Avoid Vehicle Flood Damage with a Full Car Report

The weather event we have had up and down the east coast of Australia in the last 3 weeks will produce another challenge for those trying to buy a used car. If a car has suffered flood damage it may clean up ok, but will soon develop electrical and computer problems as the systems corrode. With your pre purchase inspection we can detect the tell tale signs of flooding.

What can look like a great car and a good model could have a myriad of problems depending on the flood level.

If water was to reach under the dash board the car would be a write-off . However, the car doesn’t have to have high flood waters to cause damage. Water only has to enter up to the level of the carpets to cause major problems with relays and other components.

With some vehicle makes & models computer systems can be located under the seats. If water does rise to carpet level it could gain access and short these systems. If flood waters rise to the level of the transmission it can delaminate the clutch packs in an automatic which could lead to an auto transmission overhaul costing thousands of dollars.

Flood Level Damage

Flood damage can occur from a level of 15cm of flood water and above. A typical car will start to experience problems at this level of water with potential major damage to exhaust, underbody, transmission and air intake systems and electrical systems. Some water damage is easy to detect with little knowledge. This is due to the damp smell that lingers if it affects the cars interior but its best to have a professional to assess the full extent of the damage to determine if it is major damage or just a bad spill.

With some vehicle makes & models computer systems can be located under the seats. If water does rise to carpet level it could gain access and short these systems. At the level of the transmission it can delaminate the clutch packs in automatic vehicles leading to a total overhaul of the transmission costing thousands of dollars.

If water was to ever reach under the dash board, the car would be considered a write-off.

Our Car Report & Inspection Service

With a full computer scan & visual inspection provided by OnlineMechanic we can detect this fault and ensure your vehicle hasn’t been affected. Pre purchase car inspections are more important than ever. Don’t get caught with someone else’s problem. Be wary of flood cars before you get “in over your head” and are “drowning” in repair costs.

If you’re looking for a convenient way to get a car report on the Central Coast or Surrounding Regions, we’d love to work with you on scheduling an appointment.

Robin Baldwin is the owner and operator of OnlineMechanic Pre Purchase Car Inspections. He is a qualified automotive technician with over 43 years of hands on experience in the motor trade.

If you wish to book an inspection please contact us now for same day inspections. Call Robin Baldwin on 0425 210 188 or follow our links.