"Dolph" <ekinskofer@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1163043939.378529.5590@h48g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> hey folks..
>
> I live in wet vancouver, bc. My wifes car, a 98' civic dx hatchback,
> decided that somewhere on the body to allow a lot of water in. Probably
> over a period of 1.5 weeks of heavy rain, there was enough water in the
> entire car to fill the spare tire compartment up to halfway of the
> spare tire and flood the driver and passenger cabin space with enough
> water that the ground is squishy.
>
> upsetting...
>
> Anyways.. I vac'd out the water from the spare tire compartment and did
> the best I could with the driver/passenger cabin space (in front and
> behind the seat). Also under the rear passenger seat.
>
> So I have to:
>
> a) figure out a way to rip out all the carpets and siding and attempt
> to find the leak. Attempt to dry all sponge and carpet.
> b) pay someone to do this.
>
> for a)
>
> First of all, I think that I can do a, however, I'm having problems
> removing the rear passenger seating and need to figure that out.. if
> someone could help me out there. Removing the seats souldn't be a
> problem and if I have to remove the carpet I'm thinking that if I
> remove the side floor panels I'll be able to get to sides of the
> carpet.
>

Once the seats are out of the way and the carpet is out where you can get to
it, a shop-vac should get most of the water up.Once that is done I recommend
using isopropyl alcohol as the pre-drying step. You can get it in gallon
cans at paint stores as shellac thinner (not lacquer thinner - check the
ingredients). Splash it liberally wherever the upholstery was wet and use
the shop-vac to remove the alcohol-water mixture. This will inhibit mold and
greatly speed drying. Of course, you won't be able to stand the way the
interior smells while it is drying, but it will smell okay once it's dry.
Probably the best way to dry the interior from that state is to start the
engine and turn the heater full on, with the windows up and the trunk open a
crack. For the pieces you were able to remove, the same sort of treatment
with a fan-dry should do the trick.

Most of all, you don't want mold to get a foothold in your car. That would
be bad.

Mike