Parts of the UK have become submerged in water, with more than a month’s rain set to batter the country today.
In the past year, National Scrap Car has reported that water damage is heavily contributing to the volume of vehicles being scrapped.
In light of this, Dorry Potter, vehicle expert at National Scrap Car, has come up with five tips on how to protect your car from water damage.
“A vehicle is an expensive piece of machinery to repair if damaged; some parts cost more than others. If your vehicle is the result of extreme water damage then the likelihood of repairing or selling is relatively slim, meaning most vehicles will eventually be scrapped.”
The 5 areas that are vulnerable to water damage
Here are the areas of your car that are particularly vulnerable to the elements for you to look out for.
Engine
Without a fully functioning engine, you have no working vehicle. Having a water-damage engine can be very costly, with even minor damage setting you back at least £1000, with major damage significantly more.
When driving through floods try to move your car onto higher ground to stop it from getting damaged, this is usually the shallowest bit of the flood.
Drive slowly and steady through the floods but at higher revs than usual.
Do not drive into flood water that is moving or deeper than 4cm
Breaks
To ensure your vehicle is safe for yourself and other road users, fully working brakes are crucial. Water getting into the brake fluid can reduce efficiency by corroding pipes in the braking system, this can ultimately increase your vehicle’s stopping time.
After going through flood water be sure to check your breaks afterwards.
Vehicle electrics
A big problem to think about if your car gets flooded is your vehicle’s electrics. Water can corrode the pins within electrical connections, which causes them to lose their conductivity. Signs of water damage to your vehicle’s electrics are your infotainment system failing or not working like it usually does.
Inside your vehicle
Getting water inside your vehicle can cause a number of problems, most of all it can make your car feel damp. Wet seats can be hard to dry especially if they have been soaked, and mould can easily appear when the vehicle gets cold at night. This could cause a health hazard making your car unusable and dangerous to your health.
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