Thousands of flooded vehicles are expected to hit the market as used vehicles, and if you are looking for a new, used car or even got a deal on luxury sedan out of Texas, it's important to be careful before purchasing.
You can't always tell by casually glancing at a vehicle if there is flood damage, but there are some very specific things you can look for.
"One of the things that tells if a car has been underwater is to pull the door jam piece up right here and pull the carpet up," said Paul Kenny, a master mechanic with Precision Tune on Murfreesboro Road.
Underneath, if the padding is wet it means the electronics and wiring is wet too.
Kenny said metal connections will corrode, but the vehicle may be fine when bought.
Many wonder at what point will they notice problems or is it possible the vehicle will run fine forever
Kenny said, "Two things: It can run fine and you'll eventually notice the smell from moldy carpet. Or with time, you could notice electrical failures that affect things like with air conditioning or lighting."
Kenny said water can mean trouble for the engine. Pull the dipstick and the oil should look clean with a brown tint.
"If you pull it out and it looks like a chocolate milkshake that means water has mixed with it," said Kenny.
Thousand of cars damaged in Hurricane Harvey will be sold a low prices as salvage vehicles.
Buyers should be told if a car is flood damaged, but that doesn't always happen. So beware and check for yourself.
Flood damage vehicles are sold at salvage auctions and have a salvage title. Buyers should be alerted to that. Plus they can also check a car's history through car fax.
Just because a used car suffered flood damage doesn't mean it won't be a good car. Some are.
Buyers just need to be aware of the vehicle's history and have it checked out first and then pay the right price.
