A drowned car

 “The owners of such cars, having washed them from dirt, and put an attractive price in the ad. They are trying to get rid of them soon. Moreover, the situation in the secondary market contributes to this: now the secondary market is in high demand, and cars are often bought almost indiscriminately. The cars of the expensive segment, affected by the flood, have already appeared even on the market. 

Buying a car that has survived the flood will turn into an additional headache for the new owner by almost 100%, car service specialists are convinced. Modern models are literally stuffed with electronics, and even a short stay of the car in the water inevitably leads to the failure of devices. Moreover, more often problems do not arise immediately, but after some time. Various systems of the machine start to "glitch" or simply stop working. It is noteworthy that during the diagnostics of the car before the purchase, everything functions normally. 

No less common in flood survivors is intense corrosion and decay of wet interior trims. In such cars, water through the breathers enters the engine, gearbox and axles. If the owner does not bother to change the oil in these units, the water-oil emulsion formed inside them can quickly disable these units and assemblies. In order not to unknowingly become a buyer of a "tainted" car, potential buyers should check the history of the car in databases before concluding a deal, or even just carefully study the Vehicle Passport. 

The vehicle registration number is indicated there, so it is not difficult to check in which region the car was parked before the sale. If a disaster has recently raged there, this is a reason, at least, to conduct a more thorough diagnosis of all nodes. Repair specialists recommend starting the study of the car from the interior, trunk and engine compartment. The easiest way to visually identify a drowned car is by traces of dirty water left in hard-to-reach places. Do not be too lazy to look into the niche where the spare wheel is located, lift the floor sheathing - there are often stains left. It is also worth checking a few wiring connectors under the hood: oxidized contacts on them are a clear sign that the car was under water. 

An indirect sign that the car has survived the flood can be the strong smell of fragrances in the cabin. In such a simple way, the serviceman notes, unscrupulous sellers are trying to kill the smell from decaying interior trim and seat padding, which are difficult to dry. The prevailing opinion that a drowned car can be recognized by traces of water left in the headlights is considered a myth by an auto mechanics. The headlights on modern cars are very sealed. Therefore, if it is in good working order, there will not be a drop of moisture inside the case, even if the car will stand under water for a week."