Used Car Market Braces Itself For More Flooding As The Wet Weather Continues

As the 2014 winter rain continues to fall across the UK, and the extreme weather conditions show no signs of stopping, the used car market is gearing up for a significant increase in second-hand cars being sold on over the coming months after being damaged in the floods.
 
According to automotive experts, AA Insurance, these seemingly bargainous used cars could be storing up a whole load of trouble for their new owners. Water ingress can cause a number of unseen problems to vehicles, from damage to the catalytic converter and exhaust system to wheel bearing seizures and failures in the brakes and starter motors. Many such faults can prove to be fatal.
 
Other concerns with cars affected by flood conditions are that the electronics could be impaired, causing electronic system failures and the unexpected deployment of such facilities as the air bags. This again can be fatal if an air bag inflates while the car is being driven at speed, or if it fails to operate correctly in a subsequent crash.
 
The AA is warning people to be on the look out for flood-damaged cars, particularly when dealing with a private seller. Signs to watch for include windows left open to get rid of damp smells, wet carpets or the use of heavy air fresheners. Tell-tale water might still be left in the spare tyre, so check that carefully too. Condensation inside the car’s windows could also mean that damp is present, while a heated blower that causes the windows to steam up, without clearing again quickly could also be affected by damp.
 
Other places to check include under the oil filler cap – a white mayonnaise-like deposit indicates water in the engine and water can show up, lapping inside light housings if you rock the car gently. Finally, make sure the air bag warning light comes on, and then turns off again after a few seconds when you turn on the ignition. This is a crucial element of the vehicle to have working correctly at all times.
 
If in any doubt, always check a used car against a data checking facility to make sure an insurance company hasn’t written it off as a result of flood damage of any kind.

Contact Information

Reuf Jahic

Editor

Auto Square

Contact via E-mail