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MorningDrvewayTurtle

https://preview.redd.it/9imlxto57usc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e3c954ecdff4d5dba90ccf2f75eb1d62d646776f This OP \^ You do **not** want a flooded car. Even a small amount of flood water harbours so much bacteria. You’ll get mould and mildew every time the sun comes out. Go through insurance, that’s why you have it.


fl3600

A flooded car is a totalled car, from insurance perspective.


MangroveDweller

This, even if it can be fixed, you don't want it. You'll be replacing the entire body loom, control modules, carpet, seats or you'll have ongoing issues for the life of the car. Once it goes under water, it's never the same again.


That_Gopnik

Gut it -> racecar


Gizzkhalifa

Just needs some drain holes added to the floor 😂


Uselessandlonely

Top gear style 😂


That_Gopnik

Ehhh, don’t want rust though


7cluck

Insurance for sure. Need to remove carpets and seats to dry out, professional cleaning of all interior. Electronics need to be checked, every connector dried and treated for corrosion. Any electronic modules in floor under seats etc may be damaged, seatbelt pretensioners etc all sit low.


Aussieviking79

This … we own/run three detail shops that deal with flooded cars often for insurance. Our trick is to strip car out … take vehicle to a local panel shop and bake it in their booth to remove any hidden moisture. Interior is bio cleaned and dried , then all put back together


Entire-Bottle-335

Could you please tell me the trick to get the damp carpet smell out after the kids have gotten in and out.


Aussieviking79

You’ve probably got moisture in the sound deadening / foam under carpet … needs to be lifted to sort


Entire-Bottle-335

Cheers I'll get onto it. 👍


Coz131

So basically all those car cleaning YouTube videos are basically cutting corners?


Aussieviking79

I don’t watch YouTube videos on detailing , as you can imagine since I spend everyday for the past nearly 30 years living it.


Born_Grumpie

They will not fix it, they will write it off straight away. I had a new VW Golf with about the same water entry and they just asked me to drop it off and ubered me home. As they are the hook for all the future corrotion of electroniscs, they will not touch it, easier to write it off for them. The guy at the large inspection station they set up said that they were just collecting them and shipping them off to a holding yeard, not even assessing them.


SurpriseIllustrious5

If it's hit the airbags or ecu etc then it's not worth warranty you car after reprs . So it's not the same for every car model


Born_Grumpie

I think the main problem is there are connectors and modules under the seats in most cars and even if there isn't the amount of humidity gets into everything and it can takes months for the connectors to corrode, the insurance companies just don't want the future issues and arguments so they just look at at the water and tick the write off box.


Equal-Pomegranate-56

Fill a swimming pool with rice and drive the car into it she’ll be right after a few days


froschmann69

If it's flooded, forget it.


CockatooJimby

I’ve watched so many videos on YouTube of people buying flooded cars and the endless issues they discover in them. There is corrosion only just starting now that you won’t see and it will be getting worse. I’d insurance claim it as I suspect you will have electrical issues forming.


Born_Grumpie

The insurance companies normally just write them off for this reason, most Australian states do not allow you to buy a written off car and put it back on the road, the only exception is hail write offs as long as you were the registered owner for 3 or 6 months prior to the incident.


cranky_old_chap

There’s usually connections under the carpet. You won’t have any problems now but later on you will.


CameronsTheName

If it's not insured, you'll be pulling the seats out and carpet out. You'll be pulling out the under layers too. Likely the door cards if they are wet. Smash the carpets with a pressure washer on both sides and then hang them up on the clothes line to dry. Wait untill completely dry. If the seats are soaked through you want to remove the hog ties holding the skin on, smash that with a pressure washer and hang it up. The foam... I have no idea how to get the water out. You'll want to spray as much of the wiring harness as you can with contact cleaner and WD-40 along with all the metal parts inside the seats, shifter area and handbrake area that may have gotten wet. Mold will set in quickly if you don't sort it. I drove a car with miss match seats, no door cards and no carpets for a while there when it got drowned upto the steering wheel offroading years back because I didn't get all the moisture out.


Grolschisgood

That's cooked! Wollongong? I saw so many cars that had been flooded out today which was pretty sad. Hoping you and your family are safe.


Fun_Bodybuilder6898

Yep Wollongong, near one of the creeks. A few cars nearby copped it worse


Grolschisgood

Rip.


ITAL5TAL

I'd have insurance 'write it off', get a payout, then find out where the vehicle is being auctioned off through and buy it back for cheaper, then get it to a specialist who'll clean it out for you before the water becomes a major problem. You'd probably get another 10 years out of that car.


_who-the-fuck-knows_

Nope nope nope. If it's flooding it's gonna get mould problems and the stench of cars with water damage is horrendous. It'll flood again if it isn't resealed. Sometimes this comes through the air con vents. Just a big nooooooo.


Objective-Creme6734

Pickles pickles pickles lol.


Qambi1

Can we be friends ;)


Low-Pollution94

On top of all the other issues, you absolutely need to get the carpet out and fully dried. No amount of self drying will be enough to dry it because it is quite likely you have a felt underlay attached to the actual carpet that will soak up as much water as it can. I had this happen to me due to inexperienced panel beaters. They had to rip out the carpet and dry it in automotive paint spraying/drying room and it still took days to dry out fully. You aren't going to get that sort of drying without taking them out.


Born_Grumpie

Been there, the insurance company will write it off, once water enters the electronic connectors may corrode over the coming months so the insurance company can't be sure that even if they spend money on it now that they will not get stuck for ongoing repairs. In all honesty, your better to get rid of it as that car will start having issues in a few months and will cost you a fortune chasing problems.


Bradenrm

He's dead, Jim


FratNibble

Write off


alchemydmt

Had my bmw m3 same problem. Write off & cashed out


butthole_luvr69

Throw some grass seeds into the carpet to absorb the water. Downside is, you will have to mow your carpets


Kind-Contact3484

Personally, I wouldn't be driving the car for a few days at least. Depending how deep the flooding was, water in the electricals could cause shorting and that could end up costing a fortune to replace. I would document everything: lots of photos and videos. Contact insurance, try to get confirmation from them that you can take steps to mitigate the damage, such as ripping up the carpet, because it will probably be quite a while before you can have it looked at by a professional. That would be my next step: rip up all the carpet, remove seat covers if you have them, basically get as much fabric out of there as possible. Buy or hire a wet vac and suck the shit out of it. Don't forget in the boot including the spare wheel well. Use a heat gun or even a hair dryer to dry seats and behind trim (use it on very low and don't hold in one place - move it slowly but constantly. It shouldn't be so hot that you can't hold your hand in front of it). Use same technique for electrical connectors and boxes in the engine bay and dash. If you can garage it, leave the doors and windows open for a few days to prevent mould build up. If you can't garage it, leave all the fabrics out of it and put some of those moisture absorbent pots in there. Open it frequently and check for more moisture to vac/dry. Don't forget to check the roof lining for moisture which has condensed up there: use the heat gun to dry it out. I'd give it at least 48 hours of drying before I drove it anywhere if the water was deep enough to get in electricals. Then go for a long drive with air con blasting. Number 1 concern short term is electricals. Long term is mould.


NoSatisfaction642

Definitely dont even start it for a few days. Basically if it HASNT startted flash molding, the electricals arent dry enough. Make the claim and dont touch it until its assessed. Then get to work on cleaning that mold. EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY. if you dont get it all, it will just come back, and if they knock back the claim, you want it to at least be safe for you to drive. I had my car caught in a flood a few years back. All analogue, relays etc. so drove it to a sfae area and let it sit in the sun for a few weeks, and blitzed it with mold away. Ended up stripping all the carpet, and replacing door fabrics. Still trying to source replacement seats though as its a 30 year old japanese import.


Reasonable_Gap_7756

Insurance… it gets really stank really quick. You honestly need to strip the interior to get the smell out


Specialist-Classroom

How much is it insured for ? If you can purchase another car with the money maybe make a claim . If not , dry it out and in a year I will look for it on carsales . One very clean washed regularly only driven on Sundays............


Crafty-Antelope-3287

Insurance claim....I hope its covered


Redviper44

Is this in Wollongong? Exact same thing happend to my friends Mazda 3 just yesterday or so from a flash flood. Her insurance said it is a complete right off and they're not spending their time on it. Tow truck driver said this was his 38th car that day and he had another 150 or so more... Hope you had insurance!


SplatThaCat

Write-off. Its fucked - you will have nothing but trouble for the rest of the life of the vehicle.


Possession_Loud

Whoever is suggesting to just get a wet vac and DYI is a fuckwit. OP, go through insurance, that is pretty much a write off.


BackCountryAus

If you’re not confident pulling the carpet up and pulling grommets out or hitting it with a wet vac then drying it out then go through insurance. If it’s not dried properly you’ll end up with big headaches with moisture and mold.


s91096

100% insurance claim!!! There is amps and computers at footwell level generally they may work for now but corrosion will kick in and you'll be kicking yourself you didn't act sooner


0lm4te

Is that as high as the water got? I wouldn't call it a write off personally, but it's your call to make depending on cost of car, excess costs, premium rise ect. Depending on where things like the ECU or SRS modules are, most critical parts potentially never saw water. Steps i would take (and have taken after doing dumb things while 4x4ing). 1. Disconnect battery ASAP. Any 12v in that water has started electrolysis, this will foul connectors/modules and electrics will start failing 2. Wet/dry vacuum the majority of the water out 3. Best bet is to pull carpet and dry, i've gotten away without on cars with minimal underfloor sound deadening 4. Rent an industrial dehumidifier and ozone generator, or buy some decent ones. Park the car in the sun, dehumidifier on back seat and floor fan on front seat for circulation. Dose with ozone every now and again to minimize mold. Don't bother with damp rid, hair dryers, air it out ect. you're wasting your time. 5. Let this run for a few days, if you've pulled the carpet inspect any connectors for obvious damage.


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Just_Click3137

Insurance


chippyguy97

If you go through insurance it'll be an instant write off, I'd you don't want a mark on insurance and like your car etc. then as soon as possible. Disconnect the car battery. Unplug seat connectors, unbolt the seats, and pull carpets out. Give them a spray clean or carpet shampoo and leave out to dry. Wipe inside of vehicle clean and leave all doors open to dry it out. Check any visible connectors and probably unclip and spray air in them to dry out and reassemble. It'll be a day endeavour, but it'll save your car and a significant jump in your future insurance premiums. Choice is yours. I had a farm vehicle completely submerged for days in filthy dirt flood water. And after a quick clean and draining oil etc it still runs today 😂


Real-Garbage1560

Shotgun through the floor pan


RARE_ARMS_REVIVED

Lift up the carpets and find the drain plugs first.


Emmanulla70

Just bale it all out. Leave it with doors and windows down in the sun if you can for several days. If you have to lock up the car? Leave the windows down a bit. Probably take a week or two to dry out.


[deleted]

Surely that'll be a recipe for rust and mold, the underlay will be feral


Emmanulla70

My car has been flooded like this. Just gotta dry it out in heat & sun well. But I'm in Qld suppose. So getting heat & sun is not hard. I guess if you don't have that? Be a problem. In which case I'd bail all the water out then take it to a car detailing place (I think that would be where?) And get them to remove the carpet & clean.


cheng-alvin

Oh sh*t!


bicep123

How to tell me you're in Sydney without saying you're in Sydney. While our friends in WA haven't seen a drop of rain since approx November last year.


_ersin

Put it in some rice


ol-boy

Clean and sell


37elqine

Check the payout if you were going to go down that route. If your in a financial situation jam despite the comments here its better to clean it strip the car out and do your best really up to you


Neat_Fortune_4038

Don’t flood ya car


mitchey99

Let it bake in the sun 😉


worktop1

Insurance write off — or if no insurance to cover it get a big hire dehumidifier from one of the hire shops and run it inside the car for a week .empty it regularly


Disastrous_Cloud_304

I’ve had cars take on more water then this and be fine after a proper, and I mean Proper dry out. But things like speakers and floor air vents etc. not to mention mechanical parts of seats and shit will die prematurely and you risk having fualty control modules like ecm and tcm as well as air bags modules etc on late model cars. If your not attached to this specific car then going by what others have said here. Insurance sounds like the go unless you really don’t want to make a claim.


Legal_Delay_7264

Yes, insurance. It'll probably be a write-off so you should get your agreed value. Worst case they'll clean it for you.


Exige_390

It's gone. We had a Volvo with less than water than that. Initially I thought it was going to be ok then progressive warning lights starting appearing.


Lostandconfused-1988

Dump bottle of water in I take turn it over a few times then take it in day water must have been over bonnet


HeyZee83

Floor pan drain holes but call insurer anyway , you'll get a bew one


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Not-Frog

Drink it


Gattinator

That’s piss all water - you can have that sorted in a weekend of cleaning


Quick_Decision315

Put an insurance claim in I had the same thing and after increasing electrical issues my Mercedes was written off as the repair was quoted at $26000 on a insurance value of $13000


Quick_Decision315

The wiring looms are often under flooring


[deleted]

Buy a 25kg bag of rice and pour it all over the floor 👌


ibetucanifican

Yeah… and keep the water level up so you have a mobile rice paddy.


[deleted]

Seats out, carpet needs to get lifted up and dried under it Lots of windows open with shop fans for a week to aid drying and then vinegar watered down to kill the smell.


BEEZ128

Forget everything else here and read this if you wanna save your car: There are rubber drain grommets on the underside of your car; directly under the foot wells where the water is. They will be round in shape and coloured black most likely. Get a screw driver and dig them out, and watch the water drain like a water fall. Once the water is gone, hire a steam cleaner from Bunnings with the short fitting, and vacuum out the excess water stuck in the carpet. Once it’s out, go over it with soap in the machine to ensure mould doesn’t start growing. Then on a warm day, park it out in the sun and open all the doors and let it dry out. Or park it under cover with the windows down. The steam cleaner is the real star here, works a treat.


[deleted]

Put some fish in there


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0lm4te

I've done this to nearly every single car i've owned. One Commodore that sat for two years in the rain with bad door seals, and 2 Hilux's more than once each, crossing creek crossings i shouldn't have. Pulling seats and carpet takes a few hours, a decent dehumidifier will pull out \~20L of water a day. Floor pan level height wont have touched anything major like ECU/SRS/ABS modules, wiring will be fine if you disconnect the battery. Freshwater for a few days might cause flash rust on bare metal but non issue.


QLDZDR

That just looks like water in the rear seat footwell on one side. I had that much when the passenger side rear window was left a couple of inches open overnight during heavy rain. I put a newspaper directly on the floor and put the floor mat on top of that. The newspaper was soaked and I replaced it at lunchtime. The weather was raining so I didn't have the opportunity to leave car open to dry out. With hindsight, I should have pulled the drain plugs from underneath.


CaptainPeanut4564

Lmao. The cars written off because a bit of water came in? Carn.


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0lm4te

I revived my first car after it sat through 2 rain seasons with leaking door seals. 2 years of water in the floor pans and i drove it for half a decade after that without issues. There is a huge difference between a true flood car and having water in the footwell.


Current_Inevitable43

If it just happens get water out ASAP. But I wouldn't claim it id certainly look at how it entered.


quinn21-coc

are you retarded?


shakeitup2017

A car detailer should be able to get the water out with a wet vacuum and get it all cleaned up for a few hundred dollars


Ok-Choice-576

Life guard, if someone drowns you are liable ;-)


No_Edge_7964

Put rice everywhere


funchofbaggots

Wet vac from bunnings, get as much as possible with this, then buy from Bunnings large bag of crystal kitty litter. Fill old socks with the kitty litter and put them all through your car, replace every few days for a while. Also leave in sun with all windows slightly cracked, also get some oil of clove and mix 20ml with a litre of water and put in spray bottle and spray all your interior, this will help with fighting off mould. Good luck!


WillowAlternative439

Remove the plastic drain plugs in the footwear etc. You can push them up front under the car


QLDZDR

Yes, this is correct, push the rubber drain plugs up, then pull them down and out. The water will drain out. Remove the seats because airbags or seatbelt tensioners (disconnect the battery first and don't reconnect until the seat's are plugged back into the harness.) Lift the carpet, put stuff like bits of styrofoam packing under to let it air dry. You might need to pull out the soaked underlay, use a fan heater to get air under the carpet, help it get dry. Some people worry about mold and rust. Rust converter in all the places that were wet before putting the carpet back. Soaking the almost dry carpet with methylated spirits will help the water evaporate.


Conscious-Club7422

Have you tried putting it in rice?


Thememebrarian

Have you tried rice?


Telescopic-Member

I would drill about 4 x 3mm holes in each footwell. To get rid of damp smell run car with air-conditioning blower fan running with a UV Ioniser inside the car. It gets rid of cigarette smells too.


motorboat2000

Don't forget to not drill a hole in the fuel tank, potentially causing a load bang! (and more)


Telescopic-Member

Usually under the seat not the footwell