My GF's car was flooded this weekend
 

I have a few questions. First off I have an '04 g35 coupe with 60,000 miles. The car was flooded. It was sitting in water which peaked at about half way up the door. When i opened the car the water level had settled about half way up the bottom part of the front seats. I had the car towed to infiniti. The service manager looked at it and said it would probably not be totalled. He said they would only have to change the carpet and the rear differential oil. I would think that they would need to change the seats, window motors, engine oil, and tranny oil also. Where are the computers on our cars? Is it under our seats or in the dash board? Im also wondering the effects the water will have on the wires under the hood. Id think that sooner or later they will start to corrode? Am I correct in thinking this way? This is my Girlfriends daily driver and I want it to be safe and reliable for her, since she drives about 70 miles to work and is on the road alot. Thanks for any advice and answers.

Ouch I'm sorry to say. She might run into some problems. Rust is bad my friend.

Why would you go to the dealer instead of filing an insurance claim?

If the water was that high, try and get it "Written Off' by the insurance comp. There is a hell of alot more things to change than the carpet and rear diff oil. There's at least $4000.00 or more damage to that car. Brakes, motor, tranny, diff, carpets, seats, stereo, wiring - inside and out of car, etc.

Good luck. Don't put money in it if you can. It's a money pit.

He shouldn't have any problem with rust. If the car is properly dried it shouldn't encounter any problems with panel ect, rusting. What I would be most concerned with is moisture in the electrical components example ECU, Sensors, seat motors.

I would never trust a car with that much water in it, ever.

Future electrical car nightmare waiting to happen.

I would claim it on insurance and make sure they go thought he car thoroughly. 04g35nyc is right about electrical issues. that's going to be corrosion waiting to happen.

And mold issues, most likely, unless they plan to strip the entire interior.

I have a claim with my insurance company. They told me to bring it where I wanted. I figured the best place would be the dealership. Im wondering how much it would take to total the car. For a flood car does it have to hit the 75% mark like a wrecked car? I looked up the resale value on KBB and it said around $16,500, which would put the damage around $12,000 to total the car. I dont want to go to sell it and there be a hit on the title that says flooded. For one that hurts resale value and second that would kill the sale for sure. Ive been looking to upgrade her car anyway. Hopefully they total it and then i wont have an issue.

Many, if not most cars are totalled due to water damage from floods and hurricanes. I'm surprised it's not totalled - you really are going to have serious problems down the road. If I were you, I would be pushing hard to have it totalled.

You even said it yourself:
"I dont want to go to sell it and there be a hit on the title that says flooded. For one that hurts resale value and second that would kill the sale for sure."

You really have little choice but to push to have it totalled or you're going to lose some serious coin. Not trying poop on your Cherios; just some serious advice. Good luck dude, hope it works out for you.

Crash it into wall immediately, you do not want to deal with this.

if it was in salt water, get rid of it immediately. fresh water… you still might have a chance, but i still would not trust it.

Unless you called the cops and reported the flood, you shouldn't have problem with resell vaule unless you are an upfront seller and volentarly lower your price based on the flood but otherwise their will be no record of it other then Where you fixed the car and the insurance company but they are privite. In other words carfax won't say shyt. Sorry for any misspelling, it's late and i'm writing from my phone. Good luck

Hahahahaha

On a more serious note, it might not seem that bad now, but it's almost 100% that something bad will happen later on down the road and it'll just keep getting worse and worse and worse until you literally would pay someone to take it off your hands.

I speak from experience.