At Main Street Automotive, we think of you as family. And much of our family experienced devastation at the hands of Hurricane Michael. Some people lost all their property, and many cars were left in a wake of water. We’ve been asked quite a lot lately if a flooded car can ever be repaired. We’d like to tell you more about that.
If your car has been submerged under water from a storm surge or flooding and has been in this condition for several days or longer, the outlook really isn’t good. Not only will your entire interior be unsalvageable but so will the rest of the vehicle. The electronics and powertrain will be shot. Salt water is even worse and the damage from the salt makes it impossible to repair. Your best bet in that situation is to let your insurance company total you out and buy a new car.
Some vehicles that experience car flood damage can be saved. It depends on the type of water, the depth of water your car was submerged in, and how long it was in the water. For example, if you drove into a flooded street and the engine died out on you, there may still be a good chance that you can repair the damage.
While we’re almost free of hurricane season this year, Florida is a tricky place that can feature heavy rains at any time. Here’s what to do should you encounter a flooding situation.
- Don’t start your engine if it’s been flooded! You’ll just kill it.
- Don’t try to save your car! Get out of that water. Your car can be replaced if it needs to be, but you can’t.
- If the water level is low and there’s no imminent danger, you can try to push it out of the water. For example, if only your front end has gotten under some water, you can try to free it yourself or call for a tow truck to get it out quickly.
What can we do at Main Street Automotive? You can have your flooded car towed to us if it has not been fully submerged under salt water for days or weeks. We can force the water out of the engine, drain your oil, and replace the oil filter. We also can check your transmission fluid levels and make sure there is no damage to the transmission. We do not recommend trying to do any of these things yourself unless you are an experienced mechanic. In the event that only your interior has suffered from flooding by accidentally leaving your windows or sunroof open, this is easier to fix. The seats, carpets and insulation will need to be removed and dried out. However, please keep in mind that even the most experienced mechanics might not be able to save your car after a flood. That is why you have car insurance to handle unfortunate circumstances like these.
If you need an honest mechanic to check out your flooded vehicle or for any other repairs, call on Main Street Automotive in Crestview, FL to get you back on the road today.
