Unfortunately, natural disasters occur very often. They pose a serious threat to motorists, as many vehicles are seriously damaged. It is especially unpleasant to buy a car and then find out that it was damaged due to flooding. Today we will tell you how not to make a mistake and notice signs of water damage in time.
First of all, we want to note that after a flood, the car most often becomes unsafe to drive. In this case, the risk of accidents increases, the driver and passengers put their lives in danger. In addition, you need to understand that problems may not appear immediately, you will have to urgently invest money in repairs. Therefore, it is better to detect possible damages before concluding the transaction and signing the contract.
Take the time to study the current offers on the automotive market. See which lots at online auctions such as ABETTERBID are popular with buyers. This way you will be able to better navigate the prices and not pay too much for a damaged car. You should be alerted if the seller asks for too low a price for a car with a good description of the technical condition.
We are used to paying for quality, so any contradiction between price and quality should alert you. Perhaps the previous owner does not want to provide up-to-date information, since the vehicle was damaged by water. It is better to use the vin decoder to find the relevant records in a detailed report.
Look for substantial gaps in the information, keep an eye out for considerable repairs, and investigate inconsistencies if the car came from a flood-prone or coastal zone. If you’re not sure about everything that’s happened to the car, you should probably go on to the next one. You just need to take a closer look at checking the vehicle and pay attention to the obvious signs if you doubt the reliability of the car.
Next, you should arrange a test drive with the seller to look for signs of water damage. Sometimes dealers try to hide rust or dirt, but in hard-to-reach places, these indicators are still noticeable. You can look under the seats or carefully inspect the dashboard. There are most often traces of water damage. In addition, you can use the vin check to understand whether the previous owner had previously tried to repair the car after the flood.
During the test drive, you will also have a great opportunity to check the serviceability of all electronic components. See if the headlights are on, if the radio is working, and if all the dashboard signals are displayed. In addition, you need to check the wiring. If you find corrosion, this is a bad sign, then it is better to refuse to buy this car.
Another sign that can warn you about a malfunction is the smell of mold. Sometimes it is easier to repair damaged systems than to completely get rid of an unpleasant smell in the vehicle cabin. The water could also negatively affect the lining of the seats or the mats. You can see if there are any stains on them. It is especially strange if completely new seats are installed in an old car. Most likely, the seller replaced them after the flood to be able to raise the price.
And finally, the most obvious sign of water damage is rust on the car’s body. Especially carefully you need to inspect the trunk, the inside of the doors, and the hood. It is these places that are usually susceptible to corrosion after flooding. You can also move the mats in the interior of the vehicle and look for rust on the seat fastenings. Most likely, the dealer or seller forgot to check this place before selling.
Now you know how to distinguish a vehicle affected by a flood. We do not recommend buying such cars. It is better to continue the search and purchase another car, as your safety on the road depends on it.
