While the news reports concerning hurricanes, flood damages and the travesty that was put upon the unfortunate victims have slowed down, the dangers and hazards are still present.



With reports varying upwards of 600,000 vehicles damaged by floodwaters, these cars and trucks will most certainly, and already have, surfaced across the country, waiting on their next victim.



It’s easy to let your guard down with out much media publicity, but used car buyers should be aware that these vehicles are still out in the market, perhaps cross country in states that are not affected by the floods.



A couple of common issues that have surfaced, that you should be aware of, is sellers attempting to hide the origin of where these cars came from. By registering the vehicle in different states, it creates a paper trail that can be difficult to trace unless you spend the time for researching.



Another common issue is sellers changing license plate frames or adding an emblem from another state. This of course is designed to hide or deceive the potential buyer of what state the car came from.



The question remains, what steps should a consumer take to minimize their risk of purchasing one of these damaged vehicles? The below tips, ideas and suggestions will at least minimize your risk of purchasing a car or truck that has been involved with floodwaters.



Check the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s web site at www.nicb.org, they have compiled a list of vehicles that have that have been affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. While this list may not include every single vehicle, it’s a good place to start with.



Also run an online history report, once again, this database may not be all-inclusive, but it’s another step in the process of elimination.



Knowledge Is King, and it can’t have more meaning than in your quest for a quality used automobile. Following the below inspection tips will offer some added protection as well, and perhaps is the most effective means of determining in the vehicle was involved in floods.



Inspect for grass and debris around the radiator, underneath around the frame, front and rear suspension components, etc.

Check for standing waterlines in the engine compartment, rear firewall area, and even inside door pockets of the door panels and interior trim areas.

Mildew smell inside due to wet carpeting and padding indicate the possibility water intrusions.

Inspect connectors and wiring for signs of corrosion, physically disconnect a few connectors and inspect the terminals. Corrosion evidence will be a green or white chalk type substance or rust color.

Look for rusted bolts and metal components, particularly underneath seats where water has been standing.

Inspect for windows fogging up on the inside after the vehicle has sat overnight, this is an indication that there may be water underneath the carpet and or carpet padding.

Inspect trunk area for waterlines, corroded connectors and wiring.

With a keen eye and a little knowledge you can minimize the risk of spending thousands of dollars on a vehicle that has potential long-term effects by water damage.



Usedcarwise.com offers a comprehensive “how to” course designed to educate the average consumer on protecting themselves when used car shopping.

For more information visit the web site at www.usedcarwise.com or call toll free 1 866 374 WISE (9473).

About the author:

Jerry Christopher, owner http://www.usedcarwise.com

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair

If you store your vehicle outside, for any period of time, you should consider getting a good quality car cover to protect it from the elements. The right cover can protect your car from UV rays, dirt or just from people and animals walking by it. Use these tips to help you find the right cover for your car.

The material that the cover is made from is important also. It needs to be breathable, if the cover holds in moisture it will have dire consequences on your paint. The cover is not supposed to be waterproof, it should, however, dry out quickly after a rain, so that the rain spots are minimal on the paint finish.

Before you place the perfect cover that you have found on your car, make sure it is clean. A dirty car will be scratched and scuffed no matter what quality cover you put on it. However, having a clean car to start with will help to ensure a well-protected car through the long months in storage.

If purchase price is not an issue, then it be might be wise to consider a custom-made car cover. This will ensure that the cover doesn’t blow away in a strong wind, will have elastic in all the right spots, can have extra layers of protection built in. The custom cover can even be made in a color to match your car or with some custom embroidery that is just for you.

While looking for a car cover for your vehicle, keep in mind that quality is a factor in this purchase. The better the quality, the better the cover will protect your investment. Look for a cover that is made specifically for your type of car. Many car cover manufacturers offer a variety of pre-made covers for most types of cars. The cover does not need to be custom made for your vehicle, just made for your specific kind of car.

About the Author: John Mancini has been writing about car covers online and offline for a long time. Visit http://www.find-car-covers.info or http://cheap-car-covers.info to read more about matters like custom seat covers and truck bed cover.

Source: www.isnare.com

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair

When you are on the lookout for high-class advice about car paint codes, you’ll find it difficult sorting out the best information from poorly sourced car paint codes submissions or guidance so it is wise to recognize how to qualify the advice you are presented with.

Now we’d like to offer you some advicewhich we really think you should use when you are searching for information about car paint codes. Understand that the advice we offer is only pertinent to web based information about car paint codes.We are unable to offer any tips or guidance for conducting research offline.

A really good piece of advice you can follow when you’re presented with information or advice on a car paint codes site would be to confirm the sites ownership. This may reveal the operators car paint codes qualifications The quickest way to work out who owns the car paint codes site is to find the ‘about’ page.

All highly regarded sites providing information about car paint codes, will almost certainly provide an ‘about’ webpage which will list the people behind the site. The details should make known some key points about the owner’s necessary expertise. You can then decide for yourself about the webmaster’s training and understanding, to offer help regarding car paint codes.

About the author:

Tom Brown is the webmaster at courseofstudyspecialnews.info

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair