I want to check a car for flood damage, what do I look for?

Question

I have the vehicle history report from Carfax and the car was in a flooded area BUT no flood damage was reported. I am looking at a 2005 Toyota Prius with one owner and under 7,000 miles. The car looks great, but I am suspicious because I am in a hurricane affected area and the car has such low milage. It is from one of the big local dealership's used car lot. It is not Toyota certified as 'there is no much left on the original warranty that we didn't certify it, if you want us to it will cost you an aditional $500,' and I think certifying it adds two years to the warrantee. So, what should I look for to see if there is flood damage??? Thank you for your answers.

You are all giving brilliant answers!!!!!

Answer 1

first use your nose. smell the carpets for mold. look in hidden areas for signs of mud. i foudn the following on the web:
So how can you avoid being taken for a ride when shopping for a used car?

The first thing you should do is check the car's air filter, looking for signs of a flood car.

if u bought the carfax report then they do offer a guarantee but u will need to read it to see if it would help u. i believe what it says is if the car has a title that says it is not banded and it turns out that it actually has a title that is banded, then they will buy the car back. banded means it has damage listed. i am not sure if it means that someone messed with the title and changed it or what.

"Look for grass and silt, which means it's a flood car," said Schnear.

After the hurricanes, many flood cars flooded the used car market. The problem is that after a good soak, wires can corrode, which can be costly.

Next, check the engine oil with a clean rag.

"They may have white or gray material, a lot of carbon on the stick, which means the car may not have had proper care," said Schnear.

And follow your nose when it comes to checking the transmission: If it smells burnt, say no. That could mean about $2,000 for a transmission repair.

Also, make sure the car's onboard lights go on.

"An unscrupulous person will remove the light so that you don't know that there isn't an airbag to protect you," said Schnear.

You can also use a mirror to check the springs under the car seat. If they are rusted, that mean's the car's been in a flood.

All these things are simple tests anyone can do on their own.

AAA also offers a used car inspection service for members and non-members alike. For around $90 to $95, AAA-approved mechanic will check out the used car to see if it's worth the money.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Rust, water damage in the engine compartment and in the trunk. Smell of mold, can't see or find it. The interior is brand new, and everything looks spotless. Sure sign of trying to hide something, new carpets raises a flag because the car isn't that old. If it was in a flooded area, just because there isn't a report of damage, doesn't mean it wasn't there. They could have picked it up as an abandonded vehicle, and stated they didn't know it's history. I worked in vehicle licensing for several years, everytime there was a hurricane or flood in the south, for the next 3-5 months, our office would be on alert for vehicles trying to pass as not having been "insurance destroyed" or totalled. Many people were making purchases, only to find out that their car had been under water for several days, and now the computer items in the car just don't work right, and they cannot do anything about it, it sold "as is". Sad, but true.

Answer 4

A good place to check is under the dashboard on the drivers side, above the padals. Normally, if it was in a flood, in that location, you can see whats left of the water damage. Also check the carpets all the way up above the pedals. And if you can, try to see if the dashboard has been changed or if you can see moisture buildup. A car dealer told me that, so it must be correct. Its been a long time and I don't really remember all the locations where you should check. But hope this helps in any way. ;)

Answer 5

I'd say your wise to be suspicious, sounds like a great deal, an 05 with only 7000 miles.

First thing is to find out if you can who the original owner was and get some details from him/her.

The below link is an article I've written posted on Road and Travel magazine that will offer some good advice.

Car fax isn't alway's 100% accurate either, see the link below for more info.

Good luck with your search.

Jerry
http://www.usedcarwise.com

Answer 6

Tough query...Let me deliver you a heads up despite the fact that... My auto received flooded approximately a month in the past and I ended up promoting it for $2 hundred, considering that in any other case I might must spend $2000 to repair it. It used to be leaking oil from three one of a kind areas and it used to be rough to shift the gears, considering that the entire seals beneath had been hardened by means of the water.

Answer 7

On one of the news shows awhile ago they covered this topic.
They also said to check in the trunk and lift up the carpet/fabric because that is one area dealerships tend to forget to get rid of the water from.

Answer 8

This is what you do,check the engine for rust any little rust spot can be a big clue.Also check under neath the carpets for any signs of flood damage.If you don't see any of those signs it should be good.

Answer 9

dead fish