Skip to content

28/01/2021 News

TRAPPED IN FLOOD, WILL YOUR AUTOMATIC CAR COST YOU MORE?

Flood is one of the most worrying incidents for any car owner. One bad decision of driving through flood may cause serious problems to the car – its engine, transmission, oil system, even the Electronic Control Unit.

The risk is even higher for automatic transmission cars and the repair, according to a number of sources, can be complex and costly. The reason is because water may affect the car’s Transmission Control Module (TCM), causing the car to break down.

In an automatic transmission car, the TCM is responsible for calculating the right RPM and moment for the car to shift gears. Once water-soaked, a TCM may be very difficult to revive. As an electrical component, the TCM may need to be removed and disassembled before a mechanic can identify the damage.

READ ALSO: VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TIPS

Moreover, while the actual cost of repair of an automatic transmission car depends on the make and model, the average TCM repair cost ranges between 5 to 15 million rupiah, excluding damage assessment and replacement of other components.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where your automatic car breaks down in the middle of flood, do not re-start the engine as this may cause a short circuit and other problems to the engine.

After the flood, immediately remove oil from the tank to minimize damage. Avoid handling any other check or repair yourself; an automatic car relies on its electrical system, and one misstep could cause widespread, even further, damage.

Manual cars, in the meantime, may need only oil transmission replacement - apart from engine check - after being trapped in flood. A manual car does not use a hydraulic system, as every component is controlled by the driver. And the oil cost is definitely more efficient than in oil for an automatic car.

RELATED ARTICLES