Mazatlán’s summer rains can wreak havoc on your car

Before: the car is completely stripped, cleaned, and dried. After: Everything is retuned to showroom quality clean.

Soon the rainy season will be fully upon us here in Mazatlan. If you own a car, chances are you’re concerned about driving through flooded streets and the effect that has on your vehicle.

Often it’s not possible to avoid a familiar street that has suddenly turned into a lagoon. Sometimes it’s the very street you live on – and park on – that floods. Seasoned residents know what happens and if they’re lucky, they remember to avoid those streets (or arrange to park in a pensión for the summer). But if you’re new here – or oops, you forget – you may suddenly find yourself driving through a lake of unfortunately very dirty water.

That’s when the trouble begins for your car.

Water enters your car in two ways: from the bottom of the doors and through parts in the undercarriage that have not been sealed properly. A good idea is to have a mechanic put your car on a lift and inspect the bottom for possible water entry points which can then be sealed as a preventative measure.

But this won’t help if the water floods above your doors.

It isn’t just the wetness that’s a problem – it’s the bacteria and mold that come along with the water. Depending on how far into your vehicle the water gets, your car can suffer engine or brake damage, as well as significant and lasting injuries to the upholstery, floor mat and interior components.

And, just because you “dry out” your car in the sun and sprinkle or spray it with nice-smelling deodorant doesn’t mean the trouble is over. Sanitizing is the key; the bacteria must be killed. This can be difficult, and some bacteria will continue to decompose whatever organic matter they have settled into for a long time after a flooding incident. That’s why months later your car will start smelling bad or running poorly. People can actually begin to be allergic to their cars because of the mold growing after a flooding incident.

All this points to two things: Try like the dickens not to drive through flooded streets, and if you must, see a car cleaning professional as soon as possible afterward.

What he’s going to do is slowly take apart the interior components of your car – the floor, dashboard, wall and floor panels - using the correct equipment so as not to further damage the parts. Each piece will be inspected for mold or water damage and sanitized and cleaned thoroughly before replacing. Any entry points where water came into your car will be re-sealed, and if necessary, a new plastic liner will be installed under the carpet. Electrical connections, for seat heating elements, airbags, etc., will be examined and checked for water damage, and then disinfected.

The seats and mats get special attention, and a heat extractor will be used to deep-clean and sanitize the upholstery and cushions. (Depending on how much water got into your car, the car seat cushions might need to be replaced.) In most cases it’s necessary to peel the upholstery away from the cushion material in order to clean it thoroughly, and a car cleaning professional has the experience and equipment to do this without damaging even the finest leather.

Engine damage is, of course, another consideration. When water gets into the air intake and inside the pistons, it has to find a way out. The resulting pressure - because there is no way out - can actually crack the engine. Some cars, notably Toyotas, have their air intakes up high for exactly this reason. But the average car doesn’t and is therefore susceptible to this sort of damage.

If you’ve been forced to drive through deep water, listen carefully to your engine afterward. Is there a hard tapping sound? Stop driving the car immediately and have a mechanic look it over. Brakes can suffer damage, too, but usually a day of drying out will have them working as good as new. Just be aware that if the brake drums got soaked you need to not use the car for 24 hours to allow them to dry thoroughly.

Another good idea is to check with your insurance company as to what, if any, services are covered in case your car does get flooded. Most will reimburse for accidental water damage and part of that includes a professional cleaning.

Mazatlán native Enrique Peraza Chavarín is the owner of El 12 Auto Detailing, Avenida del Mar #1115, Mazatlán (next to Cherry disco). He trained in the U.S. and has six years experience in car care and detailing. Contact him at (cell) 669-918-1808, (office) 121-1457, or www.el12.com.