How to Determine if a Car is a Flood-Damaged Vehicle?
1 Answers
Flood-damaged vehicles exhibit the following characteristics: 1. Pungent odor inside the car: A flood-damaged car will have a musty and foul smell if not treated. However, odors can be easily masked, making it difficult to identify a flood-damaged car by smell alone. Therefore, if a car has an unusually strong or even pungent fragrance, be cautious as it might be masking a flood-damaged vehicle. 2. Carpet pilling or hollow spots: The carpet referred to here is the lowest layer of the vehicle's carpet. Flood-damaged carpets are often removed, cleaned, and dried. During cleaning, brushes may be used to remove accumulated mud, causing the carpet to pill. Additionally, drying may deform the carpet, making it unable to fit snugly against the chassis. Feel the carpet surface for pilling and check for hollow spots. 3. Rusty interior brackets: There are many exposed metal brackets under the dashboard. These brackets are not easily exposed to moisture, so they typically lack rust-proof treatment. When water enters the car, the evaporation of moisture can cause these brackets to rust. Especially in cases where the flooding is not severe, these brackets are often left untreated. 4. Hardened seats: For flood-damaged cars where water reached the seats, the seats may feel stiff after cleaning and drying. Sitting on them may feel more like sitting on thick cardboard rather than foam. Pressing them by hand will also reveal little elasticity. Since flood-damaged cars require seat and carpet removal for cleaning, signs of seat screw removal can also indicate a flood-damaged vehicle. 5. Rusty wheel bearings: Wheel bearings are tightly sealed components, making it difficult for water to penetrate even during water wading. However, if the car is submerged for a long time, water molecules can seep into the bearings, causing the grease to deteriorate and leading to rust. This results in noticeable abnormal noises when the wheels rotate. Since rusty bearings can still function, they are rarely replaced.
