Be Wary of Salvage & Damaged Automobile's |
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Terry S. Vostor
November 25, 2010
Terry S Vostor
http://www.eagleridgegm.com/
With the Canadian dollar close to par with the US and NAFTA North American free trade rules and regulations more and more Canadians are getting fantastic deals shopping online and importing their vehicle themselves back to Canada. However take great care to research fully and have your vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic & auto body man / woman. Under the hood may be a flood damaged vehicle exported already from a coastal hurricane zone inland even to such dry dessert areas as Las Vegas Nevada. Who would of dreamed ? You can gamble at more than the casinos in Vegas.
Many cars have been damaged because of disasters for example tropical storms and hurricanes but water damage isn't limited solely and exclusively to these. Vehicles have also endured the wrath of thunderstorms, rains, and overflowing rivers that are responsible for many floods. These are only some of the few situations that can cause great damage and damages to cars, trucks Sport Utility and other vehicles.
Analysts from the auto industry have given out a warning to buyers. Do not think that only areas that have been affected by floods are the ones that have flood-damaged vehicles in their local markets. This isn't the case. Across the country, these vehicles receive cosmetic touch-ups and repairs. Yet it is as easy as a 1,2,3 search online for a car report online. Simply Google "auto research reports","check out vehicle online" or "automobile reports online ", or alternatively Google "How to buy a used vehicle". There are no shortage of tips and services. Even ebay allows for a good service , at inexpensive costs to check out and verify any vehicle that catches your fancy. As a first step there should be a big check mark next to the column "checked for flood damage" . If you see no check mark or a big red mark - then beware. eBay as well offers the services of recommended automotive inspection services on site. Lastly you can check with your local AAA auto club as to services to either check the VIN or provide on site mechanical and auto body inspections for a fee. As a precaution, do not pay the seller until the car has been examined by a qualified auto repair facility.
Following are some basic as well as fairly simple checks that you can also do on your own. Rust is a telltale sign of water damage. Look for evidence in parts like the glove compartment, trunk and dashboard. The flooring under the seats must be inspected for water damage as well. Lastly, if the seller doesn't provide you with a vehicle history report, it's possible to obtain on your own. Jot down the 17-digit VIN or vehicle identification number. It's placed on the dashboard. Hidden problems which include flood titles, are revealed through CARFAX vehicle history reports
There was a case widely reported in the Wall Street Journal newspaper , a tale of woe, where a woman in Bolivia saved for years for her dream car of an Austin ( or now BMW) mini so nice it was beyond her wildest expectations. The auto was bought, shipped to Bolivia with all paperwork and assurances. It was only after the car arrived and was uncrated did the truth emerge. The buyer was left with little more than a parts car. On top of that she had paid all kinds of import duties and taxes for a luxury vehicle as well as import custom agent services brokerage fees. A lesson learned the hard way. Other parts of the car that buyers can check are the carpeting and upholstery. Its a matter of attention to detail when inspecting a vehicle for purchase. If you or your mechanic has a nose - you , he or she may notice anomalies. Moisture can have all kinds of effects. Colors may be off on upholstery even after thorough and solid steam cleaning. It may be on the dash , it may be on the floors, it may even be on the seat belts that colours , scent or a mildew odor ( even slight and even with new car spray ) resides in the background ever so slightly. When these have been replaced, check if they match interior of the vehicle. If the fit is a bit loose, chances are, it is due to replacement.
Sources of light can give you clues. Upon starting the ignition, the warning and accessory lights should come one. These must also be in working condition. Its amazing how these cars from as far back as Hurricane Katrina pop up , out of nowhere and from the strangest places. A Katrina storm damaged vehicle may also of the sudden appear as a great deal at a dealer in Grand Forks North Dakota . It is not as if you expect a flood damaged vehicle in Grand Forks , Fargo or the Mohave Desert so purchasers out looking for a good deal on a quality pre-owned vehicle are taken unawares. If the car is at a dealership on it's used car lot - even the experienced staff at the garage and body shop divisions may be caught off guard on this as well. The restoration of this salvage vehicle may that good. After all a highly trained auto detail restoration tradesman is not unlike an artist. Also airbag lights should be observed as well. Test all lights found in the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Check these parts a couple of times in order to guarantee that they work just fine: signal lights, windshield wipers, air conditioner, cigarette lighter, radio and heater.
Try to bend some of the wires locate under the dashboard. After the wet wires have dried up thoroughly, often they tend to be weaker and more brittle. It's common to for these to crack. An additional sign that can be observed is the smell of mildew. Mildew, fungi and molds and their associated odors are most difficult for even the most highly proficient auto & truck detailer to eliminate or hide. Worse yet for them is the fact that long after the cosmetic new car spray or nilodor type products have lost their effect and potency these parasitical life forms return with a vengeance eeeking out their telltale distinctive warning signals and signs to an alert auto buyer or reviewer.
Request for a history report from the seller but if he or she refuses to give you one, use the car's identification number instead. This is the 17-digit VIN or vehicle identification number which is located on the dashboard. Take note of it and verify the vehicle's history on your own. Through the CARFAX reports, hidden problems that the car previously had can be revealed.
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