Saturday’s flooding rains in New Orleans caused scattered property damage across the city, with flooded vehicles likely being one of the biggest pain points.
If a car takes on water, here’s what State Farm Insurance suggests doing (besides calling your insurance agent ASAP).
– Don’t try to start your car — this will cause more damage if there is water in the engine.
– Start drying out your vehicle as quickly as possible, and contact a towing service to get it back to higher ground. Oil, transmission fluid and lube may need draining before a tow.
– Look under the hood. This is where you’ll find clues as to how extensive the flood damage may be.
– Check the oil dipstick. Look for water droplets, which likely indicate that there is water in your engine. If that’s the case, the cylinders, which are supposed to compress air instead of water, will be broken. Remove water-damaged cylinders and check for corroded spots.
– Change the oil and transmission fluid. You’ll want to do this again after the car is drivable and you’ve gone several hundred miles.
If floodwaters were more than a few feet deep, water probably made it to the inside of your car. Here’s what to do next:
– Remove all moisture. Use a wet/dry vacuum to collect standing water, and cloth towels to absorb water that has soaked into the seats and carpet. Remove seats and seat cushions if possible, and use fans and dehumidifiers to accelerate the drying process.
– Check electrical components. Extensive flood damage could require a trip to the mechanic to get it replaced.
– Check the fuel tank and line. Use a store-bought siphon pump to remove some fuel. If you note any water (which would naturally separate from the fuel), you’ll want to empty the tank completely.
Once you know the extent of your car’s flood damage, you’ll need to weigh repair costs against the cost of replacing your car.
Originally posted by The New Orleans Advocate, full article and photo gallery here.
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