Flooding in Cape Breton could mean trouble for vehicles

Monday's heavy rainleft behind neighbourhoods fullof flooded carsin parts of Cape Breton, and soon theirowners will have to sort out whether their vehicles area writeoff.

How high the water reached will in partdeterminewhethera vehicle can be saved, says automotive consultant Doug Bethune.

If it didn't reachthe vehicle's axles androcker panels, there shouldn't be any problems.Rocker panels are horizontal pieces of steel located underneath a vehicle's doors.

"Most of the vents for all those components are up higher than the centre of the axle," Bethune said on CBC'sMaritime Noon.

While some cars can be saved, others can't.

Bethune says owners shouldn't drive their vehicles ifwater has gone above the axles and rocker panels.

Instead, they should have the vehicle towed to a repair shop to flush fluids, such as the engine-lubrication oil, power steering fluid and transmission fluid.

Bacteria problems

If the interior of a vehicle is flooded, that's likely bad news because it may contain bacteria.

"If that bacteria and the spores are not killed off, then you're going to end up with respiratory trouble and bacteria airborne-related problems in the vehicle," said Bethune.

Even once an interior has been cleaned out, Bethune recommends getting an ozone treatment done to kill any bacteria and spores that may remain.

Saltwater isespecially problematic because it can corrodeelectricalcomponents and the vehicle's wiring.

Call your insurer

Bethune recommends people call their insurer to fully understand the process before any work is done.

"After the claim's been completed, you can't go back and say, 'Well, you missed this,'" he said.

If a vehicle is written off due to flood damage, Bethune says the owner should call Access Nova Scotia and report it. This will help brand the vehicle as flood damaged and helps ensure someone else doesn't purchase it without knowing its history.

He says some people buyvehicles damaged by flooding, fix them up and sell them to people without disclosing what they've been through.