Flood Damaged Vehicle Service & Repair in Pasadena, TX
Anyone who has lived, even briefly, in or around the Houston, Texas, area is likely familiar with the torrential rains that can pour over the area, often for days at a time. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that Harris County experiences, on average, four to five days of flooding every year. Suffice to say, flooding is a major concern for residents on Texas's Gulf Coast. When it comes to your vehicle, hurricanes and floods can cause major damage. If vehicle water damage is not handled properly by a professional, it could lead to permanent issues, including electrical issues, mold, and corrosion caused by rust. If you live in Pasadena, Texas, or anywhere along the Gulf Coast in southeast Texas, you should know how to identify signs of flood damage and understand the benefits of a flood damage service should you need it.
What Is a Flood-Damaged Vehicle?
Flood damage is a specific type of water damage that your auto insurance policy covers — as long as you have comprehensive coverage. If, for example, there's flooding where you parked your well-maintained vehicle and the water causes electrical issues, it's likely that your comprehensive vehicle insurance will cover the damages. However, if you haven't maintained your car and you have a persistent leak that soaks your carpeting, your insurance company might say you're out of luck. In sum, not all water damage will count as flood damage for insurance purposes.
Flood-damaged cars can pose significant safety risks to their drivers. If your car has been damaged by a flood, you should contact your insurance company immediately and bring your car in for professional service as soon as possible. If you're at all unsure whether your vehicle will start, it's best to have it towed to a service center. If flood waters made their way into the engine compartment and you try to start the vehicle, it may cause further damage to integral vehicle components. If in doubt, entrust your flood-damaged car to your insurance company and professional technicians.
How To Identify Water-Damaged Vehicles
If you're unsure whether your vehicle has sustained water damage, or if you're interested in purchasing a used vehicle and want to be sure that it hasn't been previously damaged in a flood, there are some tell-tale signs you can look for. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles offers these useful guidelines for identifying a water-damaged vehicle, and we've summarized the information below for your convenience.
Rust
Where water and metal meet, you'll likely find rust. Rust on older vehicles is fairly common, but if you find rust on a newer model vehicle, it could be an indicator of water damage. Look for rust under the interior carpeting, on metal components such as screws located in areas where water shouldn't reach, in the electrical system, and on the undercarriage.
Faded Interior
Water damage can change the look and color of interior components such as upholstery, carpeting, and side paneling. Small water stains on a seat or two are not typically a cause for concern, but if you notice a pattern of water stains across multiple seats, it could point to a water-damaged car. Mold or mildew on the upholstery is another red flag. Additionally, faded side paneling or pieces of mud or grit in crevices in the dash, center console, or side paneling could also be signs of flood damage.
Suspicious Smells
Don't just use your eyes when looking for water damage — smell is also a strong indicator of whether a car has water damage. Any whiff of mold or mildew should be noted with concern. If you're not the owner of the vehicle, you should also be suspicious of a car that smells like it's too clean, as if it has been aggressively shampooed or the owner is trying to mask a smell with too much air freshener.
Water Lines
Sometimes, cars that have sat in flood waters for a prolonged amount of time will have revealing water lines on their interior or exterior. Water lines on the exterior of the vehicle can sometimes be hard to see, especially if the vehicle has been thoroughly cleaned. On the exterior, you should look for mud, grit, or fading, and on the interior, look for discoloration, grime, or fading, all of which would fall below a consistent level on the vehicle's paneling.
When Should I Bring a Flood-Damaged Car In for Service?
Because water damage can sometimes be difficult to identify, and because flood-damaged cars are often risky to drive, we always recommend bringing a potential flood-damaged vehicle in for service. For one, technicians such as ours at Monument Chevrolet have been trained on how to identify a flood-damaged vehicle, how to properly dry it out, and how to inspect for any damage to the vehicle's electrical systems. Further, attempting to drive or service a flood-damaged vehicle can pose significant safety risks if you don't have the proper personal protective and repair equipment.
Additionally, if your flood-damaged car can be repaired, your insurance company will want the repair work to be done by an authorized service center. It's highly unlikely that your comprehensive coverage will reimburse you for any DIY repairs. And to avoid further damaging your insured vehicle, your insurance company will likely want you to take it in for service as soon as the flood-damaged car is accessible. For all these reasons, it's best to bring your flood-damaged car in for service promptly to a professional service center such as Monument Chevrolet.
Schedule Your Flood-Damaged Vehicle for a Service With Monument Chevrolet
Scheduling a service for a flood-damaged vehicle at Monument Chevrolet is super easy using our online service scheduler or by giving our service center a call. If you don't feel comfortable driving your flood-damaged vehicle, we also offer 24-hour towing and would be happy to come pick up your car for you. At Monument Chevrolet, we value the safety and reliability of not just the cars we sell but also all the cars we service, and we look forward to making your car safe and reliable to drive once more.