If my car is flooded, what should I look for to see if it’s damaged?

Last week, much of the south-central area of ​​the country experienced devastation due to the bad weather system. The images were eloquent and showed how public infrastructure, roads and homes were destroyed by flooding rivers and torrential rains. Beyond the search for the causes of these floods above the fallen waters – lack of reservoirs, absence of green spaces, accumulation of waste, lack of prevention and increasingly dilapidated infrastructures in some cases -, many are those Who lost valuables, all of which were under water and among these, your vehicles, those which could have some mechanical breakdowns or even be declared a total loss, depending on the type of insurance you have.

In this article we would like to explain to you what damage can be caused by torrential rain or if your vehicle is flooded and what to do in each case.

Above all, as in other extreme conditions such as facing a fire, stay calm and put your safety first. And it is that, if you are driving and the water starts to flood the road, never try to cross a deep flood, Since currents can be deceptive, you don’t know how deep the current may be and your vehicle may be swept away. Instead, look for alternate routes or wait for conditions to improve.

“Our recommendation as automotive technicians and engineers is avoid driving on heavily flooded roads for a long time, if you enter a flooded road and your vehicle stops, it is better not to insist on starting because this can further damage the car Do not make any electrical connections in the engine compartment, as your integrity can be damaged by exposing yourself to current systems, and always include a transfer crane in your contact list for such cases”, explains Francisco Inglés, of the School of Engineering and Natural Resources of the headquarters of the DUOC US Maipú.

The teacher also explains that “you must always consider that a sedan or the city car could be more affected than a van pick-up or off-road 4×4. The height is a point to take into account, in addition to the problem of water entering the user’s cabin, in these cases the problem is more related to the damage that the motor and the electric control may suffer, emphasizing that a large part of the cars that pass through our streets, they use internal combustion, electric and hybrid engines.

For English, several considerations should be taken into account in the event that a the vehicle is flooded and it depends on the type of engine it has . For example, he warns that “In referring to vehicles that have combustion engines, it must be considered that these work constantly at high temperatures, with fixed and moving metal parts, where exposure to the outside water can generate a sudden change in temperature distorting hot metals, also pointing out that if water enters the vacuum system through the air filter media, the damage will be even more severe, initially by obstructing the airflow, cutting the combustion cycle, but the most complicated is when the water in a liquid state, enters the interior of the cylinders of the engine, where it will be exposed to the compression of the pistons at a greater force, since the connecting rods do not will not be able to withstand the force of hydraulic compression, deforming and generating constant blows in its operation”.

The case of electric cars is different, because for the DUOC UC Maipú teacher, this type of vehicle water will undoubtedly damage them, because it is a current-conducting compound. “For example, the alternator responsible for charging the battery and circulating current through the engine and vehicle electrical system, will be affected by short circuits that will blow fuses or damage any electrical or electronic part that nowadays the operating systems of vehicles will try to protect themselves by leaving in protection mode, so as not to suffer more damage in this regard.Often, when exposed to driving several kilometers up to a level of high water on the road, The engine may be damaged, generating a high repair cost the damage can be so extensive that we have even seen cases where the complete replacement of the engine assembly is necessary due to the lack of spare parts on the market”.

So what if we are faced with a possible flooding of our vehicles?

If you are caught in a flood and water begins to enter the interior of your car, you should immediately shut off the engine. Keeping it on can cause serious damage to your vehicle’s electrical and mechanical system.

If the car is parked and it is flooded, does not start the engine Not even the ignition key. This will affect the electronic system and could cause a short circuit, further damaging internal engine components and making the situation worse.

If you are still inside the car and the water starts to rise, it is obvious that you won’t be able to save your car and it’s time to abandon it. You need to be careful and make sure there is no danger around. If possible, take important documents and valuables with you.

Once the emergency is over, contact a towing service to remove the vehicle some water. Avoid trying to move it yourself, as this could cause further damage.

· If it is not possible to have the crane immediately, we recommend that you start removing the water carefully from inside the car as soon as possible. This will prevent the appearance of rust and damage to electronic components.

Now, if the flooding is light, but you are exposed to mud, the damage can also be severe, as it can reach the radiator and cause a blockage . If this is the case, the air would not be able to pass through its cells, causing the engine to overheat and, moreover, the mud can also reach the interior of the vehicle and the body drains which are used to evacuate the water.

· Disconnect the battery to avoid any risk of damage.

· Remove the spark plugs so that the water comes out of the cylinders.

Check that the the fuel did not mix with the water and, therefore, it was contaminated. As a recommendation, remove two liters from the tank to check it. If there is a mixture, you will need to extract all the fuel and then replace it.

· It should also be noted that the oil was not affected. If he the oil level is above of the maximum and it has a light brown color, it means that you will have to change it for a new one.

· Empty the exhaust pipe if it is full of water. This can be done by raising the car up front, if possible, or by removing the exhaust.

Vehicle refrigeration and air conditioning system ducts They could also have suffered from water leaks.

· Eventually, wash and disinfect the interior of the car , you never know what type of water the vehicle was flooded with. Remember that contaminated water can rot the upholstery, so washing and drying should be done as soon as possible.

Once the extent of flood damage to your vehicle has been determined, and if you have insurance, we recommend make the report so that your insurance company compare the costs of repairing the vehicle or, depending on the policy, with the costs of replacement.