What to Do If Your Car Gets Flooded
2 Answers
If your car gets flooded, avoid starting the engine and promptly contact your insurance company or a repair shop for inspection and repairs. Below are relevant details: 1. Vehicle Wading: Vehicle wading refers to driving through low-lying, waterlogged areas, typically occurring during rainy weather or in low-lying roads with poor drainage. 2. Engine Stall Handling: If your car stalls in water, the main cause is usually water entering the exhaust pipe, though electrical damage can also occur in some cases. Never attempt to restart the engine, as this may lead to water entering the intake manifold, damaging the valves, or in severe cases, causing engine failure.
Seeing water in the car reminds me of last month's heavy rainstorm when all the cars on the street got flooded. The most crucial thing is never to start the engine. A friend of mine didn't listen and tried to start his car, and the engine was completely ruined—the repair cost was enough to buy a used car. Immediately open all the doors and the trunk to let the water drain, take photos for evidence, and contact the insurance company to file a claim. Then, you'll need to remove the seats and dry out the carpets, or the moldy smell will be unbearable. My car took three days to dry and still wasn't okay—we had to take it to a repair shop to remove the carpets. If the water level rises above the seats, you'll likely need to replace things like airbag sensors, and that cost should be covered by insurance. Remember, don't turn on the electrical system during this time—fried circuits would be even worse.
