
How do I know if a car has been in a flood, Quickly?
The recent floods in Texas (2017) will again raise the amount of flood damaged cars on the market which means car buyers should consider adding a special place in their checklists for determining if a vehicle has flood damage. Autohitch.com knows the process of finding a car is already time consuming, so let’s save you some here by summing up what could be a very detailed inspection into just a couple of points:
- Carfax, Autocheck, and other vehicle history reports. These should be given first stops, flood damage or otherwise. However, as with any vehicle damage you should be cautious that these reports may not contain everything because they can only share with you what has been reported to them. For this reason add this free check to your process: https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck). This site can have information that Carfax and other reports have not been provided yet so give it a shot.
- Find the Water- Start by looking for condensation as it’s the easiest to see. Mirrors, windows, headlights, taillights. It’s very difficult to get every ounce of water out of a flooded car and if you live in a humid climate it’s even more difficult. As a car sits with it’s windows up, if it’s been flooded, the windows can/will fog up. In and of itself this doesn’t ALWAYS mean it’s a flood car because they may have just shampooed the carpets and seats, but if you also see mirrors, headlights, and taillights fogging the red flags should start flying.
- Check the fluids in the vehicle- This again is essential flood or not, but I tend not to advise people to put too much weight into this method for flood damaged vehicles. Yes it isn’t super easy to get the moisture out but, it’s the first thing someone trying to sell a flooded car will think you are going to check, so assume it’s been made to pass your inspection. But, like I said, check anyway. Look for the oil to appear milky or have a silver tint to it. Check all fluids by wiping the dipping/measuring sticks clean, reinserting, and pulling back out. Check levels before and after driving. You want to see them cold and settled, and hot and mixed.
- Check for Dirt- This is the best method for determining if a vehicle has been flooded. Why? Because water comes and goes, but if you have ever seen a puddle or a water line on a dock/boat you know that what’s in the water stays behind. Considering all of the crevices, nooks, an cranny's of a car, eliminating all of that grime is practically impossible. It’s also the one task someone selling a flooded vehicle is likely to get tired of doing and end up doing lazy. To find what they left behind it’s best to look at the car as if you were going to clean it and think of where YOU would stop short because “no one would ever look there”. Look for dirt that appears to be formed by a sitting water line, splattered is OK. Move anything that can be moved like a spare tire underneath a car, then check on the unexposed side for that same type of residue they wouldn’t have thought to clean because, “No one checks the spare tire”. Move inside the vehicle and pull a couple of door panels back, check around the firewall or under the dashboard. Check under the seats and around the seat tracks. Move back to the trunk and again pull back some carpeting or panels and see what you find. Remember here to be respectful! Many people won’t like you pulling things apart on a vehicle you have not purchased yet so please take that into account as you pull, lift, and pop panels.
If you follow these simple steps you’ll be just fine. There are far more extensive inspection lists out there but you don’t need a 100 point check to spot a flooded car. If you still don’t trust yourself, order a certified inspection. They are around 100 dollars and check the vehicle inside and out as tough as dealerships do when they take vehicles into inventory. Just Google “Certified vehicle inspection”. They are mobile and will go where they are needed.
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