After a rainy summer in the market you can get to the "drowned man"
Water causes serious damage to cars - both visible and hidden. That is why experts warn that after heavy rains and floods, many cars will appear on the secondary car market that were literally “drowned”.
The British edition Autoexpress has shared some tips on how to avoid buying such a car.
How dangerous is car flooding?
Many people completely mistakenly believe that a flooded car needs some time to dry out. This is enough to make her the same as she was before.
In fact, water damages all major parts and systems - engine, brake system, electrical system, electronic components, starter motor, exhaust system (including catalytic converter) and others. The end result is very unpleasant and therefore the owners of such cars quickly try to sell them and get rid of them.
Signs of a "drowned man"
When buying a used car, the customer should be especially careful and pay attention to a number of symptoms, which may indicate that the car has been flooded with water in whole or in part.
- If the car was drowned, the electrical system was most likely damaged. Remember to check lights, turn signals, power windows and similar systems to make sure they work.
- Look for moisture - some places in the car take a very long time to dry. In addition, in the cabin of such a car there will be a characteristic smell of moisture.
- Check for rust - if it is too much for the age of the car, it is better to skip the purchase. On internet forums, you can easily find out how long a certain model takes to rust.
- Take a close look under the hood and make sure there is no rust. Pay special attention to the starter, as it suffers most from flooding.
- Turn on the heating fan. If there is water in the ventilation system, it will appear as condensation and accumulate on the windows in the car.
- If possible, try to study the history of the car, as some sellers of the "drowned" have received compensation from the insurer for water damage. This information can be found in the database.
These simple reminders will keep you from buying a problem car.
