Car Flooded/Mechanical Question

**Al_4_State** · 08-09-2010, 09:14 AM

I parked in the street in front of my house last night, and when I headed into work this AM, I found my car had standing water in it, and some mud, etc. It appears that somehow, a wall of water must have come down the street, and got in.

It had no problem starting up, and ran just fine coming into work this morning (about 10-15 minutes of driving). Does that mean the engine, etc should be fine, and no electrical/engine damage has been sustained, and I just have to get the mess cleaned up or is there some bomb waiting to drop on me yet? If figured if the engine or electrical system was damaged, we'd see it by now.

I have one month till the car is paid off (it only has 80,000 miles on it) and it would be just my luck for it to get totalled by an act of God.

**cychhosis** · 08-09-2010, 09:19 AM

I'm not a gearhead, but I would check/change lubricants in the crankcase, transmission and differential. Water in any of those areas would be bad.

**Boxerdaddy** · 08-09-2010, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by cychhosis

I'm not a gearhead, but I would check/change lubricants in the crankcase, transmission and differential. Water in any of those areas would be bad.

This. Anything that was submerged has the "possibility" of having water in it. You hope most of that is sealed but internal rusting is a serious possibility. I'm not an expert but I know they have issues with flooded cars like this all the time. Looks fine...only to have some major mechanical issues down the road thanks to rust and having the lubricants washed away.

**Al_4_State** · 08-09-2010, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by cychhosis

I'm not a gearhead, but I would check/change lubricants in the crankcase, transmission and differential. Water in any of those areas would be bad.

Might have to do that.

Anyone know a good place to just get your fluids changed that isn't going to try and tell you your whole vehicle is ****ed?

**isufbcurt** · 08-09-2010, 09:43 AM

How high was the water? The reason I ask is becuase it would probably have to be mid door level to get into the engine. The water would have to run up the tailpipe and exhaust manifold and into the engine that way.

To be safe I would take it and have a quick oil change, if there's no water in the oil then the engine should be fine.

**isufbcurt** · 08-09-2010, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

Might have to do that.

Anyone know a good place to just get your fluids changed that isn't going to try and tell you your whole vehicle is ****ed?

Just take it in for the oil change and don't tell them it was in a flood.

**1100011CS** · 08-09-2010, 09:50 AM

Get it cleaned up and sell it, now.

**colbycheese** · 08-09-2010, 10:06 AM

Change the transmission fluid and oil. If either look milky then water did get into it. The only way you would actually have mechanical damage is if it was running while flooded and water got taken into the intake, but this didn't happen so you're in the clear. Make sure you get the interior dried ASAP because if it gets a mildew smell in there, your car interior will stink forever. If its a rear-wheel drive vehicle, consider flushing the rear differential and changing its fluid if its been a while since it's been changed. If you tell a mechanic it was "flooded" they might report it, which may some day end up on a Carfax report. Consider that when you tell them what happened. I think an independent mechanic would be less inclined to report the vehicle was flooded than a Ford/Chevy/other dealer mechanic would be.

**bsblllvr14** · 08-09-2010, 10:09 AM

Same thing happened to my car two years ago in the flood season and my car was all but totaled. I took it to a mechanic to look at the engine and they said they wouldn't even look at it until I got the interior cleaned/dried out. They were very concerned about mold. It wasn't a good car anyway so I ended up just taking the $300 from the junk yard (didn't have full coverage insurance on it).

**Cyclonesrule91** · 08-09-2010, 10:30 AM

Check oil after it's been running. If milky then it has water in it. Don't run it much until things have been changed or you will lock that engine up tight. The bad part about your car flooding is if the water got into the electrical, it might run fine now but will be corroding to where you might have problems with it down the road that might be chronic PITA time.

**Al_4_State** · 08-09-2010, 10:31 AM

The car is nowhere near totalled. The interior is wet (drying as we speak) and it ran fine, including all electronics.

I'm getting my fluids flushed this afternoon, and it should be fine.

I'd like to know how much water actually got in there, and how much was coming down the street.

**iowa_wildcat** · 08-09-2010, 02:10 PM

My first move would have been to call my insurance company and file a claim. If you have comprehensive coverage it still would not be a bad idea. The worst that could happen would be that they total your car. The best that could happen would be that they pay you for what you have spent. Yes, the age of your car does make a difference. If it is over five or six years old, I might just eat the loss. Either way you ,by law, have to come clean when you sell or trade it down the road.

**fnclone** · 08-09-2010, 02:24 PM

I am a mechanic, I would recommend changing engine, transmission, and differential gear oil. It will be a lot cheaper than a new tranny or rear end.

**Cyclonesrule91** · 08-09-2010, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by fnclone

I am a mechanic, I would recommend changing engine, transmission, and differential gear oil. It will be a lot cheaper than a new tranny or rear end.

or new engine.......

**dmclone** · 08-09-2010, 02:32 PM

Here is what you need to do.
#1 Put full coverage insurance on the car
#2 Drive over to the east side
#3 Park it with the windows down
#4 Come back the next day and discover that it's been stolen
#5 Call the police

Just kidding