I have the vehicle history report from Carfax and the car was in a flooded area BUT no flood damage was reported. I am looking at a 2005 Toyota Prius with one owner and under 7,000 miles. The car looks great, but I am suspicious because I am in a hurricane affected area and the car has such low milage. It is from one of the big local dealership’s used car lot. It is not Toyota certified as ‘there is no much left on the original warranty that we didn’t certify it, if you want us to it will cost you an aditional $500,’ and I think certifying it adds two years to the warrantee. So, what should I look for to see if there is flood damage??? Thank you for your answers.
You are all giving brilliant answers!!!!!
first use your nose. smell the carpets for mold. look in hidden areas for signs of mud. i foudn the following on the web:
So how can you avoid being taken for a ride when shopping for a used car?
The first thing you should do is check the car’s air filter, looking for signs of a flood car.
if u bought the carfax report then they do offer a guarantee but u will need to read it to see if it would help u. i believe what it says is if the car has a title that says it is not banded and it turns out that it actually has a title that is banded, then they will buy the car back. banded means it has damage listed. i am not sure if it means that someone messed with the title and changed it or what.
“Look for grass and silt, which means it’s a flood car,” said Schnear.
After the hurricanes, many flood cars flooded the used car market. The problem is that after a good soak, wires can corrode, which can be costly.
Next, check the engine oil with a clean rag.
“They may have white or gray material, a lot of carbon on the stick, which means the car may not have had proper care,” said Schnear.
And follow your nose when it comes to checking the transmission: If it smells burnt, say no. That could mean about $2,000 for a transmission repair.
Also, make sure the car’s onboard lights go on.
“An unscrupulous person will remove the light so that you don’t know that there isn’t an airbag to protect you,” said Schnear.
You can also use a mirror to check the springs under the car seat. If they are rusted, that mean’s the car’s been in a flood.
All these things are simple tests anyone can do on their own.
AAA also offers a used car inspection service for members and non-members alike. For around $90 to $95, AAA-approved mechanic will check out the used car to see if it’s worth the money.
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