Symptoms of a Car That Has Been Water Damaged

A car is an important purchase that should not be taken lightly. Buyers should be especially cautious when purchasing a used car. Unfortunately, there are plenty of con artists willing to swindle others into buying a water-damaged car from a hurricane or flood. A poor purchase decision can not only end up being quite lucrative but also unsafe. While not all water-damaged cars are easy to spot, there are some telltale indications that something may be wrong.

Rust

Look for obvious signs of water submersion within both the vehicle's interior and under the hood. Visually scan the door handles, engine, screws and other easily seen metal parts for signs of rust or mud.

Fading

Check the interior upholstery for watermarks, mold, mud or signs of fading. Some water-logged materials--if allowed to just sit and dry out in the sunlight--will begin to show signs of color fading.

Odor

Smell the interior upholstery, carpet and the trunk area for a musty, disturbing odor. A badly water-damaged vehicle will have a repugnant odor along with possible signs of mold.

Damaged Trunk

Inspect the trunk and spare tire area for corrosion, watermarks or mud. Sellers may not spend much time sprucing up the trunk of the vehicle.

Neglected Enclosed Areas

Check other enclosed areas, such as the glove compartment and interior dome lights, for signs of water or rust. Sellers may neglect cleaning up these areas. Since they are not an important selling point, they are often overlooked.

Cleaning

Be weary of newly shampooed carpets within used cars. Sellers of a water-damaged vehicle will do whatever they can to repair any damage, so it is less noticeable. This may be an attempt to cover up the musty smell of a water-logged vehicle.

Refurbished Interior

Be cautious if the upholstery or carpeting has been changed. Look for carpeting or seat covers that do not match the rest of the interior or that look disheveled. Shoddy upholstery or carpet installation can be a sign of covering up damage.

Rusted Floorboards

Lift the floor mats to look for covered-up water stains and inspect underneath the floorboard carpeting to search for signs of rust or flaking metal.

Impaired Dashboard

Check underneath the dashboard and under the seats for signs of water residue, rust or mud. Test that the dashboard gauges are working properly and that the air conditioning vents are free of dirt and mud.

Malfunctioning Features

Check the lights, flashers, turn signals, windshield wipers, radio, CD player and heat and air conditioning to make sure they are in working order. A water-damaged vehicle may have shorts in the wiring system.

Helpful Tips

Only purchase used vehicles from reputable businesses. Ask to see the title and determine if the vehicle identification number (VIN) is on a list of salvaged vehicles revealed by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). A used vehicle's history report can be purchased. Ask a professional mechanic to perform a thorough inspection of the electrical wiring system, fuel tank, undercarriage and other areas for potential problems.