Opening your car door in the morning and seeing a pool of water is a horrible feeling, but we have entered the time of year where automotive repair shops, body shops and detail shops begin seeing cars that have accumulated a large amount of water on the inside.

There are many factors that can contribute to water leaking into a car. There are a variety of seals on the doors and windows that can dry out, become brittle and begin to allow water to leak in.

The only way to prevent that would be to replace all the seals, but that is not realistic or generally cost effective. Most importantly you should periodically check the floor to see if you feel any moisture, especially after harder rainfall, if so, take the car in to be checked out.

One cause of water leaking into the car that can be addressed before it becomes an issue would be the drains. Most cars have drains that allow for water that runs down the windshield, roof and or sunroof to drain out of the car. We often see cars where the drains are plugged which allows water to pool up and then begin to leak into the car.

Some common cases are Chrysler convertible Sebrings which have a drain along the underside of the car on a body seam. Checking that drain is as simple as putting a paperclip into the opening and insuring water can drain out.

Most Subaru's have a drain that runs along the inside of the wheel wells. Accessing that drain is more time consuming but money well spent if doing so avoids having a flood inside your car.

The damage caused by water leaking into the car can be more extensive than just the obvious damage to the carpet. There are electrical components stored under seats and behind the front trim pieces. Spending $80 to $150 ahead of time in order to avoid water getting into the car can save hundreds to thousands in damage.

Ironically, most repair shops or dealerships (including us until recently) will almost never recommend having your drains checked or cleaned out. Talk with your service provider the next time you bring your car in and see if doing so would be a wise move.

On your own you can check if there is dirt under the car, pine needles or leaves building up around the hood or inside of the engine compartment under the wipers, if so, those are good indicators that the drains may be getting plugged.

Tracking down water leaks can be time consuming and costly. Ask your shop what process they have for finding water leaks. There is technology available such as ultra-sonic ears that allow the technician to "hear" water leaking into the car.

Using a shower can stimulate rain leaking into the car and help a technician pinpoint where the breech is. Many times, once one leak is found and repaired, another weak point may begin to leak. Have patience, finding water leaks can be a tedious and frustrating process, for the consumer and the technician.

Questions? Post comments here or contact Ridge McCoy, service manager at Alki Auto Repair, at ridgealkiauto@comcast.net or 935-8059.