XPost: alt.home.repair   
   From: rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com   
      
   knuttle  wrote   
   > Paul in Houston TX wrote   
      
   >> Seems to me it would be easier to undo the seat belt buckle, put the   
   >> window down, and open the door.  Knowing how to swim would be helpful.   
      
   > In some cases, you can't undo the seatbelt.   
   > You can't open the door in almost all cases.   
   > And once the water presses against the window, you can't open the window.   
      
   That’s not true. The reality is that once the car has started to fill with   
   water, the electrically operated windows can no longer be opened.   
      
   > For example I've watched the videos (they abound on the net) where even   
   > the safety diver in the back seat had to cut his seatbelt when the car   
   > flipped upside down (seatbelts are apparently not designed to work when   
   > you're pressing against them upside down).   
      
   > I've watched muliple videos where they tested how soon you have to start   
   > to open the car door, where it's essentially immediately upon hitting the   
   > water. After that, it's a thousand pounds of pressure against the door,   
   > which nobody can force no matter how strong you think you may be.   
      
   > The only other time you can open the door is after the pressure equalizes,   
   > which means the air is essentially long gone, and even then, if the water   
   > is deep, you'll never make it to the surface alive.   
      
   Don’t buy that one either.   
      
   > Likewise with the windows. While the electrical system may remain (as long   
   > as you leave the key in the ignition), there is a thousand pounds of   
   > pressure against the window also.   
      
   But that doesn’t stop it sliding. The problem is that   
   with the car half full of water, the eclectic motor no   
   longer works, particularly with salt water.   
      
   > The paradoxical thought process is that you have to open the window BEFORE   
   > the water gets to that level, which is what most people do not want to do   
   > (because they feel it will let in more water - which it will).   
      
   But so does smashing the window with that tool.   
      
   > The standard recommendation is SWO   
   > S = seatbelt   
   > W = window   
   > O = get out   
      
   Easier said than down with the window and the car half full of water.   
      
   > Swimming is optional.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)