Whether you have driven through a deep puddle, accidentally left your windows open or there’s a problem with one of the door seals; water can cause serious damage to your car, affecting its mechanics as well as how it looks. Even if the interior has got damp in a downpour, it could leave you with stains and fusty odours which may impact your car’s value. Show
In this guide, we’ll show you what to do when your car has flooded in the rain, including common mechanical faults, cleaning after flooding, and problem areas where sealant leaks are likely to occur. Quick Links:
What to Do Immediately After Finding Out Your Car Has FloodedIf you return to your car to find water in the cabin or a non-starting engine, there a few things you need to do to prevent serious damage:
If this isn’t possible but you need to get the interior dry, switching on the engine and running the fan heaters is another way of speeding up the drying process. Just make sure you check the condition of your engine (preferably with a professional) before switching it on, to prevent hydrolock. Mechanical Faults Caused by FloodingIf your car has been flooded by rain, there are lots of things that can go wrong with its mechanics – both under the bonnet and in the cabin. We’ve listed some of these common faults and problems below:
Common Areas Where Cars Can Develop Rain LeaksNo matter how old or well-maintained your car is, a faulty window or door seal can let rain into the cabin and boot, and that’s not good. Even if it’s just a few drips every now and again, a leaky door seal could lead to a bigger problem, especially if water gets into upholstery or electrical components. Leaks generally occur when the weather stripping along the side of doors and windows is worn or damaged, letting air and moisture into the car. This can happen anywhere weather stripping is in place, but is especially common where the strip is placed horizontally – meaning that water doesn’t drain away as quickly. The best way to prevent weather stripping from wearing and becoming brittle is to clean and maintain it like any other part of your car. We’d recommend carefully cleaning weather stripping with standard car shampoo, before treating it regularly with a silicone-based conditioning spray. How to Clean a Water-Damaged CarCleaning and drying a flooded car can be a difficult and time-consuming process, because water can travel a surprisingly long way from the point where it first leaked into your car. If the water has gotten into upholstery like the seats and carpets, it’s even trickier to clean, and may take several days before you can get it completely clean and dry. Follow these steps to clean the inside of a flooded car:
At Holts, we’re here to help you take better care of your car with our range of brilliant DIY car care and maintenance products. For more information, visit our homepage today. How do I stop my car from leaking in the rain?Remove Moisture and Mold from the Interior
If there is a little moisture along the door panel or floor, open all the doors and let the air circulate. Using a fan to blow air inside can also circulate and evaporate the moisture quicker.
Why is my floorboard wet drivers side when it rains?Your car floor is wet when it rains due to a leak or deteriorating weatherstripping. The only way water gets into a closed car is if there is a hole somewhere or if the weatherstripping is bad. Weatherstripping is the rubber that lines all your car's glass. This rubber can wear down, peel off, or become a weak seal.
Why is water getting in my car?Windshield Weather Stripping
Both the rear and front windshields have weather stripping. If this rubber is fitted incorrectly or is damaged or brittle, water may leak into the car. This leak is the most common after a windshield is replaced – the installer may neglect to place the new seal properly.
Why is the driver side floor of my car wet?In general there are several possible causes of water ingress to a foot well, from a damaged or deformed door seal to a blocked air-conditioning drain hose or damaged heat exchanger. We have experienced some fairly extreme weather recently so driving rain or surface water penetrating a door seal is possible.
|