me out of this terrible situation. As I came out of the "river" I realised how tough it was because a Mahindra Commander Jeep guy was taking a U-turn on the other side not ready to take a challange that a Swift Diesel took and won! As soon as everyone in the car gathered senses we noticed that there was a lot of water in the foot well area (rear and front). Dropped the chap at JNTU, reached home, changed and then started soaking out water from the carpet. Managed to soak out around 1-1.5 buckets of water but the carpet was still wet, so left the clothes that we were using so that overnight it might soak more from tha carpet. Now my question is how to dry the carpet completely, will just leaving the car in the sun with windows rolled down a bit be helpul or shall I take it to M.A.S.S (which I want to avoid because all they know is how to burn a hole in the pocket). Any other alternative like removing the carpet, drying out and then fixing it back ? Another thing, Hyderabad admin has to work a lot on the infratructure, on the route I mentioned above there was terrible water logging and "rivers" on almost all the roads....today I greeted another face of Hyderabad. Last edited by rajatsingh78 : 19th June 2010 at 01:11.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 04:03	#2
Moonraker BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 171 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	i was in the same state with my esteem when there was a downpour in Chennai.. Literaly my esteem was swimming. The best way is to use high pressure air to remove as much water as possible from the carpet. Then take it to a local mechanic and ask him to remove the seats and remove the carpet and dry it. Simple task would save ur car from that nasty smell. Unfortunately i did all these after a week as i had to go on a long drive and had to live with that smell for a week.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 04:42	#3
Anandg BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 324 Thanked: 47 Times	You should be very careful if you love you car and yourself before performing such acts. The reason being your car is not only made of metal but electricals as well. They might get short and trigger unexpected. Better take it to maruti or call and ask them what to do to be on safer side. Also keeps heaps of old newspaper on wet irremovable areas and let the car stand in sun with windows rolled down to avoid smell. Take care that the rainy season is ahead and you do not want you car to be bitten by rust. Hair dryer might help in some areas as well. Last edited by Anandg : 19th June 2010 at 04:43.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 05:49	#4
.anshuman Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Good-Gaon Posts: 7,763 Thanked: 11,064 Times View My Garage	I would never do that with my car, Knowing the water levels were as high as the i20's rear windscreen. You tried to kill your car. As Anandg has said get the car checked at a MASS asap, slightest presence of water in the engine can cause big damage.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 11:30	#5
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	No offence,but this was sheer carelessness from your side. and you were lucky,that you came out unscathed. its a swift,not a boat. You also could have been looking at repair bills,running into thousands. IMO get Car checked,and get oil replaced,its quite possible that oil may have slight contents of water. Last edited by akshay4587 : 19th June 2010 at 11:32.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 11:46	#6
humyum Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,750 Thanked: 5,422 Times	Man, Don't use a swift Diesel as an ATV. The first and last thing I would check if I were you is open the Air filter box and check for any dampness/water. If there is any get the filter changed ASAP. I don't think anything else could have gone wrong, because if it had it would have shown by now.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 11:48	#7
goandude Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mysuru Posts: 1,761 Thanked: 1,276 Times	I had a similar experience last October. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...ml#post1515319 but this experience of yours was too extreme. Your car was floating on water. If you did not have two passengers it could have been much much worse outcome. After my experience I would never drive thru anything higher than a foot or so. Surprisingly no water entered your air intake.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 11:56	#9
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	Please give it to MASS. They should take care of everything. Dont take any chances with the car electricals, filter etc. Hope you have a learnt something and would never repeat the same thing. Cheers
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 12:03	#10
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,427 Thanked: 1,185 Times	The best way to dry the car would be to park it under direct sunlight with all doors and windows open. Another way is to leave it idling with the heater on at full blast with all doors and windows closed. In this method you will have to go and open all doors and windows for about 5 minutes every 30 - 45 minutes of car running. I followed a combination of both these methods when my previous esteem had been thru a similar situation.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 12:34	#12
aroop BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 128 Thanked: 23 Times	There is a brilliant thread by GTO here http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/owning...ing-rains.html You probably would have followed the 800 if you had read the "Flooded areas" section. I suggest let the experts (ie MASS) check if the water has caused any problem. Also, my experience has been that they also clean and dry the mats very well. Regards, Aroop
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 12:35	#13
benzinblut BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Bombay Posts: 516 Thanked: 878 Times View My Garage	Well rajat, you are lucky that you passed through. It could have been really bad. My suggestion: dont try this next time, (esp not after you see the car ahead of you submered upto the rear windshield) or you would have started a totally differnt thread. About drying the carpets: go to Maruti A.S.S. They have high power vaccum devices to suck water out of wet carpets. Make sure you get the job done quickly or your carpet will lose its texture and also stink. Electical connections also have to be dried if required. You must explain them the situation. But also be careful of being overcharged. Last edited by benzinblut : 19th June 2010 at 12:39.
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 12:37	#14
jaysmokesleaves Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mostly Mumbai Posts: 1,702 Thanked: 1,452 Times	A mans got to do what a mans got to do... even if it killed him!!
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 12:56	#15
sachinj12 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,187 Thanked: 168 Times	Get it inspected by MASS asap. Do not tell him you drove through such high water levels. If you accept that they is a very good possibility that they will void the warranty(assuming you still are under warranty coverage). Also get those drying agents (Silica gel ?) and place them in your car.
	() Thanks