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This one is a gone'r...

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Makes you wanna cry, doesn't it?

People should be careful about buying used cars from that area for while. Assuming someone has cleaned the car up well before selling it, what are some things people should look for to see if a car has been a flood victim?

Yes the devastation is incredible! I think about it while sitting in my house imagining and how these people lost everything! First things we would have to take are the Cat, important papers, pictures, clothing and the Vette and the Vibe. Cram anything we can in the 2 cars and go. The PT would be left to fend for itself, it is leased and I have GAP insurance on it too! Sorry PT...Amazing how some people went to their attics to avoid the high waters. Talk about a death trap! Lots could not swim, did not know how!

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »People should be careful about buying used cars from that area for while. Assuming someone has cleaned the car up well before selling it, what are some things people should look for to see if a car has been a flood victim?Mud under the sound barrier below the carpeting.Fish in the HVACAnd water filled headlights. That's assuming they buffed out the highwater marks off the body.Seriously though - salvage garages from all over the US will be buying these vehicles and repairing them. You could see that GTO for sale in a month in Chicago or NY.

I'll give you five bucks for it.LOL

oh thats terrible...

Legally, the title would have to be a salvage title...any vehicle that's had flood damage isn't supposed to be sold with a clear title.However....If looking at a car that was being sold as new, just look at the window sticker...if it lists a dealer in LA, MS, or AL as the delivery location, and you're someplace else, I'd steer clear of it.If it's being sold used, do a carfax. I'm pretty sure that'll show the original registration location...anything in LA, MS, or AL would be a deal killer for me knowing what happened there.Beyond that, look closely at the vehicle. Look underneath and under the hood for any signs of debris or a waterline. Look behind any trunk padding for the same thing. Look for any signs of corrosion on wiring connections...pull them apart if you have to. Check the oil to see if it looks milky. Check the transmission fluid...should be pink and pretty. Feel around underneath the seats...the carpets should be clean and dry, as should the underside of the seat bottoms. If there are any interior panels that can be removed without tearing the car apart, do it and look behind them, especially door panels...there's always a plastic liner in doors, and there'd probably be debris or mud built up behind the plastic door liner of a flood car. Look inside the airbox and intake tubing...should be clean, dry, and no debris.That's just off the top of my head...there are probably other things that can be done too.

And if you're going to buy a vehicle that you know or suspect was involved in a flood, I'd do the following:Replace all fluids and filters, and inspect any seals for damage. This includes engine oil & filter, transmission fluid & filter, differential fluid, radiator fluid, brake fluid, and maybe even purge the AC system.. I might even have the fuel tank dropped and clean out the tank...it'd be a good idea to change the fuel filter as well at that point.Check the AC drain lines for clogging...if debris got in there and blocked the tube, the drain will end up dumping water inside the vehicle on most cars.Pull any interior panels you can and clean behind them. Pull the seats and carpets...that'll let you clean the carpets and seats, as well as clean up the floor underneath to help prevent corrosion. While the interior is torn apart, that's a great time to get up under the dash and clean there, inspect & clean the wiring, and it's a GREAT time to install a killer stereo and additional sound insulation if you want.Just understand that the resale value of a flood car will be lousy...I wouldn't buy a flood car, and I'd think that there are lots of people out there who wouldn't either.

On the news last night, it was stated that people were stealing cars off the lot and selling them... um why? With all that wire damage from water, who'd want a new ruined car? But idiots are buying them lol...