Severe weather conditions can create the potential for flooding in any part of the country. When a flood strikes, many drivers find that vehicles they had to leave behind during the evacuation process have been exposed to flood water. Partnering with a collision repair center can help you determine whether or not it's time to junk your vehicle, or if repairs can be made to make the vehicle operational once again.
Here are three factors that a collision center will take into consideration when determining if your flooded vehicle can be salvaged.
1. Contaminated fluid reserves.
Your vehicle's engine relies on many different fluids in order to function properly. The first thing a collision center will check to determine whether or not your flooded vehicle can be salvaged is for signs of contamination in fluid reserves.
If your engine oil, transmission fluid, or antifreeze reservoir appear to be abnormally full, this could be a sign that water has leaked into the mechanical components of your vehicle. Depending on the level of contamination, the collision center will determine if the cost of repairs is worth salvaging your vehicle.
2. Damage to electrical systems.
Many modern vehicles are run by a series of electrical components. Motorized windows, cruise control, and audio systems are just a few of the components within your vehicle that rely on electricity to function properly. As part of a comprehensive inspection after your vehicle has been exposed to flood water, a collision center will check the integrity of your car's electrical wiring.
Although electrical components may function once the water they have been exposed to has dried out, these components will be at-risk for corrosion in the future. Depending on the type of water that flooded your vehicle (mineral content matters in determining corrosion risk), a collision center will be able to determine if replacing your car's electrical components is a worthwhile investment.
3. Saturated interior fittings.
If the water level during a flood rises high enough to leak into your car's interior, it's possible that you will have to replace your interior fittings to avoid the potential for mold in the future.
If only the carpeting covering your vehicle's floor is saturated, the cost of replacing damaged fittings could be worth the investment to get your vehicle operational once again. If water has saturated the seats, center console, or dashboard, the cost of replacing interior fittings might not be justified.
Be sure to partner with a collision center with the experience needed to help you determine if your vehicle can be salvaged after a flood.
Share7 June 2016
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