How to Repair a Flooded Car?
3 Answers
Here are the steps to repair a flooded car: 1. Remove seats, doors, and interior. Take out all vehicle seats, transmission decorative covers, carpets, etc., and clean up the water inside. 2. Repair or replace wiring. Replace the wiring harnesses of electronic components such as audio systems, air conditioning control panels, ABS modules, etc. 3. Clean the engine and transmission. First, drain the water from the engine cylinders and intake manifold. For the transmission, disassemble and clean components like the valve body and torque converter. After cleaning, assess the damage and replace the engine or transmission if severely affected. 4. Replace the onboard computer. The onboard computer includes the engine control unit, transmission control unit, airbag control unit, ABS control unit, etc. 5. Handle other aspects. This includes cleaning mud from the chassis and addressing headlight components.
That time my car got flooded, what a stroke of bad luck. The first thing is not to start the engine, otherwise water being sucked in can severely damage it. Quickly call a tow truck to take it to a professional repair shop - checking the water level is crucial: if it didn't reach beyond the chassis it's manageable, but if it involved the exhaust pipe or interior electronics then it's serious trouble. The repair process includes removing seats and carpets for thorough drying, using fans and dehumidifiers for several days to prevent mold, with special attention to electronic systems - especially checking the ECU module and wiring harnesses, replacing any water-damaged components. The fuel system also needs cleaning to prevent corrosion. The whole process takes 3-5 days, with costs ranging from several thousand to over ten thousand yuan. Remember to notify your insurance company to file a claim - they can cover a significant portion of the costs. In the future, always park on higher ground to avoid flooding risks.
Last year during the heavy rainstorm, my car got flooded and I was shocked. My first reaction was not to start the car, but to call the insurance company for a free tow truck. After towing it to the shop, the mechanic first assessed the damage and dried out the interior: removed the carpets and seats to dry for two days, and checked the battery and computer modules. Luckily, there were no major issues, just some drying and replacement of small parts costing over 3,000 yuan. The insurance covered most of it. If the water had risen above the wheel hubs, it would have been worse, requiring major engine repairs. The key is not to delay treatment, otherwise electronic failures will occur frequently. Now I always choose sloped areas for parking. My advice to other car owners is to act quickly in case of flooding and avoid moving the car unnecessarily.
