Eli5 How cars can go through car washes, drive through rain and shallow puddles, etc without the water wreacking havoc on the electrical systems, or turning it into a pile of rust on wheels?

Question

Title says it all, just something I’ve wondered

In: 1

Answer 1

The electrical systems are made waterproof/built into a waterproof part of the car.
Not all metals rust and those who do need to be in contact with air for that.
A protective coating prevents that.

Answer 2

Good engineering.

Electrical components are insulated and metallic components are protected by paint (among other things). However they do eventually rust, as the paint wears off. It just takes several decades to turn a vehicle into “a pile of rust”.