Driving in Water

Heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood waters demand extreme caution.

Find out how deep the water is before you drive through it. If it is deep enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe, do not try it — you probably will not get through. Also, water that deep can damage the axle and other vehicle parts.

If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it.

At faster speeds, water splashes on your vehicle’s ignition system and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you get the tailpipe under water. And, as long as the tailpipe is under water, you will never be able to start the engine. When you go through water, remember that when the brakes get wet, it may take you longer to stop.

CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream and you and your passengers could drown. If it is only shallow water, it can still wash away the ground from under your tires, and you could lose traction and roll the vehicle over. Do not drive through rushing water.

    See also:

    Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
    This light comes on briefly while starting the vehicle. If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by the dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the indicator light goes off. Noti ...

    Radio Messages
    CAL ERR (Calibration Error): The audio system has been calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL ERR displays, it means that the radio has not been configured properly for the vehicle a ...

    How OnStar® Service Works
    In order to provide you with OnStar® services, your vehicle’s OnStar® system has the capability of recording and transmitting vehicle information. This information is automatically sent to an ...