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RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh mechanic is warning vehicle owners to watch out for water damage when rain creates flooding on the roads. 

Hurricane Ian moved through the Carolinas Sept. 30 into Oct. 1, dumping heavy rain and creating flash flooding issues for parts of the state. While that system has come and gone, storm season stretches on through the fall, with the last day as Nov. 30. 

What You Need To Know

Owner of Peoples Tire and Auto in Raleigh, Ryan Peoples says water damage to your car is expensive and sometimes irreversible.

“So if you’ve run through even a foot of water, there is a possibility [that] water can come up through the airbox, it can come up underneath the car,” Peoples said. “It can be sucked into your engine through your air cleaner and that can do what’s called hyrdolocking to your motor. That can do some serious damage.”

Peoples says the damage is not always covered by insurance, and no vehicle is immune to high water.

“Your vehicle can be swept away in less than 2 feet of water,” Peoples said. “You’re putting your life at stake.”

He says it’s best to just avoid water completely. If you do get it in your car, pull back your carpets and try to dry out what you can. It’s also a good idea to check your trunk space.

“If water gets high enough, it can actually get in where your spare is at,” Peoples said. “It’s really hard to dry all of that out. You can create mold and mildew.”

Peoples says you might not see the effects of water damage right away, but you will see the impacts as time goes on. It could devalue your car, and you might not even be able to resell it.​

“So you really just want to keep your vehicle on high grounds whenever these [flooding] situations are coming across,” he said.