Wipers, Lights, and Visibility
Start with the parts that keep you safe in heavy rain. Replace wiper blades that streak, chatter, or skip — they typically last six months to a year in our climate, and worn blades are useless in a habagat downpour. Top up your windshield washer fluid and consider a rain-repellent treatment on the glass for better visibility.
Check that all your lights work — headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and hazards — since rain dramatically cuts visibility for you and the drivers around you. Use your headlights, not just parking lights, in heavy rain.
Clean foggy or yellowed headlight lenses; they cut your light output significantly at night in the rain, exactly when you need it most.
Tires and Brakes for Wet Roads
Bald tires and wet roads are a deadly combination. Check your tread depth — if it is near the wear indicators, replace the tires before the rains set in. Worn tires hydroplane easily on flooded EDSA and expressways. Keep tires properly inflated, since underinflated tires grip and channel water poorly.
Have your brakes inspected before rainy season. Wet roads increase stopping distance, so worn pads are more dangerous now. After driving through deep water, gently test your brakes at low speed — wet brakes can grab or fade until they dry out.
Leave extra following distance in the rain. Stopping distances on wet Metro Manila roads can nearly double compared to dry conditions.
Driving Through Floods Safely
The safest rule is simple: if you cannot tell how deep the water is, do not drive through it. Floodwater higher than the center of your wheels risks sucking water into the engine's air intake, which causes hydrolocking — a destroyed engine and one of the most expensive repairs you can face.
If you must cross shallow flooding, go slow and steady in first or second gear, keep the engine revs up, and do not stop in the middle. Maintain a single, steady pace to push a small bow wave ahead of you. Never restart an engine that stalls in deep water — that is when hydrolocking does its worst damage.
When in doubt, turn around. No appointment is worth a six-figure engine repair or being swept into a flooded canal.
What to Do After Driving Through a Flood
Once you are clear of the water, dry your brakes by gently applying them at low speed. As soon as practical, have the car checked — water can contaminate engine oil (it turns milky), brake fluid, and the differential, and it can enter the cabin and electrical connectors.
If water reached the cabin floor or higher, have the interior dried thoroughly to prevent mold and corrosion of under-carpet electronics. Check the air filter for moisture and the engine oil dipstick for a milky appearance, which signals water contamination requiring an immediate oil change.
If your car was submerged or stalled in deep water, do not try to restart it — have it towed and inspected. See our flood-damaged car guide for the full step-by-step.
Prevent Rust and Get Monsoon-Ready
Months of rain, humidity, and salty coastal air accelerate rust, especially on the undercarriage. Rustproofing or undercoating (₱3,000 to ₱18,000 depending on coverage) is a worthwhile investment for cars in flood-prone or coastal areas. Keep the drainage holes in your doors and sills clear so water does not pool inside panels.
Wash your car regularly during rainy season — rain in Metro Manila is often acidic and carries grime that damages paint if left to sit. Dry the car and do not leave it wet under a cover, which traps moisture.
Finally, keep a rainy-season kit in the car: an umbrella, a flashlight, a basic tool kit, your emergency contacts, and the number of a reliable towing service in case you get stranded.