Drove Through High Water? What to Check on Your Car Afterward
When a heavy rain hits Metairie, some streets fill up fast. Most of us have driven through water we shouldn't have. Here's what water can do to a car, what to check afterward, and how to tell if a used car you're looking at has been in a flood.
By the Allen's Automotive Service team in Metairie ·
Best advice: don't drive into it
If you can't see the curb or the lane lines, you don't know how deep it is. It only takes enough water to reach the air intake to pull water into the engine, and moving water can push a car off the road. The National Weather Service says it plainly: Turn Around, Don't Drown. Wait it out or find another way around.
If the car stalls in water
Don't try to restart it. If water got into the engine, cranking it over can bend parts inside the engine. That's the difference between drying things out and a major engine repair. Get yourself out safely, then have the car towed once the water goes down. Call your insurance company too.
What to check after you drove through water
- Brakes. Wet brakes don't grab as well. Press the pedal lightly a few times at low speed to dry them off. If they still feel weak, pull or make noise later, have them checked. See brake repair.
- Engine oil. Pull the dipstick. If the oil looks milky or light brown, or the level is higher than it was, water may have gotten in. Don't drive it. Call us.
- Warning lights. Water and electrical connectors don't mix. A new check engine, ABS or airbag light after driving through water is worth a look. See electrical repair.
- Carpet and smell. Check under the floor mats. Wet carpet that doesn't get dried out leads to mold and that musty smell, and it can damage wiring that runs under the floor.
- How it drives. New hesitation, rough running, slipping or odd shifting? Trucks and SUVs have axle and transmission vents that can pull in water. See transmission service.
- Noises. A squeal on startup can be a wet belt that dries off. A grinding or rumbling noise that keeps going needs to be checked.
Buying a used car? How to spot a flood car
After big storms, flood-damaged cars sometimes get cleaned up and sold, sometimes far from where they flooded. Some signs:
- A musty or mildew smell, or a heavy air freshener smell covering something up
- Silt, sand or a water line under the seats, in the spare wheel well or behind panels
- Rust on seat rails, seat bolts, pedal brackets or screws under the dash, where a car normally doesn't rust
- Fog or water droplets inside the headlights or taillights
- New carpet in an older car, or carpet that doesn't fit right
- Electrical problems: windows, locks, radio or dash lights acting up
Run the VIN through the National Insurance Crime Bureau's free VINCheck at nicb.org/vincheck, and look at a vehicle history report. And before you hand over money, have a shop you trust look the car over.
Need us to look at it?
Call (504) 780-9804 and tell us what happened. If the car runs and drives normally, you can bring it to 4725 Utica St, off Clearview. If it stalled in water or the oil looks milky, have it towed. Estimates are free.
Questions we get
Can I start my car after it was in flood water?
If water got into the engine, cranking it can cause serious damage. If the water was up near the bottom of the doors or higher, don't start it. Have it towed and checked.
How do I know if water got into my engine oil?
Pull the dipstick. Milky, light brown or foamy oil, or an oil level that went up, can mean water got in. Don't drive it.
Does car insurance cover flood damage?
That depends on your policy. Comprehensive coverage often covers flood damage, but check with your insurance company before any repairs start.
Related
This is general information, not a diagnosis of your car. Every car is different, so call us with your year, make and model, or bring it by.
Ready to get it looked at?
Call (504) 780-9804 or book online.