With Hurricane Ian leaving so many individuals with choices to make about whether or not or to not repair, promote or declare a loss on their automobile, …
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With Hurricane Ian leaving so many individuals with choices to make about whether or not or to not repair, promote or declare a loss on their automobile, …
source
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Copyright ยฉ 2022 Car Fix Guru.
Car Fix Guru is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Forget the rice, instead go for the proven thing, kitty litter, either the clay type or the silica type, and take it, place in a pot, and cook in the oven for 2 hours at 250F to dry the litter out, then pull out and let it cool to touch temperature, then put the computer boxes, wrapped in newspaper to keep the litter out, and close the lid for a few days to dry it out.
First thing to do to a flood car is disconnect the battery negative terminal, so the wiring does not corrode, and if you cannot move the car disconnect before the flooding, and leave the windows down, with the battery on the top of a shelf so it does not get damaged.
Computers that are wet put through the dishwasher, no rinse aid, no soap, no salt and cold wash, to rinse it out of all the dirt, and then dry in the kitty litter.
Glass jar not recommended, the glass is not thick, and thus cannot stand pressure, and will collapse explosively when you attempt to vacuum it out. Grab a pressure cooker instead, preferably an old thick cast aluminium one, as that will survive vacuum, and simply use the lid to attach the vacuum port and the vacuum gauge, and use some silicone grease (not silicone sealer) on the seal, plus you can heat it up with a heat gun till it is at around 150F 80C with the parts inside, to help drive the moisture out.
Just be careful though, as stated below capacitors will fail, but this does work well on the assorted relays in the car that get water in them, to get it out. Just avoid doing the fuel pump relay and the flasher relay, those contain capacitors that will fail in vacuum, so simply buy new ones instead. Also works on things like wiper motors, and window and door lock motors, getting them all dry and not destroying them.
Best for the carpet is to remove entirely, and wash with a carpet shampoo machine, and leave to dry thoroughly before putting back in, and if your seats have electric movement motors you will need to dry them in the vacuum chamber as well, though if you have a massaging seat, like BMW has, you probably will find the car is totalled anyway as the seat controllers will be cooked.
I worked as an adjuster for seven years and hated water damage. If your manager was agreeable it was usually best to total the vehicle and make it go away but some folks for different reasons wanted their vehicle fixed. Oh no sir the water only came up to the rockers, the water on the floors only happened when I opened the door.
Great tip on the vent pointing down to prevent water from getting in.
Humid climates. You made me laugh. One of our vehicles is an old Chrysler minivan that has been giving us intermittent problems. Finally after a rainy night my son said it doesn't want to run so I changed the spark plug wires, (yuck) and waa laa it runs like a champ even when wet.
Great video. Happy Motoring.
Might try putting it directly in front of an air conditioner. The air coming out of the ac is very dry.
wow! thanks for this.
Hey Now
Excellent points
The real killer is corrosion in the the electrical connectors. The corrosion will form on the pins and the sockets. If a reasonable amount of current is pulled through a corroded connection, it may work for a while, but sooner or later the connector could melt. Corroded connectors are often impossible to repair. So if it has been a flood car, let the buyer beware!
Brian, thanks for this video. It is one of the most informative and helpful that I have seen on any channel. Thankfully I wasn't impacted by IAN but I have encountered flood cars before and had some basic idea of what to watch for but you did a great job of providing detail. I always learn from you so thanks for the effort and sharing your knowledge.
first get a swimming pool FULL of rice or kitty litter and bury the car in it ๐คฃ๐๐
Thank you for teaching us this Brian. #1 mechanic channel.
After draining oils I flush diesel through engines and gearboxes.
Paint sprayer pressure pot is a good, cheaply available vacuum pot for smaller items. The resin folks often use them to degass resin before it cures.
I've used a convection home oven on it's lowest setting to get moisture out and moving.
Will we ever stop perpetuating the myth that rice absorbs water readily? It just doesn't and never has. So many people ruin their phones every year because of it.
OR if can't run away from the flood take the battery out, you will not get much corrosion on boards if you don't have 12 V running through them. After you can clean most of them. This used to be the first thing to do on older phones when dropped in water, take the battery out (when you could)!
Thank you Brian!
Very good tips โฆThank You keep up the good work.
thanks my man for this sunk my suburban just got the heads off and trying to get the cylinders clean broke 2 starters already
Great video brian. Glad we think alike! Crazy you mentioned 2011 I been watrching you since 2008 if i remember correctly as always great stuff.
i use a 50Cal ammo box for vacuum chamber
i welcome suggestions from all in this community,
We have a flooded Chevy Impala 2015 V6 at the garage right now.
I already removed the water in the combustion chamber and intake manifold, changed the oil, transmission has no water, dried all engine management sensor and couplers.
Spark test and coils are working, fuel pump is working, no dtc, battery and starter motor are good, ground connection as well. But still it only crank.
What to do next? Compression test?
Haven't done splitting the ecu open since the scan tool has no feed back of ecu lost communication..
Drained 2 gallons out of my Jeep oil pan which got flooded during the hurricane
You just taught me something my dude,,,and I've been twisting wrenches for 40+years.,
Before you startup a flood vehicle,,but you also need to try and let sit to dry out some,, electric connectors could be damp
You just taught me something my dude,,,and I've been twisting wrenches for 40+years.,
Before you startup a flood vehicle,,but you also need to try and let sit to dry out some,, electric connectors could be damp
Thank you for making this video.
I can't thank you enough for all the information. I was looking at a vehicle that was flooded. You have me such amazing tips and tricks (levels of fluid above the normal range). Appreciate your time!
This is by far THE BEST video on understanding the damage that flood causes and how to mitigate and / or fix it. Thanks for sharing your expertise. I have a question: where do we buy replacement electronic modules when needed. Ebay?
Thank you for all the knowledge!!! You have so much and love that your willing to
edu-camate those of us that are interested in expanding our DIY skills and or donโt have the money/trust in local mechanics! You have a great ability to explain things as well as a positive energy and outlook on things which is a breath of fresh air! ๐ ๐. Just found your channel today but youโve earned a lifetime subscriber 3 videos in! Keep it up and look forward to future wisdom under the hood from ya!๐๐ง ๐จ๐ผโ๐ง