Small notes to help detect 'water-soaked' cars during inspection
Just one heavy rain with no escape can cause the city to be heavily flooded, traffic to be paralyzed and a series of vehicles to be damaged, including cars. So how can we tell which cars have been water-hammered?
According to car experts, in addition to asking relatives and friends who know the technical aspects when choosing a car, you need to equip yourself with some basic knowledge to minimize the risk of buying a used car that has been flooded, water-hammered, etc. Above all, you must choose a reputable car dealer, a "regular contact" or have relatives and friends recommend it before buying a used car after clearly understanding its origin.
Engine compartment
The engine compartment is also a complex area, difficult to clean and prone to rust stains when the car is flooded. The walls of the engine compartment or the details deep inside the engine are places you should check.
Undercarriage
The underside of the car is the area that leaves the most marks and is the hardest to clean. When the car is flooded, small pieces of trash, dust, and dirt will follow the water into the cracks. And these will be the places where traces such as rust or small leaves will be kept.
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When the car is flooded, small pieces of trash, dust, and dirt will follow the water into the cracks. |
The spare tire area under the car (or in the trunk for sedans) is also often overlooked when cleaning. The rust left by the water level on the metal will be the most obvious sign that the car has been flooded.
Headlight
The first area to check is the cracks in the headlights as well as the inside of the headlights. Flooded cars often have water seeping into the headlight lenses and creating yellowing or condensation on the lens. There are still models of cars that have condensation seeping into the headlight lenses, even though the car has not been flooded. However, foggy headlights are still a sign to question the condition of the car.
Hinges, trunk latches
Hinges, trunk latches, springs, and joints between parts are also places that easily "reveal" the history of the car. These areas are difficult to clean completely and are likely to be missed when the owner takes the car to be "refurbished" after being flooded.
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Check the front, back, and under the seats for water stains. |
Seats
Check the front, back, and under the seats for water damage. Check the color and condition of the seats, carpets, and headliner.
Flooring
For the floor area, it is best to remove the dealer-installed floor coverings to check the “original” floor coverings. Once the car has been flooded, the floor coverings will definitely have a strange color or a musty smell.
Wire
Damaged electrical systems due to water immersion can be a potential safety hazard to passengers in the vehicle, so be careful to check all electrical equipment in the vehicle.
Seat belt
Pull the seat belt out as far as it will go to check for discoloration. This is something that car showrooms often forget to consider when restoring flooded cars.
Pull out the wires from under the dashboard and bend them, if they are brittle and broken then the car has been in heavy water.
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Check the car after being flooded. |
Trunk
You should also check the carpet in the trunk, lift out the spare tire and check for water or dirt accumulated there as these may be places that the car refinisher missed when working.
Diesel
The color and viscosity of the oil can also tell you about the car’s history. Cars that have been submerged in water will have oil that is coffee with milk, chocolate milk, or discolored. The oil from a car that has been submerged in water will also feel sticky to the touch.