As you may recall, when we have had lots of flooding in the past, that area of the country quickly starts having vehicles for sale - without always the full disclosure that it was submerged, etc. As that great philosopher Obnoxious Maximus once said "Caveat emptor. "

And the bumper sticker on his chariot said Sona si latine loqueris (honk if U speak Latin).

 

How would you be able to check it out enough to know if it was a flood car or not? I would assume you could check the oil to see if there is water in it? OR how else? (if all the mud is washed out of the engine, side ect....

 

Water leaves behind all kinds of gunk in hidden spaces, carpet., seating, musty smells, fogged up windows when truck is parked in sunshine, open up ECU and look for corrosion, water in rear diff (vent is under floor boards and lower than front vent). Lift up cargo area carpet, etc., look inside the MAF sensor tube, etc. And what Rover worth its' reputation is extreme clean on the bottom side?

 

Not reporting flooding to the insurance company and then misrepresenting the vehicles can be deemed fraud.

Or using another vin to get around a claimed vehicle that has flood damage still is fraud. There was alot of that going around after katrina and DMV did alot to stop it. But alot of those vehicles also went down to South America.

 

And to other parts of the US, away from the storm area. To be sold by your friendly Local Independent Auto Retailer (LIAR). Some probably make their way into the reconditioned buy here pay here at 30% interest rate chains as well. But as Rover owners, we should already be used to looking at a used vehicle for signs of excessive wading (lilly pads between radiator and condensner, water and mud in the under seat CD stacker, etc.). And it is not that a flooded vehicle can't be brought back to life - it is just takes a lot of effort.

* Note - to all the honest dealers, indy dealers, auction operators - I know you would never knowingly participate in such scams, you make more money selling good stuff at a fair price than having to pay your lawyer to sort things out.

 

look in electrical connectors as well. Most of them that have ben underwater will e a very nice color green