In recent weeks, used cars from Germany, which were flooded in the summer months of last year, have started to be sold on the Czech market. Buyer used cars are thus at greater risk of unknowingly acquiring a car that has been flooded in the recent past.
Electronics problems can occur
Some dealers may buy an already repaired vehicle without knowing its past and offer it to customers without information that it has been flooded. In recent weeks, we have recorded in our AUTOTRACER inspection system cars after an insured event, which were assessed by the insurance company as total economic damage due to summer flood damage, and later these flooded vehicles were advertised and repaired on Czech advertising portals,
states Martin Pajerdirector of the company Cebiawhich helps motorists combat fraudulent practices in the used car market.
The trick of flooded cars is that problems with electronics or the engine can come several months after the car is cleaned and dried. Newer cars are much more vulnerable to the effects of floods than more technologically obsolete cars. In addition to their electronic equipment, this is related to material savings in reducing production costs. If turbid water enters catalytic converters or soot filters located in the exhaust pipe under the vehicle or in fuel tanks, AdBlue and other operating charges, it is not easy and sometimes not at all possible to clean these areas so that the vehicle systems continue to function reliably.
The owner then often has a complicated process of putting the vehicle into operation at the cost of a long-running search for the cause of the defect, followed by the replacement of parts at a price approaching the cost of purchasing such a “car for all the money”. That’s why you really need to be vigilant and either avoid such offers or have your vehicle checked by an independent expert before you buy,
emphasizes Jan Karnolttechnician and vehicle specialist Ford z Beecamsolutions.cz – a company that deals with consulting for car repair shops and checking the technical condition of used Ford vehicles.
How to recognize a flooded car?
The consequences of flooding a car are relatively difficult to eliminate.
Note the following features of the vehicle:
- A musty smell in the interior
- Traces of mud and sediment under the upholstery or carpet
- Oxidized or rusting seat mounts
- Irregular engine operation
- Defective electrical or electronic parts of the vehicle
However, if you are not an expert, then it is best to contact a specialist who will inspect your car before you buy.
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