Restoration Local Warns Consumers About Hurricane Damaged Cars for Sale
Cleveland OH (PRWEB) August 17, 2013 -- Restoration Local, one of the leading providers of water damage repair and restoration service in the United States, is warning consumers to be on the lookout for flood damaged cars being sold at local dealerships, a leftover effect from Hurricane Sandy that struck the Northeast ten months ago. Many of these vehicles are being misrepresented with false titles, and unsuspecting buyers may end up purchasing a myriad of problems.
As many as 250,000 vehicles were estimated to have been damaged when Sandy slammed into the Northeast coast late last year. While these vehicles should have received salvage titles, many of them have been purchased by unscrupulous dealers who will clean the cars up, wash their titles to prevent thorough background checks, and sell them as undamaged used cars.
Buyers are encouraged to thoroughly check out any used car for signs of flood damage. If the carpet and upholstery has been shampooed, that may be a sign that water damage was cleaned up. Mud and silt may also be found under the carpets, as this is an area commonly overlooked by detail shops cleaning these cars up for sale. Water lines may even be visible in the engine compartment, in the trunk, or on the doors, indicating that the car was at least partially submerged.
Salt water causes corrosion, and this should be readily apparent upon close examination. Headlights and taillamps may also be partially filled with water or have mud and dirt in them. Electrical systems may work intermittently or not at all, and salt water can cause serious damage to the engine and transmission.
It is important to run a background check on the vehicle’s VIN number, as this will provide a thorough background of the vehicle and any damage it may have suffered. Used vehicles should also be checked out by a trusted mechanic, with such an inspection being made a condition of the purchase. With more than a quarter million flood damaged cars making their way onto dealer lots, and another 200,000 already on the road and being driven by drivers who are unaware of their history, this is a major problem that should be promptly addressed.
Based in Cleveland OH, Restoration Local is one of the leading providers of water damage repair and restoration service in the country, with contractors in 30 states. They are available 24/7 and all work is guaranteed.
Matt Staton, 33 Mile Radius, http://www.33mileradius.com/, 1-877-478-1218, [email protected]
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