What Parts Need to Be Replaced in a Flood-Damaged Car Repair?
3 Answers
About the parts that need to be replaced in a flood-damaged car repair, the relevant introduction is as follows: 1. Engine: Do not attempt to start or rotate the engine. Tow it to a repair shop as soon as possible for disassembly and cleaning. The engine treatment requires removing all the spark plugs of the vehicle and performing a cylinder pressure test. 2. Transmission: After disassembly, clean the oil circuits, valve plate, friction plates, and torque converter inside. It is best to send the transmission to a professional automatic transmission repair shop for cleaning, testing, and repair. Also, replace the transmission oil, friction plates, check valves, and transmission repair kit. 3. Wiring harness: It is best to replace all the wiring harnesses in a flood-damaged car, including the wiring harnesses of electrical components such as electric motors, audio systems, air conditioning control panels, ABS modules, etc.
When dealing with flooded cars, I've encountered quite a few, and there's a lot that needs to be replaced. For instance, if the water level reaches above the hood, the entire engine control unit must be replaced with a new one; otherwise, the car's computer may malfunction and cause dangerous sparks. Seats and carpets also generally need to be replaced, as they can easily grow mold, develop odors, and harbor bacteria after being submerged, which affects health. If the wiring harness connectors accidentally get wet, they can corrode and short-circuit, requiring partial or complete replacement depending on the situation. Additionally, fluids like engine oil and transmission fluid must be entirely replaced if water gets in, or the engine will suffer severe wear. In short, the extent of replacement varies with the degree of flooding—the higher the water level, the more needs to be replaced. It's best to tow the car to a professional shop quickly to prevent rust from spreading.
My car got flooded last year and required a massive number of parts replacement during repairs. The seats and carpets definitely had to be changed because they were soaked after the water damage – even when dried, they’d easily grow mold and leave a weird smell in the car. The engine control unit also had to be replaced since that computer would malfunction once flooded, and the mechanic warned it could cause bigger issues. Other electrical components like the fuse box were swapped with new ones to prevent short-circuiting and fires. Additionally, all fluids, such as engine oil, were completely drained and refilled for safety. The whole process cost a lot, and the lesson learned is to never park in low-lying areas during heavy rain again. From experience, if the water level rises past the midpoint of the tires, it’s time to take it seriously.
