What to Do When Water Gets Inside the Car?
4 Answers
Solutions for water entering the car during rain include the following points: 1. Severe water ingress: This may involve issues with the electrical circuits getting wet. Avoid turning on any electronic devices as much as possible. Use a mechanical key to open the door and call a tow truck to take the car to a 4S shop for drying treatment. 2. Mild water ingress: In this case, items like floor mats and seat covers inside the car should be removed, cleaned, and dried to prevent odors later on. Additional Information: If there is still moisture inside the car, turn on the air conditioning and adjust the vehicle's circulation switch to internal circulation. This allows the moisture inside the cabin to be expelled through the air conditioning system. In summer, this is a very quick dehumidification method. Additionally, you can purchase a simple dehumidifier box to place inside the car or use a roll of toilet paper, which can also help absorb moisture.
Last month I forgot to close the windows when parking my car on the roadside, and after a heavy rain, the interior turned into a literal fish pond. I was so startled that I immediately opened all four doors to air it out in the sun, removed the seat cushions and dried them with a bathroom heater for two hours, and frantically sucked up water with a vacuum cleaner. The key is to check if the small drainage holes under the car are clogged, using a wire to clear the drainage outlets—otherwise, accumulated water can rot the chassis, which is even more troublesome. Now I always keep moisture-absorbing boxes in the car, and before the rainy season, I also check the aging condition of the sunroof seals. If not handled promptly, the musty smell can linger in the car for three years, and water damage to the dashboard circuit board can cost a fortune to repair.
Pro Tips for Drivers: Don't panic if water gets into your car after wading. Shift into reverse and slowly back out of the water to prevent exhaust backflow. The first thing after getting home isn't starting the engine—disconnect the battery cables to avoid short circuits. Use bath towels to soak up water from the carpet layer, especially under the accelerator and brake pedals. For aging windshield seals, use silicone sealant to fill gaps, and door seals can be replaced for just tens of yuan on Taobao. If the water level has risen above the dashboard, it's best to call a tow truck and have the seats and chassis dried at a repair shop.
Moms dread nothing more than their kids sitting in a waterlogged car. My solution is to immediately lay old cotton quilts on the floor to absorb moisture, then turn the AC to max cold setting with full blast directed at the floor. Soaked child seat buckles require disassembly for cleaning, while malfunctioning power windows can be fixed by spraying WD40 into the tracks. For mildew spots, use white vinegar to wipe them down—if the headliner fabric detaches, it indicates prolonged soaking. Remember to air out a flood-repaired car daily for three months post-repair, ideally placing several bamboo charcoal bags to absorb odors.
