Small amount of water got in car. What to do? (Mustang: insurance, house)

[SWHoustonOpinion]

Help!!!!

Honda CR-V parked on the street got small amount of water to where the floor got damp under the mats. I'm wet vacuuming right now but I know it still damp. Should I make a claim on insurance? What if I just try to let it dry out by itself?

[DSL_PWR]

I would notify your insurance company just in case you have an issue with mold after letting the vehicle dry out. Then they are aware and you can file a claim if necessary or should something else say maybe electrical go wrong.

[crone]

When ours got water up to the seats, we pushed it into the driveway without turning it on and changed the oil. Never a problem, but it smelled every time it got damp. Be sure all the electronics are not in the wheel well. happened to a friend going home from our house just around the corner. Water was up over the hubcaps. Cost 5 grand to fix.

[PedroMartinez]

You should pull the carpet and pad and allow it to dry properly.

If you don't pull them soon, you'll most likely always get that molding smell in the summer.

If you pull the carpet and padding, and plan to keep the car for a few more years, I'd consider adding some sound deadening material such as:

Amazon.com : GTMAT 100 sqft Automotive Sound Deadening 50mil PRO - Acoustic Dampening Installation Kit Includes: 100sqft 2 Rolls (18in X 33ft), Instruction Sheet, Application Roller, Degreaser, GT MAT Decals : Vehicle Speaker Installation : Car Elect

[Lowexpectations]

Pedro is right the best option is the pull the cqrpet

[Oildog]

Wet vac as best you can, then let it air out a couple days. I've left windows open during storms and had to dry it out. If you do it today it shouldn't be a long term issue.

[trbstang]

I've been in light floods (under 10") with my Mustang a couple of times, and since it was in essence, sewer water that got into the car, I pulled out the carpet and the padding and soaked them totally with a high pressure nozzle on the hose to flush out all of the sewer water. Squeezed out the excess water and then I set them out in the sun for several days to dry. Otherwise, the sewer smell with be obvious in the car. One time the carpet was not even wet, but the padding got wet and after 4-5 days, it stank. Best to pull it out and clean it completely. I even ran the padding, cut up into 4 pieces, in my dryer with several dryer sheets to help with the smell. It has been about 15 years since the last time and it still smells OK.

Good luck on it!

[kaelti12]

If you pull out the carpet and pad to allow it dry you could consider going ahead and replacing the floor with custom cut vinyl. There are companies that make the floors for each model of vehicle(so they have all the holes in the right places)

That's what we did in my truck. Cost a few hundred and whole days worth of work(you have to take out and put back in all the seats) but its nice to have because even if just our feet or the dogs are wet it doesn't get my carpet all gross.
We did choose to leave the pad under it, so I suppose if it flooded we'd have to take the floor out and replace the pad, the vinyl would be good though.

[Poltracker]

Another trick to control odors and dehumidify the car is to place some rock salt in a bowl and leave it in the car to draw out the moisture. Make sure to cover it with mesh or old pantyose to keep it from spilling. This worked great for me and friends after Allison and Ike. Recharge the rock salt by baking it the oven at a low temp to dry it out then put it back in the car.
There is also a commercial product that does this that you can get at Walmart. Rock salt works better IMO.

[haudi]

You are thinking of DampRid.

Originally Posted by Poltracker

There is also a commercial product that does this that you can get at Walmart. Rock salt works better IMO.