What to do when your car is submerged in flood waters?

If your vehicles got submerged in water, there are certain actions you MUST do before putting it in service to alleviate further damage:

REMOVE battery terminal as soon as possible, then do all the steps. If your battery is sealed type, it may have discharged a little but it should still be usable. If it has open holes on top of the acid cover, then discard and replace with new ones...careful of the acid.

1. Chances are, water got into the gas tank, since water is heavier than fuel, DRAIN a few gallons of fuel, or at least get all the water out.

2. Another place water can easily get in is the Intake Filter. Take the filter out, and vacuum out all the water that got in there, or use rags or sponge to get all the water out, replace the Air Filter with a new one.

3. Dry out all electronics component you see in the engine compartment using a air blow gun or electric fan..this may take awhile but is a necessary step.

4. Every vehicle nowadays is equipped with a computer unit (ECU) which is normally located under the drivers seat or the front passenger seat. If you can remove this
then do so, other wise you can dry it in place with a hairdryer - GET ALL the water out. This unit is the brain of the vehicle from the proper air mixture to the engines's fuel economy

5. OF course sanitize the passenger area- you already know that.

DO NOT TRY to start the vehicle until step 1-4 is accomplished. IF you get lucky enough to start the car without doing steps one to four, brace yourself for problems later on.

If submerged in Salt water and mud, the same thing applies. but you MUST wash everything with fresh water first. Get all the mud and salt out then wipe dry as soon as possible. Blow dry with compressed air if at all possible - corrosion needs time for reaction, if you deny it the time to react by removing the water immediately then corrosion will be minimal. Spraying WD-40 to all exposed electrical wires also help since WD-40 displaces water and form a temporary barrier. Removing the power (disconnecting the battery) is an essential step because the voltage potential provided by the battery actually speed up the corrosion, plus electronic components will short out if the power is not removed. The sooner the battery is disconnected, the better the chance of saving those electronic components!

How to clean yourself and your home from flood water

Got this via email:

"Use some chlorox to sterilize your walls and floors. Dilute down to 2 tbsps per gallon of water to prevent growth of mold and bacteria."

And this is how they use to disinfect themselves in the US Navy:

"For those who were exposed to the flood waters, using Chlorox bleach to disinfect yourselves after exposure is a safe alternative to expensive methods.

Here's how:

1) Store water in a big drum. For every 5 gallons of water add 1 tablespoon of chorox (so for a 20 gallon drum, 4 tablespoons of chorox. If you don't mind the smell, use a little more, up to 6 tbsps in 20 gallons.

2) Use the solution above to rinse off your entire body, let soak in for 5 minutes. (Try not to get in your eyes. If it does, rinse with clear water.)

3) If you can still smell the chlorox, rinse off with clean water.

In the military, we use this technique to sanitize ourselves during training for Bio-Nuclear attack. We use a stronger solution for our clothing though. You can even sanitize your drinking water with Chorox...... For every gallon of water use 2 to 3 drops of chlorox. Shake and let stand overnight. Keep the lid loose so the chlorine gas can escape. The bleach after-taste should have dissipated overnight and the water safe for consumption. "

End of Message...for disinfecting. For your submerged vehicles, see next post.

How to clean a flooded car

BODY CLEANING: Do exterior cleaning as quickly as possible. Sediment remaining in contact with the paint for a prolonged period will stain it.

INTERIOR: Remove the mats, carpets, seat covers, seats, and cushions and give them a thorough washing with a low pressure hose.

Use a low pressure, high volume water hose to wash the interior. Keep the rain drain opening in the bottom of the doors and quarter panels open. Flood water past the door glass to clean the inner door and quarter panels.

Wash all upholstery on both inner and outer surfaces using a high suds detergent and a soft bristled brush. Allow to dry thoroughly.

MOTOR SUBMERGED: If the motor was submerged, remove all spark plugs, drain the motor oil, transmission oil, and rear differential grease; then turn the motor over by hand to force water from the cylinders. Place each piston on top dead center and blow compressed air into the cylinder through the spark plug hole to dry and clean the cylinder. Place 1/8 of a pint of oil in each cylinder and again turn the motor
over slowly by hand.

WATER IN CRANK CASE: Usually just drain and flush the oil.

MOTOR TOP: With each piston on top dead center, blow compressed air into spark plug hole. Flush valve and pushrod assemblies. Blow out intake manifold.

CARBURETOR: Just clean.

TRANSMISSIONS, STANDARD: Drain, flush, and refill

TRANSMISSIONS, AUTOMATIC: Drain, remove pan and clean screen. If sediment is present, remove torque converter, lower cover and clean.

OVERDRIVE: Drain and flush.

CLUTCH, STANDARD DRIVE: In heavy sedimentation, the clutch lower pan should be removed and cleaned. Water can be used to wash up into the clutch assembly.

BRAKES, MASTER CYLINDER: Remove the master cylinder, empty the reservoir, clean and replace.

POWER BRAKE: Remove the vacuum cylinder breather hole filter and clean or replace. Drain the water from the power brake cylinder. Also drain and flush the master reservoir.

BRAKE DRUMS: Wipe or blow clean. Repack the front wheels. If there is a heavy accumulation of sediment, remove and clean the rear brake drums.

STEERING GEAR, HOUSING: Remove oil filter plug, force water out by forcing grease in. Removal is not necessary.

REAR AXLE: Remove the grease plug. If there's water, drain and flush the unit with kerosene.

RADIATOR: In heavy sedimentation the air passages of the radiator core may become plugged with sediment. Blow or wash out the air passages.

EXHAUST SYSTEM: Remove any sediment that has completely blocked the rear portion of the tail pipe. The operation of the motor will blow out any remaining sediment.

AIR CONDITIONING: The air-conditioning unit is a sealed unit, but can accumulate sediment in the condenser unit air passages. The condenser is located in front of the radiator and has the appearance of a radiator. The evaporator unit on the dash is a radiator-type unit. Remove the blower unit to check for clogging of the air passages. Wash air passages and clear if blocked by sediment. The blower motor may be
washed and blown dry. The magnetic clutch should be tested after the car is started. If it does not release, remove, clean and replace.

GENERATOR: Remove, flush it with water, dry with air pressure, lubricate, and replace.

SPARK PLUGS: Just dry spark plugs that have been submerged.

IGNITION COIL: Wash and dry the unit.

DISTRIBUTOR: Remove, disassemble, wash, dry, lubricate and replace. If removed, the motor must be retimed. The condenser in the distributor should be replaced.

VOLTAGE CONTROLS: Remove cover and blow dry. Clean the contact points.

WIRING: Allow wiring to dry thoroughly. It is not damaged by flood waters.

BATTERY: There will seldom be any damage to the battery.

STARTER: Remove, disassemble, wash with water, dry and replace.

SOLENOIDS: These are sealed units and require no service exterior cleaning, unless trouble develops in starting the car.

SWITCHES: Replace only after they do not operate.

TAIL, BACK-UP, DIRECTIONAL, STOP, AND DOME LIGHTS: Remove lenses, clean reflectors and replace.

RADIO: Remove, dry, clean with air, and replace.

HEATER MOTORS: Remove, wash, dry, and replace if they do not operate. Examine heater core air passages for sediment. Blow out with air or wash out.

ELECTRIC WIPERS: Motor may need washing with water and drying.

INSTRUMENTS: Remove, dry, clean, and replace.

GASOLINE TANKS: If the removal of the bottom plug reveals water, drain and flush the tank.

SPEEDOMETER: Remove, disassemble and blow clean with air. Lubricate and replace. Lubricate cable.

DEODORIZING: Deodorizing should generally not be necessary. Any deodorizing work should be delayed until such time as the upholstery is entirely dry.

LUBRICATION: All units from which the lubricant has been drained should be lubricated and the chassis should be lubricated after washing the under part of the car.

Source: After the Flood www.cantonmaine.com

How to safely restore flooded cars and other vehicles?

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) offers 10 tips on how to safely restore flooded vehicles:

1. Do not start a flooded vehicle until a thorough inspection and cleaning is performed.

2. Take immediate steps to dry the vehicle as much as possible so as to reduce the length of time vehicle components are exposed to water.

3. Contact your insurance carrier or agent and promptly report the exposure of your vehicle to water or flood.

4. Record the highest level of water exposure on a flooded vehicle. This will aid qualified technicians in evaluating and taking the necessary steps to correct any damage.

5. Contact a certified technician to arrange for an inspection and evaluation of the flooded vehicle.

6. Have a qualified technician inspect all mechanical components, including the engine, transmission, axles, brake and fuel system for water contamination.

7. Have a qualified technician flush and replace all fluids, oils and lubricants, and replace all filters and gaskets for components exposed to water. While a vehicle may drive with fluids that have experienced water intrusion, extended internal exposure to water will increase the level of damage to the engine and other vehicle components.

8. Many repair facilities recommend a thorough cleaning of brake parts and repacking of bearings, particularly for rear-end drive vehicles. In front-wheel drive vehicles, bearings are sealed.

9. Some of today's vehicles have padding and insulation that do not easily release moisture. In this situation, it is most effective to replace the materials to prevent the forming of mold or mildew that may contaminate the entire vehicle. With mildew, a repair that may have cost only $100.00 can easily escalate.

10. Have a qualified technician inspect all wiring and electrical components exposed to water. While many components are protected from casual water exposure, extended flood exposure may have lingering effects. In some instances, difficulty due to water exposure will not surface earlier than 90 days, when computer and other electrical components begin to corrode.

Source: The Auto Channel

What to do with your flooded car?

Typhoon Ondoy flooded many cars in Manila and other areas in Luzon, and many of my friends have been asking me what to do with a flooded car? Can they still be repaired?

My answer is yes, it can still be repaired.

A car that has been submerged can be fixed. But most insurance companies will consider it "totaled", which can be helpful as the amount of money you will spent on its repairs certainly would huge.

"Flooded cars can usually be restored to working order, but they often have mechanical problems for years afterward. Many insurance adjusters simply total a car if it has been flooded above its dashboard, where many of the vehicle's most sensitive electronic components are located..." Source: Kings County Journal

So what can we do?

1. Floodwaters are a mixture of water and dirt that forces its way into every seam and crevice of an automobile and can be very corrosive and abrasive. If the car has been submerged, it may be necessary to disassemble all mechanical parts for thorough cleaning and lubrication. This means that if you late too long, rust and corrosion could occur and the repairs could become more expensive. Seek a mechanic as soon as possible.

2. Do not start or run a flooded car. A car damaged by floodwater should not be started until a thorough inspection and cleaning is performed. A qualified technician should:

1. Inspect all mechanical components, including the engine, transmission, axles, brake system and fuel system for water contamination.

2. Drain floodwater from contaminated mechanical systems and flush with clean water or a solvent, as appropriate.

3. Drain and replace all contaminated fluids, such as oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power-steering fluid and anti-freeze.

4. The car's electrical system also is vulnerable to the damaging effects of flood water and water-sensitive components may need to be replaced. Engine computers and other electronic devices can sometimes be salvaged, but corrosion and oxidation can occur several weeks after the components are cleaned.

Source: Source: Coping with a Flood Damaged Car

Sad that Madonna was booed in Bucharest

Indeed, very sad.

At first, fans politely applauded the Roma performers sharing a stage with Madonna. Then the pop star condemned widespread discrimination against Roma, or Gypsies and the cheers gave way to jeers.

The sharp mood change that swept the crowd of 60,000, who had packed a park for Wednesday night's concert, underscores how prejudice against Gypsies remains deeply entrenched across Eastern Europe.

Can't we just all get along. Why discriminate?

This is what she said:

"It has been brought to my attention ... that there is a lot of discrimination against Romanies and Gypsies in general in Eastern Europe," she said. "It made me feel very sad."

Thousands booed and jeered her.

While, definitely, millions more of her fans around the world applaud her - for her courage to speak for the Romas.

8,000 New RNs

Around 8,000 nurses who recently passed the licensure exam took their oath during a ceremony at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City yesterday. But on a separate news:

Employment opportunities in the United States for Filipino nurses aspiring to work there appear to be drying up.

The recruitment industry reported yesterday that the US quota of employment-based immigrant visa for foreign workers, including Filipino nurses have all been filled up.

“Based on the US department data, the June 2009 the employment-based immigrant visa 3rd preference category (EB3) where Filipino registered nurses are usually petitioned under, have been exhausted and are now unavailable,” recruitment officials said.

What now?