Flooded or water damaged cars can be a huge problem, and you would wish to know how to clean water damaged car to solve the issue. Here you can find the five steps that you need to do your task efficiently and effectively. A water damaged car is not a lost cause, especially if you know what to do along with an immediate response.
Water can cause significant damages to your car, especially if it reaches the car’s engine. This is a case of a hydro lock.
If left on for some time, it can be the reason for significant repair, which can incur a considerable amount of money from your budget. Ultimately, water damaged car repair will depend on the extent of damage and your willingness to clean and repair it thoroughly.
Steps In Cleaning Water Damaged Car
In this tutorial, you will be provided with steps on how to clean your flooded or water damaged car, along with some tips that can help you along the way. This may include some minor repairs, but the main focus would be to remove any trace of water logged into the car’s interior.
Step #1. Assessment
The first step is to do an assessment. Check the affected areas and determine which would need replacing, and which can be cleaned and reinstalled.
Some parts won’t function as they were before, but are still usable if you properly maintain them. Check the car’s interior thoroughly and make a list of items you may need during the cleaning procedure.
Step #2. Dismantling
After doing your assessment and gathering what you need, the next step you will take is to dismantle the inside of the car. Take out any removal part inside the car’s interior.
This will help you reach and clean every nook and corner of your water damaged car. Along with the dismantling process comes the disconnection of any electrical components your car has to avoid possible additional and further damage that it may sustain.
Step #3. Drying
Now that your car is empty and there’s space to work on, it is time to flush out any remaining water inside and dry the car’s interior. Air out your vehicle and allow air circulation to happen freely and as quickly as you can. You can try using fans and water vacuums, to make this process much faster.
To remove all the moisture from the car’s interior, you can try using silica gel which can absorb moisture easily from the ambient air. This would help you assure that there’s no remnant water in the car, which can cause mold growth and mildew.
Drying your car first will also allow you to immediately check if all of its mechanical parts are still working. It can also salvage any of those parts that had been submerged but are still operational.
Step #4. Clean thoroughly
Once the car is dry, you will need to wash the appropriate parts of your car’s interior. It may seem contradictory to clean the car’s interior after drying it. Still, it will help you remove any bacteria lingering inside and would make the car’s interior smell a little bit better.
When washing your vehicle, it is advisable to use heavy-duty cleaning agents to help make the cleaning process a lot easier than it should be. Wash the removed parts, such as the carpet, separately. After cleaning, dry the interior once again and deodorize the vehicle.
Step #5. Reassemble
After cleaning your vehicle’s interior and its components, the time to put everything back in place is the step that awaits you. Reassemble the components you removed the way it was in the car before you started cleaning.
Reconnect the electrical components and check if the parts are working correctly. There you go! You have now completed your cleaning process for your water damaged car.
Is it worth cleaning a water damaged car?
Determining if a water damaged car is worth cleaning or not will depend on the extent of water damage your vehicle has sustained and the time that has passed. If the water damage is in an irreparable state, then cleaning your car would be just a waste of time.
Cleaning water damaged or flooded cars can cost a lot of money, so you can also determine if it’s worth it depending on your willingness to spend money for the cleaning and repair. You must bear in mind that cleaning is not the only problem you must resolve regarding water-damaged cars.
What are the common problems with water damaged cars?
The common problems water damaged cars could possibly have include electrical problems, mechanical problems, rusting and mold, and engine failure. Remember, cars are not really designed for aquatic purposes, and not all their components are waterproofed.
There is also a case of hydro locking, which can be a significant problem, especially driving. This scenario mostly happens when the water reaches the engine through the air intake and causes malfunctions in the machine.
Conclusion
Now that you have finished the tutorial on how to clean water damaged cars, we hope that we have provided insights and the necessary information you seek. If you are still unsure of what you’re doing, you can also consult a car mechanic near your neighborhood to ask for advice on things that you are unfamiliar with.
Car care and maintenance is something that you must always practice as you drive or own one. Knowing a few tips and tricks can definitely be worth your while.