RobOnLI

All,
My car got flooded in Houston two weeks ago when Houston experienced about 8-10" of rain in less than two hours from some violent thunderstorms (19 tornadoes reported that day in the HOU metro area!)

My car got flooded at the airport while I was waiting to fly back from Seattle. When I got back, 8 hours later, the water was still half way up the tires. Anyway, I had it towed and the damage was $3,500. Acura says the water didn't get higher than the bottom of the seats. It doesn't sound like that's high enough to get water in the engine, but how can I be sure? (Geico claims adjustor said there would be water in the fluids and they didn't find any---but Acura is replacing the fluids to "be safe").

Most importantly, I'm going to pick up my car tonight, finally! What do I need to look out for after they had to take out the entire interior to have it dry and then put it back together.

Thanks,
Rob

acura_service

take notice for any mildew odor in the car in the coming weeks, if the padding is not dried all the way you will know it, the smell can make a person sick, other than that as long as no electronics were damaged it should be ok

jts1207

Get that SH*t totaled

Cruz_msl

Any small aquatic animals in the glovebox?

Seriously- I would look for the seat heaters to still function and any mildew smells in the next few days. I would imagine that it would take a whole bunch of water to flood the engine. If that were that case then pray that everything still works. Geico is usually pretty good about finding these issues.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Look for RUST. Get that puppy up on a lift as soon as possible and look for corrosion.

Jens H.

Oh lord a flood car .
The engine ecu is right above the tunnel down the center of the car behind the radio ,make sure it did not get wet .

The interior needs to dry THOROUGHLY or else the mildew stench will ensue .Best bet here is to gut the interior and get the rug out and let it airdry in the sun .Once the stench get's in the car the party is over it will likely always stink .

Regardless of what the insurance company thinks let em change the fluids .Even a little bit of water can play havoc with the mechanicals .

If you do take the rug out make sure every electrical connector is bone dry .Even slight moisture can rot out the thin wiring .Rotted wiring will cause frustratinf electrical problems .

You will see rust inside the car .Many of the brackets inside the car are not painted or pretected but then again they were not intended to be in contact with water .Don;t let surface rust on these items get you all crazy .In time they will all regardless of water contact or not start to rust (such is life with cars )

That is about it .Take no chances and do allow LOT"S of time to dry this thing out .

Jens

Ant7701

A NEW CAR!!!

RobOnLI

Thanks for the replies.

I should have listed what Acura was replacing as part of the insurance claim. There were five computer chips, including the ECU, that were replaced by Acura. They had the carpet and seats out of the car within 48 hours after the flood and kept them out until the parts were replaced. I don't smell mildew now.

My biggest concern is with the engine. I really wish Acura had totalled the car. Really would have helped my situation, but oh well! (I'm in the process of moving to SEA - so now I have to pay $900 to transport the car and try to sell it up there).

Rob

typeR

i got a 3.5l engine out of the same scenerio

tdtsai

One very important issue is when it's time to sell the car, it's going to be very difficult because when the buyer checks with Carfax, your flooded car will show up in Carfax. Most people will not buy a flooded car Therefore no amount of repair will ever erase the record. You should talk with your insurance company regarding this very important matter.

AcuraTLSFan

I don't konw about you, but when a car get's flooded, i think that should be an automatic totalled. Parents get their 95 legend totalled when El Nino hit in So Cal several years back