potential flood damage.

[Tonz]

With so much flooding around the country, If one was looking for another vehicle what would be signs of flood damage.

Apart from soggy carpets, and waterlogged log books

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Tonz

With so much flooding around the country, If one was looking for another vehicle what would be signs of flood damage.

Apart from soggy carpets, and waterlogged log books

Not a good move as a lot would be on the WOVR, and depending on the depth of the flood water it was in major corrosion that you wont know about until electrical bits stop working.

[Citroënbender]

I think Tonz is more worried about being caught out unawares, than deliberately buying a flooded car.

Red flags could be recent change of ownership, lack of documentation.

[Jastel]

If an insurance claim is paid out it will be on the WOVR
I have heard if flooding over sills (wet carpet) it is a stat write off, same with ANY Salt water flooding. Could be a repairable write off if it was only front end in or back end in or something...hail damage as well.

If its dirty muddy type water there is normally a visible high tide line. especially on the fabrics. Look inside the doors if not sure, moisture in lights.
And mainly...the smell.

[prktkljokr]

Not all Flood damaged stuff goes Stat write off, it all comes down to what type of water and how deep it was, you also have people who are not insured, so no WOVR & no record of it even being in a flood, these would be the ones that will be hard to pick.

If cleaned properly, you would never know, you may never have any wiring issues if the person doing the job went through and cleaned and treated what needs to be done.

Had done a fresh water car myself years ago and kept it for 10 years with no problems at all and no smell at all.

1 tell tale sign is if you look at the actual frames of the seats, if they have not seen any moisture they will be bare metal and if they have they will be covered in surface rust, same goes for dashboard frames, apart from those 2 things pretty much everything else is painted, coated, anodised or plastic.

[mad2]

Originally Posted by prktkljokr

1 tell tale sign is if you look at the actual frames of the seats, if they have not seen any moisture they will be bare metal and if they have they will be covered in surface rust, same goes for dashboard frames, apart from those 2 things pretty much everything else is painted, coated, anodised or plastic.

the seat frames are not painted so they 'may' have some surface rust anyway, depending on owner/s upkeep of car.

[Jastel]

I have never seen a not rusty seat frame or dash frame...but I live in the tropics so the humidity does that for me.

If the water was up that high it would normally fuse the seat motors as well.

I too have bought flooded stat write offs and put literally everything on another legal chassis (except the dead seat motor) and that car is still going.
But I did a proper clean up job.

It's always a gamble with any car...some have problems, some dont.

[Itsme]

Without really dismantling the vehicle it would be very hard to detect freshwater flood damage vehicle if it was cleaned up properly, slight surface rust or corrosion to wiring terminals would be the only telltale signs if any.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Itsme

Without really dismantling the vehicle it would be very hard to detect freshwater flood damage vehicle if it was cleaned up properly, slight surface rust or corrosion to wiring terminals would be the only telltale signs if any.

or carp in the boot.

[MrEL]

Numerous flood damaged cars ended up in Sydney after the Brisbane floods.
We were looking for a V8 Falcon for my now ex missus and I learnt pretty quickly to look up under the dash and down in the boot channels for high tide marks.