Do you live in an area that is prone to heavy rains or severe storms such as hurricanes? If so, and you own a vehicle, you need to be aware of some potential damages that can occur to your vehicle. One of the most significant and costly parts of your vehicle that might get affected is the transmission. Transmission flooding can occur when water levels are high. This is typical in an area that is impacted by heavy rain due to storms. However, hurricanes sometimes leave paths of destruction that also include elevated water. You may not notice anything different about your vehicle initially after a flood situation. However, neglecting to take the proper approaches to protect your vehicle can result in extensive and costly repairs. The following points will help you to understand some proactive steps you can take if there is a possibility that your transmission was negatively impacted by flooding.

Determine Water Level

This is an important step. It basically involves using the transmission dipstick to determine whether the water level raised high enough to infiltrate the transmission. Low water levels will likely not cause damage to your transmission, despite heavy rain. This is true even if there is ponding. The transmission will get impacted if the water levels rise the level where the transmission is located. If your car gets submerged or partially submerged to the level of the dashboard, your transmission, engine, and electrical components will likely be impacted. Your insurance company may decide to total the car out. 

Avoid Starting the Car

Based on the extent of the water levels, you can determine whether your transmission was impacted. You may want to consider having a mechanic inspect the transmission as a precaution if you are unsure. You should not try to crank your vehicle if you are uncertain how far the water levels were. Interior water damage can be used as a sign that your transmission was compromised because the water levels would likely have risen high enough to infiltrate through the car doors. 

An automotive service shop is a good resource to use if you suspect that your transmission is flooded. Some of these companies may offer a pickup service for a nominal fee. This will ensure that you do not run the risk of damaging your vehicle trying to get it to the shop. Another option if pickup services are not available is to contact a towing company to take your vehicle to the car transmission service shop. Even though this may seem like you are spending extra money, it could prevent damages to your transmission since you will not need to operate the vehicle to get it towed. A towing service and transmission repair will probably be a better option in comparison to the risk of irreparable damage to your transmission and needing to get it rebuilt or replaced. 

To learn more about auto repair, contact a company in your area like Terwood Auto Repair.