Things can get pretty wet in Bossier City, and should your vehicle get flooded – we mean with water, not the engine with gasoline – you need to take some steps to prevent further damage. You might get stuck in a flash flood, or your parked vehicle could get water-logged during a hurricane. Benton Road Auto Repair recommends you do the following after the water has flooded your vehicle.
Inspect Your Water-logged Vehicle
You can tell how deep underwater your vehicle was by the mud line on the outside. Check to see how far up the mud line is on your car and go from there. Check your wheels and underneath your car, if the mud line stopped underneath the doors. Check the engine and interior if the mud line was above the doors. Let your car dry out. If necessary, roll down all windows to help dry the interior.
Call for a Tow
You might be tempted to start your vehicle or try to start it because it likely won’t start, but don’t. If your engine is flooded with water, the water could start circulating through it once you turn the key in the ignition. Water might mix with motor oil and other crucial engine fluids and cause damage, so don’t start your car, truck, or SUV. Rather, have the vehicle towed to our shop. Better safe than sorry.
Call Your Insurance Company
If you have excellent automobile insurance coverage, it might cover the water-logged damage to your car, truck, crossover, or SUV. Call them to find out and if you are covered, file a claim. The insurance coverage should help pay for interior and exterior damage, including any necessary engine work. If your vehicle is under warranty, check your warranty to see if it will help repair the water damage.
Defer to the Automotive Experts
Finally, let us give your vehicle a complete inspection to find and repair water-logged damage. While we don’t do bodywork, we can ensure all operating systems are repaired after a flood to get your automobile back on the road safe and reliable. Be prepared. Depending on the extent of the flood, your engine could be severely damaged. We will do our best to keep repair costs to a minimum.
Call Benton Road Auto Repair in Bossier City, LA, to discuss your vehicle’s flood damage. If we don’t feel we’re qualified to rectify the damage, we’ll recommend someone who is.
