Is a Car with Water in the Engine Considered a Flood-Damaged Vehicle?
1 Answers
Water in the engine does indicate a flood-damaged vehicle. However, the definition of a flood-damaged vehicle does not necessarily require water in the engine. The biggest issue with flood-damaged vehicles is wiring problems. Cars are equipped with various electronic devices, and if the wiring corrodes or rusts after being submerged, all functions can be affected, making the car undrivable. Classification of Flood-Damaged Vehicles: Generally, flood-damaged vehicles can be categorized into three types based on the extent of damage: water level exceeding the wheels, causing water accumulation at the vehicle's floor mat area; water soaking the seats or rising above the dashboard; and water directly submerging the entire car body. How to Identify a Flood-Damaged Vehicle: After a flood-damaged vehicle has been cleaned, it's not easy to tell from the exterior whether it's flood-damaged. Flood-damaged vehicles mainly undergo repairs for water-affected components, rarely involving bodywork. For example, if the headlights or taillights have water inside, the solution is to replace them or drain the water. Similarly, water inside the car is removed, and wet components are either disassembled and dried or simply left to dry. In fact, flood-damaged vehicles are relatively easy to distinguish because even after thorough cleaning, they tend to emit a musty odor. Additionally, the trunk is a critical area—if there's significant rust, it's highly likely the car has been submerged in water.
