Tips to Stay On Top of Water Damage to Your Car
While the news reports concerning
hurricanes, flood damages and the travesty
that was put upon the unfortunate victims
have slowed down, the dangers and hazards
are still present. With reports varying upwards
of 600,000 vehicles damaged by floodwaters,
these cars and trucks will most certainly,
and already have, surfaced across the country,
waiting on their next victim.
It's
easy to let your guard down with out much
media publicity, but used car buyers should
be aware that these vehicles are still out
in the market, perhaps cross country in states
that are not affected by the floods.
A
couple of common issues that have surfaced,
that you should be aware of, is sellers attempting
to hide the origin of where these cars came
from. By registering the vehicle in different
states, it creates a paper trail that can
be difficult to trace unless you spend the
time for researching.
Another
trick sellers will use is changing license
plate frames or adding an emblem from another
state. This of course is designed to deceive the potential buyer of what state
the car came from.
The
question remains, what steps should a consumer
take to minimize their risk of purchasing
these damaged vehicles? The below tips,
ideas and suggestions will at least minimize
your risk of purchasing a vehicle that
has been involved with floodwaters.
Check
the National Insurance Crime Bureau's web
site at www.nicb.org, they have compiled a
list of vehicles that have that have been
affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
While this list may not include every single
vehicle, it's a good place to start with.
You
should also run an online history report,
but once again, this database may not be all-inclusive,
it's simply another step in the process of
elimination.
Knowledge
Is King, and it can't have more meaning than
in your quest for a quality automobile.
Following the below inspection tips will offer
some added protection as well, and
is themost effective means of determining
if the vehicle was involved in floods.
- Inspect for grass and debris around the radiator, underneath around the frame, front and rear suspension components, etc.
- Check for standing waterlines in the engine compartment, rear firewall area, and even inside door pockets of the door panels and interior trim areas.
- Mildew smell inside due to wet carpeting and padding indicate the possibility water intrusions.
- Inspect connectors and wiring for signs of corrosion, physically disconnect a few connectors and inspect the terminals. Corrosion evidence will be a green or white chalk substance or rust color.
- Look for rusted bolts and metal components, particularly underneath seats where water has been standing.
- Inspect for windows fogging up on the inside after the vehicle has sat overnight, this is an indication that there may be water underneath the carpet and or carpet padding.
- Inspect the vehicle's trunk area for waterlines, corroded connectors and wiring.
With a keen eye and a little knowledge you can minimize the risk of spending thousands of dollars on a vehicle that has potential long-term effects by water damage.
Usedcarwise.com offers a comprehensive "how-to" course designed to educate the average consumer on protecting themselves when used car shopping.
(Source: UsedCarWise)
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