What are the consequences of leaving car windows open and allowing water to enter?
2 Answers
Leaving car windows open and allowing water to enter can lead to consequences such as clogged drainage holes, water seepage inside the car, internal component failures, malfunctioning of electronic components, central control, buttons, and dampened interiors fostering bacterial growth. Clogged drainage holes: Forgetting to close the sunroof can cause rainwater to clog the drainage holes at the four corners of the sunroof frame. If the rainwater is not drained in time, it may overflow and soak the interior panels around the sunroof or the sunroof switch. Water seepage inside the car: This is manifested as water seepage or leakage near the A-pillar to the door area, or from behind the rear seats to the trunk. Internal component failures: Forgetting to close the sunroof during rain can allow water to enter the vehicle, wetting internal components and causing short circuits in the wiring. If the rainwater hasn't dried, starting the vehicle may fail. Malfunctioning of electronic components, central control, and buttons: Forgetting to close the sunroof during rain can lead to water entering the vehicle, potentially causing faults in electronic components, central control, and buttons. It's important to open the doors promptly, enhance ventilation for drying, and place desiccants to aid in drying the interior. Dampened interiors fostering bacterial growth: Forgetting to close the sunroof during rain can wet the interior, such as fabric seats absorbing water and fostering bacterial growth, which may lead to mold. It's essential to dry them promptly to avoid affecting usability.
Last summer, one night I forgot to close the rear window when parking, and a thunderstorm hit in the middle of the night, causing a lot of water to get inside the car. The next day when I opened the door, I found the carpets completely soaked, with standing water under the seats—it felt uncomfortably damp. After a few days, the car started to develop mold, with black spots appearing on the leather seats, and the musty smell was so strong it made my nose itch. Opening the windows to air it out didn’t help. What’s worse, the electronic devices in the car, like the navigation screen, became sluggish and sometimes went completely black. The mechanic said water had seeped into the circuit boards, causing short circuits that could potentially affect more critical systems like the engine control. Dealing with it was both troublesome and expensive: the seats and carpets had to be removed and left to dry for days, plus the mold had to be cleaned and disinfected, costing over a thousand in repairs. Since then, I always double-check the windows and doors when parking, and on rainy days, I even use a waterproof cover as a precaution. If water gets in, it’s crucial to soak it up immediately and use the AC’s heating function to dry it out, minimizing long-term damage.
