Floods and cars: all you need to know

Updated

Flooding is very bad for cars. Water wreaks havoc with vehicle electrical components and corrosion can cause recurring problems long after the car has dried out. Sudden immersion can cause the internals of catalytic converters to crack, brakes and wheel bearings can be ruined, and starter motors and alternators are likely to fail.
And when water gets inside the engine, problems get even worse. Affected parts will usually need replacing to guarantee they'll be as trouble-free as before the soaking. And it's the cost of this which leads to most flood damaged cars being written off.
Obviously, the damage caused depends on how high the flood waters were. Up to the axles and you'll need to get a mechanic to inspect the brakes and wheel bearings; if it reaches the windows the entire engine compartment and interior will have been affected making it far more likely to be a write off.
It's not just the water you need to beware of either. Floods mean drains back up and sewage works are breached, mixing all kind of horrific contaminants in the water – and this will need professional cleaning. If the water is salty, corrosion will be rife when the car dries out. It's vital you get a professional to inspect your vehicle after a flood, as many of the problems will be hidden from view.

Here are a couple of tips coming in useful at this time of year


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