Be wary when buying a used car that may have been caught in a flood | Car Doctor
With a shortage of new and used cars, flood cars from the recent rains may be making their way into the used car market. It has been reported by CarFax (vehicle history reports) that nearly 50% of the flood-damaged, totaled vehicles return to the market as used cars.
Start with the description. It may be referred to as “storm damage” and it could have a new title indicating it was an insurance total. Car history reports can help, but only if the car was put through a claims process.
Use all your senses
Inspected the car thoroughly. Look for rust stains inside the car, especially around seat brackets.
Does the car smell like mold/mildew? Or does it smell like someone is trying to cover something up?
Look in the trunk, under the spare tire. On a SUV, lower the spare tire and look for mud and debris. If the spare tire looks like it was just steam-cleaned, be suspicious. A spare tire that has been under a vehicle for a few years should be dusty, not caked with mud or spotlessly clean.
Look for water in the headlights and taillights.
Open the hood and look for water stains, mud and dirt in nooks and crannies, such as the alternator, cooling fan and other surfaces.
Check the fuse boxes for signs of corrosion.
Recent rust on unpainted screws indicates moisture.
Check all the fluids. If they are milky-colored, this could indicate water contamination.
On a warm day, if all of the windows have condensation, this could indicate that the interior has been flooded.
Other danger signs: Cleared engine fault codes, reconstructed titles
A technician or even a DIY’er can check for engine fault codes. If the fault codes were recently cleared, this could indicate that someone is trying to hide something.
Some states do a better job of identifying cars with reconstructed titles and brand those cars as former salvage vehicles. If you are looking at a local car, and it has a recent out-of-state title, be wary. Ask lots of questions.
Finally, if the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. The shortage of current used-car inventory coupled with increased buyer demand will continue to push up prices (already 30% higher than last year's). History has shown us that less-than-honest dealers, wholesalers, “curbstoners,” and even private party sellers will be offering these previously flooded cars to unsuspecting buyers.
John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: How to spot a 'flood' car | Car Doctor
