Tips for Spotting Flood Damaged Cars

Floods are very frequent in the Philippines during the “ber” months and chances are it has damaged a good number of cars. While these flood damaged cars should end up in the junkyard, some dealers simply put them on sale hoping an unsuspecting buyer will purchase the defective product. How do you know that the car you are buying has not been damaged by a flood? Below are some important tips on how to spot a substandard second hand car:

Look for water lines

If the clever car dealer has not cleaned the flooded car before putting it on the lot, you may still see the water lines on its body. This can tell you at what water level the vehicle has been driven at. If the water line seems to be above the car floor, the next best thing is to open the car’s door and trace if there is dampness on the interior by removing the carpet and checking for mud.

Check moisture and dirt

Inspect the interior of the car and see if there is any moisture or dirt in it. If the car’s upholstery is covered by fabric you may see some discoloration. Mud and small specks of earth can also easily be trapped on headlights and the corners of the trunk. If you see these indications, it is best to ask the dealer about this issue and not give in to that low sticker price.

Look for indicators

Rust and mold are very good indicators that the car has been flooded. Mold usually forms in just about every area in the cabin, especially on the sides and under the seats. In addition, you may also see rust at the back of the car such as the spare tire under the cargo area. If the car’s front area is alright, but the rear seems to have these indicators it would mean that the car was flooded while it was inclined rather than parallel.

Turn up the car seats

The car seats are made of foam, which can absorb a lot of water. Check if they are full of water by simply pressing them after you have popped them out. If water is oozing from the foam, chances are the vehicle was flooded. Some car dealers do vacuum it but forget to hide the evidence by completely drying up the car’s upholstery.

Pop-up the hood

In some instances, the interior may be OK (or may have been cleaned), but the engine tells a different story. Check the liquid levels in the engine, especially the oil by using the dip stick method. The oil should be fresh and clean. Move next to the air cleaner and check if it has caught any moisture.

Contact insurance company

There are some instances where you can trace back the previous owner of the car through the car insurance company that insured it. Ask for a detailed report of what happened to the car, especially if you suspect that it was flooded. Check to see if the car was flooded by driving in knee deep water or if it was involved in a natural disaster. This can help you gauge the extent of the car’s damage.

The dangers of flood damaged cars

Aside from spending more on repairs- including drying out the car, owning a flood damage car poses many dangers. Some threats include the car malfunctioning in the middle of a drive and the formation of mold which can produce harmful airborne substances.