Flood damage

[leeman]

Hi,

Does anyone have an experiences with flood damaged cars? My dads car was in metre high flood waters as the carpark where the car was sitting flooded. Basically the cabin flooded and when we went to start it up it was spitting out a heap of water from the exhaust, and blowing white smoke out as well.

I know every case is different but what are the main damages to look for flood affected vehicles?

[Fredoops]

Electrical and potential rust

[ECU-MAN]

The ECU will probably fail in about 6 to 8 weeks.

You can prevent this by cleaning the water from its connectors and or inside the ECU with electrical contact cleaner for the connectors and isopropyl alcohol for inside the ECU. also the same for other electronic modules.

Starting an engine with water in it is not a good idea. hopefully the water was only up the tail pipe and not in the engine. Did the engine sound like it was struggling to start or did it fire straight up happily ?

[RenzokukenJ]

could just save yourself the trouble and finish the job and drive it into a river


then get dat sweet sweet payout from insurance

[bennjamin]

if it's insured it's a write off. Let the company know and let them take it away and forget about it.

[leeman]

Yeah car wasn't too happy starting. But still running fine..

We're going through insurance. They are assessing the car. So far they've only listed carpet and ecu. I'm worried about the motor plus rust. Should I take the car to have a second assessment?

[Fredoops]

If it's fresh not salt water you should be able to get away with it

[amant02]

I would've shorted the ecu on purpose before sending it to insurance lol.