What Are the Consequences of Restarting a Flood-Damaged Car?

[Neil]

The consequences of restarting a flood-damaged car include water accumulation in the engine combustion chamber, which can cause permanent damage. Some cases may be relatively mild, with no immediate noticeable issues, but over time, it can lead to cylinder scoring. In severe cases of water accumulation, the engine may be completely destroyed. Here are some guidelines for dealing with a car after water exposure: 1. Do not restart the engine: If the car stalls in deep water, do not attempt to restart the engine. Instead, call for assistance and wait for rescue. Never restart the engine. If you have already restarted it, take the car to a repair shop as soon as possible for inspection and early treatment to prevent further damage. 2. Insurance implications: If the car stalls during water exposure and the owner restarts the engine, causing damage, the insurance company will not provide any compensation. The owner mentioned above clearly violated this insurance claim principle by attempting to restart the engine after water ingress, which is why the insurance company denied the claim. If the engine only has water vapor mixed in from the air filter, the issue is minor. Simply clean the water vapor from the air filter, throttle valve, and cylinders.