Curbstoner Warning: Flood Cars to Hit the Market
Posted on Fri, Apr 09, 2010
If you’re in the Northeast, it’s in your best interest to be cautious of any cars being sold by a private party. The recent floods that hit Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut totaled a fair number of vehicles, and there is no doubt many will find their way back on the road instead of the junkyard.
A common curbstoner scam in instances like these involves purchasing flood-damaged cars, hiding the damage by drying them out, polishing the exterior and selling them to unsuspecting consumers.
Want to avoid buying a flood-damaged car? Edmunds.com provides these helpful hints to keep you from getting wet when you buy a used car:
1. Get a vehicle history report. Although it won't uncover every flood-damaged car, history reports tag a fair number of problems. Services such as Carfax or AutoCheck can run reports electronically for an individual car or multiple cars during a one-month subscription. All you need is your prospective car's vehicle identification number (VIN), usually located at the bottom of the windshield on the driver side. If you need help deciding which vehicle history report is right for you, click here.
2. Be alert to unusual odors. Musty or moldy odors inside the car are a sign of mildew buildup from prolonged exposure to water. It might be coming from an area the seller is unable to completely clean. Beware of a strong air freshener or cleaning solution scent, as it may indicate the seller is trying to cover up something.
3. Look for discolored carpeting. Large stains or differences in color between lower and upper upholstery sections may indicate that standing water was in the vehicle. A used car with brand-new upholstery is also a warning sign, as a seller may have tried to remove the flood-damaged upholstery altogether.
4. Examine the exterior for water buildup. This may include fogging inside headlamps or taillights and damp or muddy areas where water naturally pools, such as overhangs inside the wheelwell.
5. Inspect the undercarriage. Look for evidence of rust and flaking metal that would not normally be associated with late-model vehicles.
6. Be suspicious of dirt buildup in unusual areas. These include areas such as around the seat tracks or the upper carpeting under the glove compartment. Have an independent mechanic look for caked mud or grit in alternator crevices, behind wiring harnesses and around the small recesses of starter motors, power steering pumps and relays.