What Problems Can Occur When Restarting a Flooded Vehicle?

[SkylarAnn]

Restarting a flooded vehicle can lead to water entering the engine's combustion chamber, causing the engine connecting rod to bend and resulting in engine damage. In such cases, no compensation will be provided by the insurance company. When a mixture of water and air enters the engine through the intake, the connecting rod may deform under the influence of water because gases are compressible but liquids are not. Attempting to start the car at this point will generate a tremendous counterforce, causing the bent connecting rod to rub against the cylinder block and resulting in irreversible damage. Restarting an engine after water ingress is a serious violation of insurance claim principles, so insurance companies will not cover the damages, even if you have purchased flood insurance. Therefore, if your car stalls in water, do not attempt to restart it. If you are unsure whether the stall was caused by water ingress, you should immediately try to push the car out of the water, then call for assistance or contact a nearby repair shop to have the car towed away for inspection and repairs.