It's been estimated that about half a million cars have been damaged by Hurricane Harvey and there's no doubt that some of those cars will be sought after by Nigerian dealers simply because it's cheap. Pulled some Q & A's from Fox News website that will educate our 9ja folks on the dangers of buying vehicles involved in flooding. If you can refer to LadipoNG article(still fresh from the kitchen) about ECU or brainbox as most of know it, you'll discover that once a water resides in the brainbox the vehicle can be the same again. So please if you do not like or want headaches throughout your ownership period of these cars, it is advised that you avoid them like the plague!



Q: HOW CAN I AVOID BUYING A FLOOD-DAMAGED VEHICLE?

A: Flooded cars could be shipped to other parts of the country or even other nations. To find out where the car came from and if it has a salvage title, experts suggest keying the vehicle identification number into services (there's a charge) that search car histories such as Autocheck or Carfax. Carfax and the National Insurance Crime Bureau offer free services to check for flood damage. Buyers can ask to take the car to a mechanic for inspection. Buyers can also look for signs of flooding, including musty or moldy odors or overpowering use of air freshener, discolored carpet or new carpet in an old car, water lines in the engine compartment or trunk, fogging inside headlights or taillights, rust or flaking metal under the car, and dirt buildup in unusual areas such as around seat tracks. If you see any signs, don't buy the car, AAA's Nielsen says. "You're liable to face gremlins with that car forever," he said.

Q: IF IT'S REPAIRED, WILL MY CAR BE SAFE?

A: Probably not. Water could have damaged sensors, electrical connectors, computer chips and wiring that are under the carpet, behind the dashboard or in the engine compartment. That could disable lights, air bags, ignition, gas and brake pedal sensors or other essential systems. Corrosion can form beneath wiring insulation. Salty water from the Gulf of Mexico would make that worse. Damage may not surface for years. "Maybe it's OK. Maybe it's not. I would be really worried about it," says Nielsen.

Q: SHOULD I START MY CAR IF IT'S BEEN FLOODED?
A: No, in almost all cases. If the car was only in a few inches of water that didn't rise past the bottom of the body, maybe. Water higher than that can get into wires, transmission parts, the exhaust or other places. Deeper water could enter the cylinders that surround the pistons. Trying to start the car could bend parts that connect the pistons to the rest of the drive train, said John Nielsen, managing director of automotive engineering for AAA. Oil, gasoline, antifreeze, brake fluid and other liquids could have water in them that could cause damage if not replaced. Nielsen recommends having the car towed to a mechanic for inspection. Depending on the severity of flood damage, he says the cost of refurbishing a car likely will be more than replacing it.

N.B: Just to add to what was said, the last paragraph says the cost of refurbishing a car will likely exceed getting another (Wise Words> na im Oyinbo dey call 'Penny Wise, Pound Foolish). *pulls on one ear* You have been warned!

Source: FoxNews

if water enters into the engine, simply drain the oil, then remove the spark plugs and start the car, it won't start but the pistons will drive the water out, drain out the tranny oil, clean all the sensor terminals and you are almost ready to go, then don't forger to run a full scan and observer the live data, because any hidden problem will surface and shoukd be corrected cheaply when it is still small.