The nook and cranny of Lagos State on Friday (yesterday) witnessed the downpour of a torrential rainfall like never before.
The rain that lasted hours especially in the Lagos Island area left most roads flooded while workers were stranded as they were unable to access their vehicles after the close of work in several parking lots along the Marina axis of Lagos. Most of the vehicles were entirely submerged in the flood.
While this is not the first time that Lagos is witnessing such flood, however, that of Friday took it to a different level especially with damages that might ruin a car owner if the needful is not down.
To minimize damages done particularly to submerged vehicles, an auto expert listed a five-step actionable points to help revive submerged vehicle back to life.
Meanwhile some of the actionable points as listed below might need the assistant/supervision of a certified mechanic.
1. Do not attempt to start your submerged vehicle
Even if the vehicle is submerged and the water goes down. It’s likely water has made its way into the engine.
The first thing to do is open your engine air filter and check for moisture. If it’s moist or damp, DO NOT CRANK THAT VEHICLE!!! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START IT.
2. Drain engine oil
Allow the water go down, tow it away if possible. Get your mechanic to drain the engine oil immediately. Also drain the transmission fluid. Do not take the risk of trying to drive that vehicle.
3. Disconnect fuel pump
Let the mechanic disconnect the fuel sending unit (fuel pump), pull out the spark plugs one after the other and then crank the engine. You want to make sure water in each cylinder is blown out of the engine by the compression/exhaust stroke.
4. Connect fuel pump
Once completed for all the cylinders. Connect the fuel pump (easiest way is to remove the relay or the fuse) and start the vehicle. It may idle rough. Leave it. Do not rev it. Allow that vehicle idle for some 30 minutes.
5. Engage the gears
Once it’s up to operating temperature, (because you have replaced your transmission fluid) engage the gears one after the other. From P to R wait 5 seconds R to N wait another 5 seconds N to D wait again. D to N again N to R and R to Park. After this. You can drive.