What problems may occur after repairing a water-flooded vehicle?
3 Answers
If it is a water-flooded vehicle where a large amount of water has entered the interior, achieving a complete and thorough repair without replacing parts carries relatively high risks. Common issues include moldy odors, loss of certain functions, and in severe cases, vehicle self-ignition, damage to original components such as the engine, transmission, and airbags. Below are additional details: 1. Repair as needed: During the repair process, ensure that all necessary repairs and replacements are carried out. All water-soaked parts should be either replaced or repaired based on their specific conditions, and electrical system wiring connectors should be properly dried and rust-proofed. 2. Check all vehicle fluids for water contamination: If water is present, it must be replaced. If there is excessive water ingress, a thorough cleaning of the system to remove all moisture is also required.
Hey, I've seen plenty of headaches with flood-damaged cars after repairs. The most troublesome issue is the electrical system—like the dashboard going haywire with random error lights, power windows suddenly jamming, or the stereo cutting in and out. It's downright scary when life-saving systems like ABS and ESP fail after water damage. The car might seem fine for the first couple months post-repair, but wire corrosion creeps in gradually. The engine may appear fixed, but residual moisture in the cylinder block often leads to scoring over time. Frame rust is invisible to the eye—only a magnetic thickness gauge reveals uneven metal erosion. The worst? That stubborn mildew stench from sewage-soaked carpets keeps intensifying; only complete removal and replacement solves it. Buying such a car means preparing for frequent garage visits.
We used car enthusiasts all know flood-damaged cars are a deep pit. After the oxidation of wiring connectors leads to poor contact, the ECU may inexplicably crash, and even after three or five repairs, the issue persists. The mechanical parts are even more unpredictable—if the transmission fluid isn't completely replaced after water ingress, gears will wear out metal shavings within a few thousand kilometers. If the waterlogged chassis bushings aren't replaced, you'll hear a loud clunk over speed bumps. Critical safety components like a rust-seized brake booster pump are extremely dangerous—a friend of mine nearly had an accident on the highway because he couldn't press the brake pedal. In the used car market, refurbished flood-damaged cars can be spotted by the sandpaper marks around the VIN area. While they can be repaired enough to drive, the vehicle's lifespan may only last three to five years.
