What Should I Do If My Car Gets Water Damage?
Photo: Chris Waits via CC  If youre reading this article, hopefully its not because your car has been damaged by excessive rain or flooding. And hopefully its not because you decided to drive through high water. Because water damage is one of the most frustrating and detrimental things that can happen to a car. Whether youre reading this article for research or need to know what to do with your water-damaged vehicle, hopefully this will guide you through your panic and get your car running again. Tips for effectively cleaning your vehicles interior  Steps to take to dry a water-damaged car  If you notice that your car has recently received water damage (you can use this handy guide to determine if this is the case), be very careful what your first actions are. Do not try to start the car! Running the engine will only cause further damage at this point. Have patience and let the car dry out first. If you can safely reach the car, and the water has subsided, Popular Mechanics advises to start drying the vehicle to prevent the spread of mildew inside. Open all the doors, the trunk, and the hood, using a wet vac to remove any standing water. Grab some household tools like a cordless wrench and remove all the mats and seats. Dry the interior by laying towels down and wiping in all the crevices. Position fans on one side of your car and let them blow through the cabin for at least one day. If the upholstery still feels damp, sprinkle baking soda on it to absorb remaining moisture, which you can then vacuum up. If you cant reach your car because partially submerged in water, leave it until the water subsides or youre able to safely haul it to safer ground. Dont try to enter the car or start the engine to move it. If the water has risen to the dashboard, theres no point in worrying about the vehicle now; your insurance company will probably consider it totaled because of the flooded electronic components. Prevent Car Problems: Read this advice for properly maintaining a car battery  What to do next  Progressive Insurance recommends you call your insurance company to determine what your next step should be. Theres a chance that your auto policy covers water or flood damage, so consult your agent. You might want to consider having the vehicle deemed totaled and scrap it, or else paying to repair the vehicle might cost you even more. If the water damage isnt as bad  you just left your windows open during a rainstorm  check the fluid levels, including the oil and transmission, and see if the fluids are abnormally high or transparent. If everything looks good  the electrical systems work and theres no body damage  you can try starting the car once its dry. Otherwise, youll probably need to get your car towed to a local garage for work to be done on it: flushing the fluids, professionally cleaning it, replacing the spark plugs and filters, etc. If youre not sure what to do, still have the car towed to get a mechanics advice.