The monsoon season has arrived again!
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (Met Malaysia) has forecasted the monsoon season to occur in early November and end in March next year.
Met Malaysia has reported that heavy rainfall is expected in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Johor from November until early January 2022. For Sarawak and Sabah, heavy rainfall is expected in early January and February next year.
It is dangerous and life-threatening if heavy rainfall and high tides occur at the same time.
Concerns for car owners
Other than fearing for the safety of their properties such as houses, individuals with cars will also be concerned that their vehicles will have to wade through heavy rain on the road.
As a car owner, what if you get stranded in floodwaters? What should you do in such a situation? Should you wade through the water or wait until the flood recedes and the rain subsides?
These tips that we will share in the article may be useful for you when your car is stuck in flood.
Tips to save your submerged car in floods
Don’t start your car engine
Do not start your car engine, although the flood has begun to recede.
What should you do in this situation?
Leave your vehicle first and when the floodwaters recede, immediately call a tow truck to take your car to the workshop. Remember, don’t start your car engine.
There may be parts of the engine that have been damaged by the floods that will pose a high potential for short circuits.
Check gearbox and engine oil level
Check your fuel dipstick level. If it is higher than the average level, it means that the water has somehow found its way into your engine.
Please ensure that you flush your car fuel, such as transmission fluid, motor oil, or brake fluid. This is so that there will be no contaminants in the system when fresh fluid is put in.
Take note that the water in motor fuel can cause serious damage to your engine.
Unplug and dry electrical components
Do not forget to unplug all electrical components such as radio, battery, HUD Display and dry them under the sunlight.
Also, wash your car seat cushions and dry them to avoid unpleasant odours.
Flush fuel tank (if necessary)
You must also watch out for your fuel tank. The water may have slipped into the tank when submerged in the floods.
As a precaution, we advise you to bring your car to a workshop for inspection to avoid further damage.
Preventive measures in a flood risk area
- Park your car in a higher area to prevent the risk of sinking in the floodwaters.
- For safety purposes, cover your car’s exhaust hole with something compact so that water cannot penetrate in the event of a flood
- Remove the car battery terminals
- Do not leave important things in your car
Protect your car with special perils coverage
Your insurance does not cover damage to your vehicle due to floods or other natural disasters.
However, you can make an insurance claim for the damage if you purchase special perils cover. It is an important coverage, especially if you live in a flood-prone area.
If you wish to purchase special perils cover, the premium set for this additional coverage is usually 0.5% of the sum insured.
We recommend you consider adding the special perils add-on cover to your comprehensive policy. You can do so at Bjak, one of Malaysia’s largest car insurance comparison platforms. Compare across 15 leading insurers and get the right coverage for your car. Get your free car insurance quotes online at Bjak.my today.
Bjak is one of Malaysia’s biggest insurance comparison websites, offering policies from over 10 brands. Get your free insurance quote from Bjak today!
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