How to determine that the used car you're looking at was flooded

John Gear Law Office & Salem Consumer Law - "A master mechanic told me that any inspection should now include putting a probe inside the door.  Apparently that will show water damage."  - Illinois Consumer Attorney Dan Daneen

And consumer attorney extraordinaire Joanne Faulkner of New Haven, CT, reports:

"Consumer Reports has suggested tips for identifying cars that may have spent time underwater. A buyer or mechanic should look for these telltale signs:

• Caked-on mud and a musty odor from the carpets. New carpets in an older vehicle may be another red flag.
  
• A visible water line on the lens or reflector of the headlights.
  
• Mud or debris trapped in difficult-to-clean places, such as gaps between panels in the trunk and under the hood.
  
• Rusty exposed screws under the dashboard. Unpainted metal in flood cars will show signs of rust.
  
• Rubber drain plugs under the car and on the bottom of doors that have been removed. That may have been done to drain floodwater.

Also keep in mind that parts from the scrapped cars could well end up in yours, as in a situation where a body shop cuts corners in a collision repair by using parts from a scrapped car instead of new parts. A fender or hood that spent time immersed in fresh water might not be a problem, but a transmission that took a salt water bath could well turn up with bearing or seal failure."