What Happens If a Flood-Damaged Car Is Started Again?
2 Answers
If a vehicle fails to start normally after being submerged in water and is towed to a repair shop, the engine should be inspected and drained. If the engine casing is undamaged, adding engine oil and attempting to start the engine again may be possible without any abnormal noises or issues. Methods to identify a flood-damaged car: 1. Open the engine compartment: Even after cleaning, some wiring harnesses in the engine compartment may still show signs of mud or water stains if the car has been submerged. 2. Check the metal components under the interior: For example, under the seats. If the springs or support rods show signs of rust, it could indicate a flood-damaged car, though it might also be due to poor rust prevention by the manufacturer. 3. Inspect the seat belts: Pull out all seat belts and check for mold or dampness. If multiple seat belts exhibit these conditions, it is highly likely the car has been submerged. 4. Examine the seals between components: Since the interior is assembled from tightly connected parts, the presence of mud could suggest a flood-damaged car. 5. Check the chassis: The chassis is the most direct indicator of a car's condition. Look for significant rust; if the chassis has been submerged in water for a long time, the rust marks will be quite obvious.
After the last heavy rain, I witnessed the tragic sight of a flooded car being forcibly started. Water would rush directly into the engine through the intake pipe, instantly bending the piston rods, with repair costs easily reaching 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. Even if it barely starts, the emulsified transmission oil causes severe gear wear, and the car might only last a few hundred more kilometers before total failure. Cars with flooded chassis are even more troublesome—the wiring harness connectors corrode over time from muddy water, leading to potential failures in ABS and airbags at any moment. The worst part is that flooded cars develop chronic issues later on; you might suddenly stall on the highway only to discover it’s due to corroded and short-circuited control modules. I sincerely advise everyone: if your car stalls in water, don’t try to restart it. Calling a tow truck might cost 500 yuan at most, but it could save you 50,000 yuan in engine repairs.
