Is It Serious If a Car Is Flooded Up to the Seats?
2 Answers
It is serious if a car is flooded up to the seats. Here are methods to identify flood-damaged and accident vehicles: 1. Check the car locks: Look for signs of being pried open, damaged, or filled with glue. Then use the key to open each door to see if the locks are from the same set and if each door lock can be turned easily. Note that if turning is very difficult or the key almost breaks before the door opens, it might be due to flooding, causing the central control motor to rust and malfunction. 2. Engine compartment: Inspect whether the mounting brackets for the lighting and signal lamp groups in the engine compartment are broken or loose. Check the wire connectors and sockets; if there is a large amount of mud or rust spots inside, it may indicate a flood-damaged vehicle. 3. Engine compartment inspection: Examine the wires and vacuum pipes on the engine block, and check for mud traces in the gaps between the high-voltage ignition coils and spark plugs. Determine if the aging and cracking condition of the pipes and wires matches the car's age, and check the presence of fuel injector mounts. Rust on springs can also help assess the likelihood of the car being flood-damaged.
In my years of auto repair experience, having a car flooded up to the seat level is indeed very serious. Under the seats lie the vehicle's control modules, sensor connectors, and numerous wiring junctions. Once submerged, these can short-circuit, burn out, or even cause the entire electrical system to fail. Worse yet, soaked carpets can breed mold over time, corroding the vehicle's metal structure and compromising safety and health. Freshwater causes less damage, but saltwater is far more corrosive, leading to expensive repairs that may require replacing carpets or the ECU. I recommend not starting the engine to avoid water entering the cylinders and causing secondary damage. Instead, arrange for a tow truck to take it to a professional shop for thorough cleaning and assessment. If the submersion time is short, recovery is possible, but risks skyrocket after a few hours. Always park away from low-lying areas to prevent such incidents.
