Restarting a flooded car

After a flood you car might not be recoverable depending on how high the water level has been around your vehicle and for how long it’s been flooded you might have to carry out different checks and do the right assessment to evaluate if your is worth repairing.

If your car has been flooded as a general rule never attempt to start or drive it until a thorough inspection and

cleaning has been performed and any necessary repairs have been carried out.

So before attempting to start or drive a flooded vehicle there is a minimum of checks to perform :

·          Always check for debris in the engine compartment, radiator area and under body, even if the water doesn’t appear to have been very high.

·          Check oil level in engines, transmissions, gearbox and differential s if it’s over Max level this mean some water has entered.

·          It’s important to ensure key safety components, such as steering and brakes, are functioning correctly after any water exposure. Contaminated fluids will cause damage to components.

·          If there is a risk that water has entered the engine bay do not attempt to start the engine. Water entry into the engine can lead to severe and expensive damage. Water could be inside the cylinder depending on the car you can remove the spark plug or injector for further inspections.

·          Starters, alternators, wiper, window and other motors will rarely work immediately after being submerged. Sometimes they  will begin working after they have dried out, however dismantling and cleaning or replacement may be necessary. Also your battery could have been affected it's preferable to check it. 

·          In floods, fuel tanks can be contaminated by water. This can cause the vehicle to stop running. Diesel fuel systems are particularly sensitive to water contamination.

·          Electronic component are usually sealed so they shouldn’t be affected. But on old car the ignition system would prevent you to start the car if water was involved.          

               

If the engine can safely be started, let the engine run at idle for a short time and check that the cooling system is regulating properly. Stop the engine and let it cool down for a few hours. Check all the level again engine oil, coolant, brake fluid make sure there is no water presence.

If everything seems OK try to take a short drive, test the brakes (at low speed first) and look and listen for any abnormalities. If nothing is evident, it’s probably okay to drive, however we recommend that you have it checked over by a mechanic.