Flood damage?

[tk149]

There was a big storm last night. I came out of my apartment this morning, and noticed a debris line on the car (Camry). There were only a few small puddles left on the pavement.

There was about 2-3 inches of water inside.

The engine started up fine, and got me to work this morning. I didn't use any electronics in the car that I did not need to, except for the power windows.

What should I be worried about?

EDIT: The top of the debris line is about 20 inches from the ground.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

First I would make sure that you dry the car out ASAP before you start getting any mold or mildew. Once you get that smell in the car it will be hard to get rid of. I would park the car in the sun with all the windows open.

The other issue is how to did the water get in? Was there enough flooding in your area that the water came in from underneath or at the bottom of the door? If not then you need to find out where the water is getting in.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Um, I would call my insurance company. Or renters insurance, or whatever. It might be driveable but it WILL smell and wires/etc take a few weeks (or longer) to corrode and start causing problems.

 

[Pacfanweb]

First off, never park in that spot again. Find somewhere higher.


Next, about the carpet: You need to pull it back and put fans on it overnight....or it will literally take MONTHS to totally dry. Once water gets under the carpet, it is VERY slow to dry, because it can't evaporate back UP through the carpet very well....plus, the padding helps hold it in.
Also, remove your floor mats and leave them out for a long time....the rubber backing prevents evaporation.

So, pull your carpet up, might need to remove your scuff plate trim (rocker) to do so, and get some fans on it. As mentioned before, if it mildews, they smell is (almost) forever.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Another thing you can do is let the car idle with the air conditioning and heat on. This basically turns the cars air conditioner into a dehumidifier. I would only do this if the outside humidity is high. If its low, than it would be cheaper to just leave the windows open and use fans.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Wet dry vac, suck all the water you can out of the carpet then let it air dry. I'm not sure about wiring though. The engine should be fine as long as the water didn't get high enough to get into the air intake and it doesn't sound like it did.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

You guys are a lot bolder than I am. I would not touch a thing before contacting insurance.


There's a lot of wiring below the ~20" mark on a car. I have no doubt your o2/exhaust sensor wiring is going to end up corroding from the inside out. In the front there are temp sensors in your rad, ABS sensors, etc etc that were all submerged. All of your doors were (are) full of water, where it's pooled up. Under your seats, in your firewall, your trunk.. This is much different from leaving your windows down in the rain or something

Even if the connector is sealed from water, this isn't a 'splashing in the rain' sorta thing.. Water will work its way in and most likely cause issues.

 

[LTC8K6]

Unless the drains are clogged, there's no more standing water in the car.

He just needs to get the damp areas to dry out and he'll be fine, imo.

The O2 sensors were completely dry about 30 seconds after he started the car, I'd guess.

If he were going to have electrical problems from the water with ABS sensors, etc., he'd have seen them already.

His worry now is corrosion, and drying everything out well is the cure for that.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Unless the drains are clogged, there's no more standing water in the car.

He just needs to get the damp areas to dry out and he'll be fine, imo.

The O2 sensors were completely dry about 30 seconds after he started the car, I'd guess.

If he were going to have electrical problems from the water with ABS sensors, etc., he'd have seen them already.

His worry now is corrosion, and drying everything out well is the cure for that.

Well, I'll respectfully disagree. 20" of water is above all of his wheel bearings, front/rear main bearings, etc. Some transmissions have vent tubes that are around 20" off the ground.


If it's insured it will be totaled.

 

[tk149]

I've called my insurance company and am waiting for a callback. My deductible is $500.

Do you think it's ok to drive? Do I have to worry about the brakes?

 

[tk149]

Unless the drains are clogged, there's no more standing water in the car.

.

There is standing water in the car. I have no idea where the drains are.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Unless the drains are clogged, there's no more standing water in the car.

He just needs to get the damp areas to dry out and he'll be fine, imo.

The O2 sensors were completely dry about 30 seconds after he started the car, I'd guess.

If he were going to have electrical problems from the water with ABS sensors, etc., he'd have seen them already.

His worry now is corrosion, and drying everything out well is the cure for that.

What drains? There are no drains in the floor of a car.....not that you don't have to pull up the carpet to manually remove, anyway.
Pour some water in your floor, let it soak through the carpet, and check it a month later....it'll still be there. Guaranteed.

Electrical problems......you won't necessarily see them now. Wait until come of the connectors or soldering corrodes. Might take awhile.

Corrosion of the body, now THAT I wouldn't worry about. Most cars are galvanized, and unless that's been scratched through somehow, it's not going to rust.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I've called my insurance company and am waiting for a callback. My deductible is $500.

Do you think it's ok to drive? Do I have to worry about the brakes?

It's probably fine to drive, but I personally would not take any 'close calls' while pulling out, as accelerating hard/turning could slosh pooled water around.. I dunno, it's unlikely - but I'd be cautious with it.


The brakes won't stop working or anything though.

 

[LTC8K6]

What drains? There are no drains in the floor of a car.....not that you don't have to pull up the carpet to manually remove, anyway.
Pour some water in your floor, let it soak through the carpet, and check it a month later....it'll still be there. Guaranteed.

Electrical problems......you won't necessarily see them now. Wait until come of the connectors or soldering corrodes. Might take awhile.

Corrosion of the body, now THAT I wouldn't worry about. Most cars are galvanized, and unless that's been scratched through somehow, it's not going to rust.

You haven't said anything that doesn't match what I said, except that I meant the door drains...

 

[LTC8K6]

There is standing water in the car. I have no idea where the drains are.

I assumed you would have vaccuumed that out immediately, but you said is, which would indicate that it's still there and you drove it around like that, which I never would have expected...

 

[tk149]

Did I mention that I'm at work and my butt is wet?

 

[tk149]

I assumed you would have vaccuumed that out immediately, but you said is, which would indicate that it's still there and you drove it around like that, which I never would have expected...

I had an important meeting this morning, or I would have bailed out the car first.

Should I take it to a mechanic or a detailer?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I had an important meeting this morning, or I would have bailed out the car first.

Should I take it to a mechanic or a detailer?

Get some towels and soak up the standing water.
Wait for insurance to call you back.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

I really wouldn't worry that much about the electrical stuff. If you run the car for a few hours on the highway in a warm climate all that stuff will dry out. You just need to get the interior dry asap. Realistically though, if water was high enough to soak through the seat, the car is probably going to be totaled on interior damage alone.

 

[Pacfanweb]

You haven't said anything that doesn't match what I said, except that I meant the door drains...

Might be what you meant, but it's not what you WROTE:

Unless the drains are clogged, there's no more standing water in the car.

First, inside the door is not IN the car. Second, I, and OP, specifically referred to the "2-3 inches of water INSIDE" , which clearly isn't 'inside the door'.

It's irrelevant whether the door drains are clogged or not.....has nothing to do with whether there's water standing inside the car now.

OP, one more thought comes to mind: Was the car parked in a marked, legal spot? If so, I'd be having a conversation with someone....the property owner, the city....SOMEONE, especially if there's no sign saying "park here at risk of flooding".

And yes, contact your insurance company and see what they have to say.

 

[tk149]

OP, one more thought comes to mind: Was the car parked in a marked, legal spot? If so, I'd be having a conversation with someone....the property owner, the city....SOMEONE, especially if there's no sign saying "park here at risk of flooding".
.

The car was parked in my apartment building's parking lot.

When I first walked out my door this morning, I saw some car floor mats on the pavement. I was wondering why they were there...until I saw my car.

 

[LTC8K6]

It's clearly what I meant, look at the post I was replying to:

All of your doors were (are) full of water, where it's pooled up.

 

[LTC8K6]

There was about 2-3 inches of water inside.

Right there in the OP. Was. I took it to mean he'd got rid of that already.

I never thought water was still standing in the car.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Right there in the OP. Was. I took it to mean he'd got rid of that already.

I never thought water was still standing in the car.

I thought it was pretty clear what you posted, and meant... Which was standing water inside the car (like we were discussing...)



....Either way, these people claiming the OP won't have electrical (and other) problems after his car was flooded with ~20" of water have very obviously never dealt with a flooded car. It is massively different than driving through a heavy rain or even coasting through a really deep puddle.


Standing water that makes a mark 20" up on your door WILL cause problems. It might take a few weeks to a month, but you can count on water getting inside the wires itself - I've cut them open on flood damaged cars and it's all corroded and nasty... Inside the wire sheaths. This is beside the mold issues, bearing issues (wheel bearings are sealed very well from dust/dirt/rain but again... standing water like that ends up getting water in all sorts of bizarre places.


Your apartment complex should have insurance that will cover this. If you have full coverage just make a claim with your insurance company and let them sort it out. Keep us posted!

 

[Pacfanweb]

Right there in the OP. Was. I took it to mean he'd got rid of that already.

I never thought water was still standing in the car.

I came out of my apartment this morning, and noticed a debris line on the car (Camry). There were only a few small puddles left on the pavement.

There was about 2-3 inches of water inside.

That's a stretch, but okay.