The market for used vehicles has been active all the time. The year 2021 has already become complicated in terms of climatic changes and various disasters as a result of these changes. There are floods all over the world, along with fires and scorching heat.
Floods are destructive. Unfortunately, after the water goes, the owners of the vehicles that are damaged by the flood are looking for ways to restore and repair them. While some find not the most decent solution — they sell these cars like regular used vehicles. So, how to tell if a car has been damaged by the flood?
A Sunken Car: Be Attentive
The first thing you need to know about the car — the country or state from which it was delivered. After the flood, the flow of such cars to the used vehicles’ market begins immediately. If a vendor or owner is reluctant to provide this information, get to know on your own. You just need to decode VIN and get all the vehicle history with the place of its first registration. It is extremely difficult to visually identify a flood-damaged car, especially if the seller has conducted pre-sale training.
What is the danger?
A sunken car is like a time bomb. The flooding is dangerous for the car’s electrical equipment. Most electrical connectors inside the car are not airtight. In the future, moisture will lead to short circuits. And the electric system of the car will fail.
How to Recognize a Flooded Car?
The most obvious signs are water in light devices:
– headlights,
– turn signals,
– fog lights,
– dashboard.
Dirty water leaves a mark on the reflectors, so it is visible even if the water is dried.
A poorly disguised flooded funny parked car usually has stains on the door upholstery, a characteristic water line in the trunk, and on the seat upholstery. But experienced vendors will try to hide such obvious shortcomings. They will replace the damaged parts. And this is a reason to think. Why has a used car brand-new optics or a reupholstered interior?
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There are also implicit signs that you have a car with a flooded past. All experts in this field say that the first thing is a musty smell in the cabin. If you sit in the car, and you recognize this smell — run! But if not, turn on the air conditioner for heating and close all windows and doors, wait for 7-10 minutes. If there is fogging, condensation appears on the glass — there is a high probability that the car encountered water. So, there is moisture in it. But in wet weather, this method may not work.
Also, take a good look at the upholstery in the cabin, especially on the floor. If it is quite wet, and then dried — it will be visible: in some places, it will be crumpled, hard, uneven, and of course, with an unpleasant odor. Also, car seats — if there are seat covers, be sure to check under them. Check for dry spots and stains on the upholstery of the seats.
Hopefully, you will not come across such a vehicle. However, being well-informed will undeniably save you from troubles in the future.
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