FLOOD CAR REPAIR AND SERVICES IN HOUSTON
Floods can cause serious damage to cars. Once your car has been affected by a flood, it is important to get it checked out immediately before operating. Operating your vehicle without having it checked out first could cause serious damage. Water in transmission or other mechanical parts of your vehicle could cause your vehicle to incur serious damage and the repairs could become extensive when these issues are not fixed immediately. Here at European Automotive Center, we are prepared to inspect your flooded vehicle and determine if there may be damage or a fluid flush needed. Give us a call immediately.
Should you decide to file an insurance claim, we work with your insurance company to get your claim handled quickly and correctly. We might be able to help you save on your insurance deductible.
INSPECTING YOUR VEHICLE AFTER A FLOOD
Those of us living in the gulf coastal region have a close relationship with water and its potentially expensive and damaging effects on lives and property. The damage to your home after a hurricane or severe flooding event is usually immediately apparent in the floors and lower sections of the walls in your home, and a water restoration professional or disaster specialist can tell you exactly how far the water has travelled and the steps you should take to restore and repair the property. However, damage to your vehicle after a flooding event may not always be so obvious at first glance. Remember that just like any other device with electrical components, it’s important to conduct a very thorough inspection, taking certain precautionary steps before every attempting to start your vehicle if you suspect it may have sustained damage from flood waters. Fortunately, it doesn’t take an expert auto mechanic or even a water restoration pro to determine if your vehicle has been affected by flooding. Just a few simple steps will tell you all you need to know about your vehicle’s condition.
Full coverage customers should file a claim immediately and then contact a professional water restoration company to dry out, disinfect and deodorize the interior. Other tell-tale signs that the car may be unsafe to start include standing water inside headlights or parking lamps, visible mud or water lines inside the engine compartment, and any signs of new rust beginning to form along door, hood or trunk springs and latches.
Check your air filter for any signs of dampness. This would indicate that water has travelled over key areas of your engine, and you should definitely not try to start it any time soon. Checking the oil is also a good indicator of water damage. If the oil appears diluted or discolored, this probably means that water has gotten into the oil pan and the vehicle should be towed to a certified repair shop after any emergency drying is completed.
If you find any of these signs of water damage, you should immediately contact your insurance company and do whatever you can to fix these problems BEFORE starting the vehicle! Towing expenses are typically covered in these types of claims, and even if they aren’t, the potential damage from starting a flooded engine is much more expensive and time-consuming than footing the tow bill yourself.
It’s also important to mention that some signs of water damage are more gradual than others and may only become apparent several days later. Water in the braking system can slowly cause your brakes to deteriorate or fail completely over time, and rusty suspension joints are another gradually progressive symptom of flood damage. After your initial inspection, you may still want to schedule an appointment with an automotive professional who knows what to look for and where to find it. We would be more then happy to help you out.
