Drying out a car.

[b0redom]

Hi All,
Posting here as I'm getting a bit desperate. I parked my car closish to the river last week. It seems it may have got a little bit flooded. I've vaxed the hell out of it, but I just can't seem to get the the carpets dry.

I've loaded it up with cat litter to try and suck the water out chemically, but that doesn't seem to have worked either. Any ideas?

[peterb]

Can you get the carpets out to dry them? Otherwise a dehumidifier. How deep was the flooding? Might need to get it professionally checked to ensure no damage to components underneath. If it was a tidal river and it was salty water you are in a different ballgame as the salt residues will remain unless washed out.

[Smudger]

DO NOT use a 3-bar heater like my dad did in the 80s with a Volvo 244. Much flame.

[AETAaAS]

What car is it? Pull out all the carpets and dry them elsewhere, at home in your bathroom, on the clothes line or wherever. If your cars footwell linings are tucked behind the plastic, you might have an easier time pulling them out than cars who have theirs stuck down with adhesive though it is not common.

And most importantly, you want to see if your car has a drain. Not many cars do but if you are lucky, you will find a flap or bolt to allow drainage if the water is that bad.

Otherwise if it's not too urgent, leave the windows part wound down on good days and nights.

[kalniel]

And most importantly, you want to see if your car has a drain. Not many cars do but if you are lucky, you will find a flap or bolt to allow drainage if the water is that bad.

You can always create one

[AETAaAS]

You can always create one

I guess you could always ask a friendly farmer to show you what he did when his Rover 400 bought it in a bog. Leave the kids at home though.

[Jowsey]

I'm assuming a spin cycle then onto a half heat for 2 hours isn't what you want to hear?

All joking aside, I think a dehumidifier is the only way forward at this point. Can you park it in a garage with the doors open and a dehumidifier on full wack?

Like other above had said though, depending on how deep the flooding was it may need a look over .

[b0redom]

It's a Ford Galaxy. I don't think I can get the carpets out. Unfortunately behind the driver, there's a false floor in footwell under which the tools live. That was about 10 cm deep in water. I had no idea it was even there!

I'm not sure how it can have flooded, as the sills are filthy with general grime, and I would have expected some of it to be washed away, or at least marked, and for it to get that much water in through the door seals, the flooding would have to be pretty severe. I didn't notice any evidence of that, so I'm hoping that there's not a hole in the bottom of the car.....

A dehumidifier sounds like a good idea. I'll give that a go....

[Jonj1611]

If you can use a socket set and screwdriver taking the carpets out isn't a big of a job as people think. More of the trim you need to deal with, if all else fails I would take the carpet out and have it properly cleaned.

If its still knackered you can get a complete carpet from a breakers pretty cheap.

[SHare]

You're unlikely to ever get it properly dried unless you get the carpets out, underneath them there's likely to be foam sound deadening that'll have soaked up and held huge amounts of water. If it's not actually been flooded by the river you could just have a failed door seal, door membrane or blocked sunroof drain, any of which could have been letting water in all winter and you've only just noticed by chance.

[deejayburnout]

Some say rice is good for drying things out. Maybe best for smartphones.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

[jimbouk]

You're unlikely to ever get it properly dried unless you get the carpets out, underneath them there's likely to be foam sound deadening that'll have soaked up and held huge amounts of water.

Being the owner of several leaky cars I'm afraid I have to agree. Seats out, carpets out and see what's under the carpets that soaks up the water. I've removed and left out the sound deadening on cars if they have water 'issues' as they dry out a lot quicker that way.

If the carpets really can't come out then see if you can find a way to wedge something under them to create an air gap. If the carpets are actually sat in water then it'll be a long process.

[GoNz0]

No one asked if it has airbags in the seats? :|

You tend to find that horrible recycled wadding under the carpet and that's probably why it isn't drying. Can you pull a bit back and see if it is still sodden as another options punching out the drain plugs under the floor pans then sealing back up with some underbody sealant.

[Jonj1611]

On the cars I have worked on, if it has airbags in the seats, disconnect the battery before removing/disconnecting anything.

I think if the carpet is as bad as mentioned it would really need to come out for any meaningful drying to happen.

[Zak33]

what's it smell like?

drying is easy.. it just takes time and lots of fuel and a safe secure place to park it running. But getting it smelling good is another thing

the best way to dry a car is:

Engine on, fan on (NOT recirculation) pointed to footwell vents and dash vents. Heat set high as it will go. Aim dash vents downward to seats.
Open all windows about 1 inch. Air con OFF, even on Climate Control

Leave...sometimes for days....running like that

it will get warmer... and warmer.. and warmer.. and hotter.. and hotter

[virtuo]

If you know someone with access to a car bodyshop with a paint oven you could sit it in there on half heat for a few hours