Driving Through Puddles Can Leave Damaging Effects
Crazy weather and storms often leave massive puddles that can actually cause damage to your car.
Grinding Your Car’s Gears
To avoid damage from driving in puddles, staying out of storms altogether is the best choice. If you have a garage or car port, you should park your car inside there. Your second best option should be to park away from trees that can get blown over and damage your car. If you must drive during a storm, remember that deep puddles of standing water can cause damage to your car. The water can even damage your transmission by causing your gears to slip.
Stopping is as Important as Going
If your rotors appear to be hot, water exposure can actually warp them. Your car will begin to vibrate when you apply the brakes. Also, water may get into the brake lines and cause brakes to fail. Water in the brake lines may not show up right away. Try pumping your brakes after rolling through deep water to squeeze water from the pads.
Interior Damage
Water can seep into the driver and passenger compartment and this can potentially ruin your upholstery, your carpets and any foam in the seats. Your vehicle’s manufacturer may also have installed computers in the floorboards and under the seats, and water damage to those components can also cause all kinds of electrical and electronic issues.
Flood Damage Can Be Sneaky
Flood damage to your car may not appear right away. If flooding has damaged your car, do not start your engine. Starting the engine can cause even more damage. Having your car towed to an auto repair shop for a thorough inspection is the best thing you can do if your car happens to stall because of standing water. Just don’t start it!
Follow Up With Your Insurance Company
If your car has been flooded, checking with your insurance company to determine what your policy covers should be one of the first calls you make.
We know that there are times when driving through a puddle is unavoidable. If your car has been in a flood, call the technicians at AAMCO Lee’s Summit for all of the comprehensive maintenance and auto repair services you need.
