How to avoid buying a water damaged car
Heavy flooding during rainy winters leave scores of cars suffering flood damage. It is not unusual, especially during the Cape’s winter months, to see cars being abandoned in pools of water for many days on end. Flood water can cause potentially severe damage which is difficult to spot once the car has dried out. Water can affect electrical and electronic systems including the airbags, which may open unexpectedly. If you’re going to be in the market soon to buy one of the many pre-owned cars available, you need to know how to spot the signs of water damage.
Says the AA: “Cars which have been immersed in water may seem undamaged but can store up potentially fatal faults. Some owners whose vehicles, once dried out, may appear not to have been seriously damaged by water could simply sell their cars on without making an insurance claim. Buyers should beware from buying from private vendors as they may have no come-back when problems emerge maybe after some weeks.”
What you need to look out for:
- Check the carpets for signs of having been soaked. Things to look out for include a musty smell or mud.
- Feel your way around the car’s upholstery for any dampness.
- Check the seat mounting screws to see whether they’ve been removed. To dry the carpets, the seats would have been removed and this is not normal maintenance.
- Look at the lights. A visible water line might still be visible.
- Check the places which are difficult to clean like the boot and under the bonnet. Mud and debris may still be there.
- Look at screws under the dashboard. Water wouldn’t normally get in there.
- Unpainted metal would likely have rusted.
- Check if the rubber drain plugs under the car have been removed recently or replaced as this may have been done when draining floodwater.
- Hire an expert to check the car for flood damage.
If you have checked all these and you’re feeling unsure, walk away rather than take the risk. The car might seem cheap now but the damage could end up costing you thousands of rands. That’s just not worth it.