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 Flood damage
Unfortunately this subject is something that we have to deal with over and over again. Where complete houses are washed away by the water masses, then individual motor cars are not far behind. It's astonishing just how
water-resistant todays cars are, and how long it takes before they sink. The danger here is of course, that they get knocked about and then are really no longer usable. The question is, what is to be done with the half- or
even completely flooded car?
In most cases, simply discarding it would indeed, be a pity. Generally, what has to be disposed of, are all the textile materials. One can consider oneself to be fortunate, if a lot of plastic has been used. Of course, basically
everthing where water may have got into must be dismantled. In most cases, it's not worthwhile, allocating this task to a workshop, however, a talented tinkerer may be able to help.
The foam-rubber material in the seating is mostly so soaked with sludge, that it can no longer be used. Indeed, before one buys completely new seats, the question of partial replacement may be wise. It would be fortunate
if the car has not just come onto the market, then there is the chance of finding replacements in a scrap yard. It may however be necessary, to replace or clean up sensitive parts like the dashboard.
The best thing to do, is to have a look how bad the fouling is and then see what the market for used parts has to offer. Only then will you be able to decide, whether or not the great amount of work is worthwhile. One should
be warned, to look out for possible exploding parts. The airbag in the steering wheel is not to be underestimated, even after flood-damage. Normally, one wouldn't have to replace all that many mechanical parts.
We naturally assume, that nobody consciously drives into flood waters (see video). They would be beyond help anyway. If however, the car is slowly filled with water, the mechanical parts may not have suffered too much.
On no account does this mean that you can start the engine and drive off. All the oils must be drained off, to check if they have water particles. The spark plugs or the injectors must be removed and the engine turned over
by hand.
Water in the combustion chamber cannot run off and can lead to the dreaded hydrolock (hydrostatic lock). Of course, a more comprehensive examination of the gearbox and the differential are also necessary. It may even
be necessary to rinse out the engine with a provisional oil-filling. The catalytic converter can't handle sludge at all. Sometimes one can reach in from one side, and be able to clean it. At least, later on, a through-flow- and
function test is possible. Then you'll know, if it has to be replaced or not.
The worst damage, apart from that to the upholstery, will be done to the electronics. In this case, skill and finesse are required more than anything else. One can only guess, whether one should start here with the
restoration, because this can be really expensive. It's very difficult to determine whether water has got into the respective control device or not. Should one run the risk of testing the electrical system, only to possibly make
things even worse?
A word of advice: If you have a suspicion, open anything that can be opened. An internal cleaning and drying (with not too much heat!) has given the one or the other electric component a new lease on life. This is where
one learns to work patiently and carefully. A soft brush won't damage anything. Even archeologists use them and their mistakes have far more serious results than those made by a mechanic. 06/13
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