| Is a flood car coming to a town near you? | | | | carpet! If the computer system gets wet, not |
| Hurricanes have done major devastation to the | | | | only will it need to be replaced, but it can damage |
| southern coastline, and the clean up project will | | | | many other electrical components as well. |
| likely take years to return things to some what | | | | The computer can be replaced now, and all might |
| normal. What I am concerned about is the | | | | seem well, but the rust will soon make its way to |
| potentially HUGE number of vehicles that will soon | | | | these other electrical components and a domino |
| come on the market to be sold as used cars. The | | | | effect will probably start to happen. One sensor |
| problem is not that the vehicle is used, but that it | | | | after another will fail, intermittent electrical |
| is potentially a casualty of the hurricanes and high | | | | problems will begin to happen, and your |
| water. These used cars are generally known in | | | | pocketbook will soon start to feel the ill effects of |
| the business as "flood cars." | | | | multiple monthly mechanic visits. I consider rust |
| Now I know what you are thinking, "I don't live in | | | | the cancer of automobiles, you have to keep |
| these Southern areas, so I am not at risk of | | | | cutting and cutting and cutting to stop its growth. |
| unknowingly purchasing one of these flood cars." | | | | Transmissions are another big ticket item that can |
| Sorry, but you are dead wrong...actually the | | | | be affected by water and not show symptoms |
| farther away you live from the hurricane damage, | | | | for some time. When moisture enters the |
| the greater you are at risk for being scammed | | | | transmission, the normally light pink fluid becomes |
| into buying one of these cars. | | | | a light white/pinkish frothy mix, like a strawberry |
| Why are you more at risk? Think about it. The | | | | milkshake. The entire workings of the |
| flood damage took place in New Orleans, don't | | | | transmission are extremely complex and full of |
| you think that the residents there know that used | | | | wires, sensors, and lots of rubber seals and |
| cars on the market in that area have a HUGE | | | | O-rings. The water will cause the rubber parts to |
| potential to be flood cars? You bet they know | | | | swell and leak, and the sensors and electrical |
| that. | | | | components will soon succumb to rust and water |
| But do you think the used car buyers in Arizona | | | | damage as well. |
| would suspect flood cars were brought into their | | | | So what can you do to protect yourself from |
| area? Probably not, and the scam artists behind | | | | buying a flooded time bomb? |
| these flood cars know this. I would suspect | | | | - Be cautious of every used car on the market. |
| theses car will be on the used car market for | | | | - Take your time inspecting and test driving. A |
| about a year...maybe more. This issue is huge and | | | | good deal today is usually a good deal tomorrow |
| will hurt many people who make the mistake and | | | | too, so don't succumb to pushy sales people. |
| purchase one of these vehicles. | | | | - Inspect under the driver and passenger seats |
| What is the big deal about a car that got water | | | | for obvious signs of rust on the seat tracks and |
| inside it if it seems to run just fine? Great | | | | metal seat frame. |
| question...even if I made it up myself. The engine | | | | - Look at the headliner (the fabric on the roof |
| itself might be fine, and long term engine damage | | | | inside the car). Once wet, the glue that holds this |
| might not have occurred, but there are many | | | | fabric in place will begin to weaken, and the fabric |
| other components of the vehicle that can seem | | | | will begin to fall down completely, or will fall in small |
| to be working normally now, but can deteriorate | | | | sections that will look like bubbles. |
| in the near future. | | | | - Inspect the undercarriage and the exhaust |
| Electrical components and wiring are usually | | | | system for signs of large scale rust. I would |
| affected most. There is a ton of complex wiring | | | | expect a small amount of rust as being normal; |
| under the hood, in the dashboard, and under the | | | | ask your mechanic if you have questions. |
| carpeting of the vehicle. Water gets inside the | | | | - Use your nose. If the inside of the vehicle smells |
| vehicle from underneath from holes in the frame | | | | damp and moldy, or feels damp to your skin...run! |
| and body and around the door openings. If the | | | | - Remove the wheels and inspect the brakes. |
| carpet gets wet, so does the vast network of | | | | This should be done anyway if you are inspecting |
| wiring under the carpet. The carpet can easily be | | | | a used car, but rust damage will really show itself |
| replaced, but the wiring under the vehicle is usually | | | | on the brake components. |
| too complex and therefore too expensive to | | | | - Inspect all under-hood fluids for water |
| replace, so new carpet is laid on top of them, | | | | contamination. Oil and water will look like a |
| concealing potential damage. | | | | chocolate milkshake, oil and transmission or power |
| So what if the wires get wet? Rust my dear | | | | steering fluid will look like a strawberry milkshake. |
| friend. Rust is your enemy, and rust you will soon | | | | - Get the dealership or the seller to give you a |
| have. These wires will now slowly begin to break | | | | written statement that to the best of their |
| down and rust will form on any part of the wire | | | | knowledge that 1. the car has not been in a flood, |
| that is not protected. When the electricity | | | | and 2. the car was not involved in any type of |
| traveling inside these wires makes contact with | | | | insurance claim that might have resulted in the |
| this rust, it will make a ground, and the electricity | | | | original owner selling the vehicle to their insurance |
| will stop traveling. Whatever component the | | | | company as a "total loss." |
| electricity was traveling to, a fuel pump for | | | | - Get a CarFax report. These reports can provide |
| instance, will soon stop working. Finding the trouble | | | | very valuable information about the car, but I |
| spot in the miles of wire is not an easy task. The | | | | would not rely solely on them. CarFax may not |
| carpets and seat will probably have to be | | | | have complete or updated information critical to |
| removed and hours of diagnostic time will | | | | your decision. |
| probably be accumulated as the mechanic tries to | | | | - Look in the trunk under the carpeting and under |
| find the trouble spot. | | | | the spare tire. Water and rust will tend to puddle |
| In most cars, the onboard computer system is | | | | here since it is one of the lowest places of the |
| located in the lower part of the passenger | | | | vehicle. If you see standing water, or signs of rust |
| dashboard area, just inches above the carpeting. | | | | in and around the spare tire area it is probably a |
| Some Japanese vehicles have the computer | | | | flood damaged vehicle and should be avoided. |
| located under the passenger seat, on top of the | | | | |