Garage Flooded. Is My Car OK?

[FKS]

Due to incredible rain in the NYC area, my garage was flooded. I was out of
town during the flooding happened and according to my neighbors & my guess,
the water level in the garage was about 10 inch high.

My '06 ES330 was in the garage and I see no evidence of water coming inside
the car. I just brought the car back from a friend's and during the short
ride, I didn't hear or feel anything strange with the car.

How do I make sure the car is fine? Should I have my dealership check it
(meaning $$$ out of my pocket)? What are the symptoms of water damage to a
car? Thanks.

[Ray O]

Post by FKS
Due to incredible rain in the NYC area, my garage was flooded. I was out
of town during the flooding happened and according to my neighbors & my
guess, the water level in the garage was about 10 inch high.
My '06 ES330 was in the garage and I see no evidence of water coming
inside the car. I just brought the car back from a friend's and during the
short ride, I didn't hear or feel anything strange with the car.
How do I make sure the car is fine? Should I have my dealership check it
(meaning $$$ out of my pocket)? What are the symptoms of water damage to a
car? Thanks.

Feel the carpet, upholstery, and headliner to see if they are damp. Check
the engine air filter to see if it is damp. If the car was completely
submerged, the carpet, seats, and headliner should be damp. Have the engine
oil changed to see if it has a milkshake appearance. If it does, then water
got into the motor.

If the interior and engine air filter are dry, there is no musty odor, and
the oil is OK, then the car is probably OK.

Check the garage where the car was parked to see if there are signs of
flooding, like stains on the interior walls.

[FKS]

Post by Ray O
If the interior and engine air filter are dry, there is no musty odor, and
the oil is OK, then the car is probably OK.
Check the garage where the car was parked to see if there are signs of
flooding, like stains on the interior walls.
--

The interior is dry. The water level was about 10-12 inch high according to
the stains on the garage walls.

[Ray O]

Post by FKS

Post by Ray O
If the interior and engine air filter are dry, there is no musty odor,
and the oil is OK, then the car is probably OK.
Check the garage where the car was parked to see if there are signs of
flooding, like stains on the interior walls.
--

The interior is dry. The water level was about 10-12 inch high according
to the stains on the garage walls.

If the interior is dry, then the car is probably fine. The stains on the
walls will tend to be higher than the actual water level because wood and
drywall tend to wick moisture, so the water level inside the garage probably
never got above the door sills.

[FKS]

"Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message
news:cec38$46267524

Post by Ray O
If the interior is dry, then the car is probably fine. The stains on the
walls will tend to be higher than the actual water level because wood and
drywall tend to wick moisture, so the water level inside the garage
probably never got above the door sills.

When I abruptly stop the car, I hear a sound of moving liquid from the rear.
Is it possible that water came into the muffler and is trapped inside?

[Ray O]

Post by FKS
"Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message
news:cec38$46267524

Post by Ray O
If the interior is dry, then the car is probably fine. The stains on the
walls will tend to be higher than the actual water level because wood and
drywall tend to wick moisture, so the water level inside the garage
probably never got above the door sills.

When I abruptly stop the car, I hear a sound of moving liquid from the
rear. Is it possible that water came into the muffler and is trapped
inside?

Yes, it is possible that water got into the muffler and is trapped inside,
but I would imagine that you would see lots of steam or water dripping out
when the engine is warmed up and you rev the engine.

Look in the spare tire well in the trunk to make sure water is not trapped
in there. Also look in the wells on each side of the trunk (I think they
are covered by trim pieces.)

The spare tire well and the wells on each side of the trunk may have rubber
plugs that you can pull out to let any accumulated water out, or you can use
a wet-vac or rags to get rid of any water that is trapped in there.

[Jay Somerset]

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:07:49 -0500, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by FKS
"Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message
news:cec38$46267524

Post by Ray O
If the interior is dry, then the car is probably fine. The stains on the
walls will tend to be higher than the actual water level because wood and
drywall tend to wick moisture, so the water level inside the garage
probably never got above the door sills.

When I abruptly stop the car, I hear a sound of moving liquid from the
rear. Is it possible that water came into the muffler and is trapped
inside?

Yes, it is possible that water got into the muffler and is trapped inside,
but I would imagine that you would see lots of steam or water dripping out
when the engine is warmed up and you rev the engine.
Look in the spare tire well in the trunk to make sure water is not trapped
in there. Also look in the wells on each side of the trunk (I think they
are covered by trim pieces.)
The spare tire well and the wells on each side of the trunk may have rubber
plugs that you can pull out to let any accumulated water out, or you can use
a wet-vac or rags to get rid of any water that is trapped in there.

10 inches of water should be over the door sills, so that is where I would
concentrate my checking.
Check the doors. That is the most likely place water will remain,
especially if the drain holes are plugged with dirt. I had an Avalon where
one rear door had about 4 inches of water in it -- guess what; no drain
holes -- I had to actually drill some.

[Max]

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:57:12 -0400, "Jay Somerset"

Post by Jay Somerset
10 inches of water should be over the door sills, so that is where I would
concentrate my checking.
Check the doors. That is the most likely place water will remain,
especially if the drain holes are plugged with dirt. I had an Avalon where
one rear door had about 4 inches of water in it -- guess what; no drain
holes -- I had to actually drill some.

also...check your fuel level. You may just be hearing a half full gas
tank.

[FKS]

Post by Max
On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:57:12 -0400, "Jay Somerset"

Post by Jay Somerset
10 inches of water should be over the door sills, so that is where I would
concentrate my checking.
Check the doors. That is the most likely place water will remain,
especially if the drain holes are plugged with dirt. I had an Avalon where
one rear door had about 4 inches of water in it -- guess what; no drain
holes -- I had to actually drill some.

also...check your fuel level. You may just be hearing a half full gas
tank.

Is it possible that I can actually hear the sound of gas moving in the tank
when the car abruptly stops???

The reason why I'm asking is that I found no water in the doors, the trunk,
the spare tire compartment, etc.

[Ray O]

Post by FKS

Post by Max
On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:57:12 -0400, "Jay Somerset"

Post by Jay Somerset
10 inches of water should be over the door sills, so that is where I would
concentrate my checking.
Check the doors. That is the most likely place water will remain,
especially if the drain holes are plugged with dirt. I had an Avalon where
one rear door had about 4 inches of water in it -- guess what; no drain
holes -- I had to actually drill some.

also...check your fuel level. You may just be hearing a half full gas
tank.

Is it possible that I can actually hear the sound of gas moving in the
tank when the car abruptly stops???
The reason why I'm asking is that I found no water in the doors, the
trunk, the spare tire compartment, etc.

The fuel tank has baffles to prevent the fuel from sloshing around too much.
I doubt if you can hear the fuel in the tank. If the sound is coming from
the rear, look in the ducts under the front seats and under the back seat
bottom. You can try jacking up the front of the car to see if any water
comes out the exhaust.

[Max]

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:57:37 -0500, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by FKS
Is it possible that I can actually hear the sound of gas moving in the
tank when the car abruptly stops???
The reason why I'm asking is that I found no water in the doors, the
trunk, the spare tire compartment, etc.

The fuel tank has baffles to prevent the fuel from sloshing around too much.
I doubt if you can hear the fuel in the tank. If the sound is coming from
the rear, look in the ducts under the front seats and under the back seat
bottom. You can try jacking up the front of the car to see if any water
comes out the exhaust.

however, to eliminate fuel making the noise, just test on a full tank.

[Ray O]

Post by Max
On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:57:37 -0500, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by FKS
Is it possible that I can actually hear the sound of gas moving in the
tank when the car abruptly stops???
The reason why I'm asking is that I found no water in the doors, the
trunk, the spare tire compartment, etc.

The fuel tank has baffles to prevent the fuel from sloshing around too much.
I doubt if you can hear the fuel in the tank. If the sound is coming from
the rear, look in the ducts under the front seats and under the back seat
bottom. You can try jacking up the front of the car to see if any water
comes out the exhaust.

however, to eliminate fuel making the noise, just test on a full tank.

Some solutions are just a little too obvious! I hate it when I'm not the
one with the obvious answer!
;-)

[Max]

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:08:43 -0500, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by Max
On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:57:37 -0500, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by FKS
Is it possible that I can actually hear the sound of gas moving in the
tank when the car abruptly stops???
The reason why I'm asking is that I found no water in the doors, the
trunk, the spare tire compartment, etc.

The fuel tank has baffles to prevent the fuel from sloshing around too much.
I doubt if you can hear the fuel in the tank. If the sound is coming from
the rear, look in the ducts under the front seats and under the back seat
bottom. You can try jacking up the front of the car to see if any water
comes out the exhaust.

however, to eliminate fuel making the noise, just test on a full tank.

Some solutions are just a little too obvious! I hate it when I'm not the
one with the obvious answer!
;-)

LOL..and it's almost *always* the most obvious that's overlooked.

And Murphys Law says, it'll always be the most obvious! ;-)

[FKS]

Haven't filled up the tank yet:-) More tests have revealed that I hear a
sound of moving liquid from the rear only when abruptly stopping the car on
a downward slope. Anyway, my dealership will take a look at it soon.

[Ray O]

Post by Max
On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:08:43 -0500, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by Max
On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:57:37 -0500, "Ray O"

Post by Ray O

Post by FKS
Is it possible that I can actually hear the sound of gas moving in the
tank when the car abruptly stops???
The reason why I'm asking is that I found no water in the doors, the
trunk, the spare tire compartment, etc.

The fuel tank has baffles to prevent the fuel from sloshing around too much.
I doubt if you can hear the fuel in the tank. If the sound is coming from
the rear, look in the ducts under the front seats and under the back seat
bottom. You can try jacking up the front of the car to see if any water
comes out the exhaust.

however, to eliminate fuel making the noise, just test on a full tank.

Some solutions are just a little too obvious! I hate it when I'm not the
one with the obvious answer!
;-)

LOL..and it's almost *always* the most obvious that's overlooked.
And Murphys Law says, it'll always be the most obvious! ;-)

Yup, which is why it never hurts to state the obvious!

Thanks for sharing the obvious!