Not quite a year after Hurricane Sandy caused untold amounts of damage
to the eastern seaboard, unsuspecting car buyers are finding themselves in
formerly flooded cars.
Many of these cars are being sold privately or at smaller used car lots,
but the risk is real. Once corrosion starts in a car, it begins to
slowly break down vital parts of a car.
A car that may have been sitting in a few feet of salty sea water is an
even greater risk.
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous people are shampooing the carpets,
squirting some Febreze around, and passing these off as great used cars.
AAA has offered up some clues to help you buy smart… and stay safe.
First, trust your nose. If you
are picking up any kind of a mildew smell, or if it seems like they are
overdoing the air fresheners, start asking
questions.
Take some extra time to look under the car and pay close attention to
tight areas that are hard to clean. If
you are seeing mud trapped in there, or detect corrosion, you could have a
formerly flooded car.
Spend a few extra dollars for a CARFAX report. Pay particular attention if the car spent
anytime in the northern Atlantic states in the past 12 months.
Lastly, your own personal mechanic is your best friend in these kinds of
situations. They know exactly what to
look for and can advise you accordingly.
It’s important to know that selling flood damaged cars without
disclosing that information is highly illegal.
Just keep in mind there were
hundreds of thousands of cars that sat soaking in the flood waters last year,
and some are making their ways to private sellers and tiny dealerships. Be extra vigilant.
Any questions? Just ask our trained mechanics here at US Automotive.
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