Can Rain Damage Your Car?

Marc Skirvin
Marc Skirvin

What's in this Article

Many people will agree that occasional rainfall is wonderful. You would not have to feel the heat of the sunlight burning your skin. Raindrops would bring soothing and refreshing vibes, and it’s the perfect way to spend the day indoors. However, that might not be the case for your car.

Rainfall does not cause immediate damage to your vehicle. However, it doesn’t assure you the safety of your car from other serious problems in the future. Heavy rains can cause a flood, traffic jams, and other issues to your vehicle. 

It might be hard to accept if you believe that cars are water-resistant, but the truth is that they aren’t. Read on if you want to know more about how rainfall can damage your vehicle. 

How Rainfall Affects Your Car

Rainfall can cause severe damage to your car because it is mainly made of metal. The iron in the metal cannot survive in water for a long time. Once iron is mixed with water, the result is rust because of oxidation. That’s the worst problem to deal with since most car owners want to maintain a shiny and new-looking exterior.

In addition, prolonged exposure to water and other contaminants may also lead to electrical problems and failure of the engine to start. For this reason, heavy rainfall and flooding may one day force you to either repair your car or sell it. 

How Acid Rain Damages Your Car

Acid deposition is a natural occurrence that releases acidic components like nitric and sulfuric acid. Its most common form is acid rain. A substance is acidic if it has a pH level of below 7. The average raindrop is already considered slightly acidic with a pH level of 5.0 to 5.5, how much more for the acid rain with a pH of 4? This is why you should not take rain as a free wash for your vehicles.

Be cautious of how acid rain damages cars since acidic moisture can cause your vehicle to lose its shine and become rusty. 

How To Know If A Rain-Damaged Car Is Junk

The best way to know if your rain-damaged or flooded car is junk is to bring it in for repair or inspect it for yourself. The first thing you need to know is whether freshwater or saltwater has affected your car.

Saltwater causes rust and corrosion in the car, leading to system failure in its electrical and mechanical systems. On the other hand, fresh water can lead to mold growth inside the vehicle and some rust problems. Both of them involve significant repairs, so it’s essential to have your car assessed right away.

If you find out that lots of repairs are needed, you may consider it junk. You can sell it for cash to use to buy a new car. 

Can I Sell a Car with Water Damage?

You can try selling a car for cash value. While it may appear worthless, you can still make a top dollar out of its remaining metal parts. Many buyers are willing to pay cash for scrap cars with water damage.

Final Thoughts

Rainfall can cause serious damage to your car internally and externally. If you own this kind of rain-damaged car, make sure to inspect it thoroughly. After finding out how many repairs your car needs, compute how much it would take to fix them. 

The best option for cars that are too expensive to repair is to consider them junk and sell them. If you’re looking for a place where you can get money for junk cars, you should visit Cash Auto Salvage today. We buy junk cars for cash all over the country. Get your instant offer today through our website.

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About the Author

Marc
Marc

Marc is the Co-Founder of Cash Auto Salvage and Director of daily operations. He retired from a leading Internet Marketing company in 2013 and has been involved in the automotive industry ever since.

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