How to Tell if Water Has Damaged Your Car
If you are living in a geographical area where heavy rains are a common thing, then you have to take the car care aspect into serious consideration. Your car can be massively damaged from the constant rains and floodwaters, which means that it is important to know the ways you can check it and make subsequent changes. Those damages can end up in costly repairs and extensive damages. To escape all that follow the list below and get started in bringing your car back to its usual healthy life.
If we have to think of one thing we can count on after a ravage superstorm, is that afterwords the used car market will start to be flooded with water-damaged cars. This means that not only the current car owners have to be worried about the information of water damage to cars, but also the ones who are planning to purchase a new car, especially a used one.
In so many senses water is the enemy of cars. It can ruin a vehicle in many different ways, including eating away the electronic wiring of the car, to seizing up mechanical systems. Those can also include engine damage, electrical problems, mold, and mildew difficult removal, and many more. Unfortunately, the damage may not be revealed for even several months or even years in some specific cases.
“So, here are the ways you can check if your car has been damaged by water or not and some additional steps to help you solve those.
Check for premature corrosion:
Typically, vehicles that have been damaged by water have more corrosion, or contain corrosion in an atypical place, compared to vehicles with no such problems. Which leads us to our first step in checking the water damage in a vehicle.
- Examine the electrical formatives for corrosion. Usually, corrosion in electrical components depicts itself in green, white, or blush fuzz on electrical parts and connectors.
- Insect corrosion in other parts of the car. Look for corrosion in major electrical connectors, computer modules, fuse block under the hood, and chassis ground cables.
Check for electrical issues:
Water and electricity do not go together, in case a vehicle experiences water damage there will most probably be a need for electrical repairs. The problem with this is that some problems connected to a car’s electricity will not be manifested until later on. But here are the ways to check those out.
- Check out the operation of each electrical system. Especially when buying a new car, try to turn it on and off several times in order to be able to make sure the system is operational.
- Check the lights. Try to turn on each light and make sure they work inclusive headlights, reverse lights, interior lights, signals, and brake lights.
- Examine the power controls. Make sure that each power lock works appropriately and roll down each power window.
Here are some additional steps to examine the water damaged parts in your car.
- Examine the air filter for water. Simply, replace the filter and change the oil in case it is wet.
- Do not forget to check the bumper, frame for mud, undercarriage, radiator area, debris, grass, dirt and rust, and in case any of the listed are present, you should consider washing and cleaning your car as soon as possible.
- In the case of a brake system, it is important to have your car checked by a professional technician, to avoid any kind of further problems.
- Going back to professional technicians, in case you hear any abnormal sounds from the engine, make sure to check where the sound comes from and take it to the professional. An extra reminder to also pay attention to the serpentine belt, power steering unit, alternator, wheel bearings, and air conditioner, as well.
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