Drivers looking into replacement turbos for their motors and potentially considering investing in a new second-hand car have been warned to check vehicles over to make sure they’re not flood damaged.
AA Insurance is now advising people that the used car market could well be inundated with vehicles that have been affected by the recent terrible weather and floods that have hit the UK.
Tips from the company for spotting a flood-damaged car include feeling the carpets to see if they’re damp, serious condensation on the windows, checking beneath the cap of the oil filler to see if there’s a whitish deposit beneath and seeing if there is any water trapped in the car light clusters. You can do this by rocking the car – if there is water there, you’ll see it moving in the red rear filter.
“Catalytic converter and exhaust system life can be seriously reduced, wheel bearings could seize, brakes can be affected and alternator and starter motors could fail. In addition, water can seriously affect electrical and electronic systems including the airbags, which might go off unexpectedly – or not deploy when they should,” director of AA Insurance Michael Lloyd said.
When buying any used car, make sure you budget carefully, check car tax rates and get insurance quotes before you sign anything. Always check price guides and look at similar cars so you’re familiar with the value of different vehicles to prevent yourself from being overcharged. In addition, always view the car during the day when the weather is fine so you can see dents, scratches and other issues.