Flood damaged car.

[SemiAverage711]

I found a car for sale in my area. It is flood damaged...here is the ad.

2004 mitsubishi eclipse spider GT convertible, loaded,3.0 v-6, only 20,000 miles,freshwater flood damage car,all the computers have been changed,all electrical parts changed,carpet steam cleaned,all fluids changed,it needs to have the new ignition key coded by dealer(car turns over but will not start due to anti-theft system)…..this car books for over $15,000-$17000 without flood damage….would make a easy project to finish …..$4000

Yes, Q&A time!
Should I buy?
What do I risk if I buy?
Is there more that I will have to do to get the car back to, or at least, close to normal?
What is that ignition key coded by dealer thingy?

[rodbls]

Well, or 4 grand it is a good deal. Is the title going to be a salvage? What kind of flood damage are we talking...like, entire car submerged to the roof, or just like enough water to get to the doors and into the car? Why does the key need to be programmed? Is the origional key not there, or is it because they changed the electronics? Should cost about 100 bucks to get the new key working, so I would ask the seller to get a good key so that you KNOW the car runs fine (if water got in the engine you could be in some trouble). Make sure you are able to test drive before you buy because of the potetial damage to drivetrain/engine and trans. If the seller wont rekey before you buy get out because more likely than not the car wont start even with the new key. It probably wont be much of an investment if the title is a salvage because you would have to sell the car with a flood damage salvaged title.

If the car runs fine, and all that good stuff, and you arent planning on selling the car soon I would get it. No rust, no real damage, should be a good deal. Just make sure everything works and runs.

Good luck.

[Igovert500]

Yeah just to add on to that

a) if it's got a salvage title, it don't matter how nice you fix it up, don't expect to make much if any of a profit when/if you sell. Also might have issues with insurance, so check that out with them first.

b) Rust, if the flood had sea water, count on the rust coming 2x as fast and bad.

c) if the engine was cranked when water got in, it could have hydrolocked and it will probably need a rebuild or to be replaced.

d) all interior and seats can/will get mold. Steam cleaning might improve it visually, but if hte mold started, it will continue to get worse

e) all electronics maybe fried. That means new ECU, new TCU, potentially a new wiring harness if there are shorts that you cannot find. And any other electronics/stereo stuff.

f) Count on all fluids being contaminated. Don't chance it, drain and change everything, including all oils and drivetrain/tranny fluid.

It's basically alot of 'what if's. Best thing you can do is check it out, but be prepared for the worst, and count on spending a decent chunk of change on fixing it...money that you probably wont make back if you try and sell it later on. I was contemplating picking up a flood damaged car, still may, but I would only do it if hte engine weren't hydrolocked, I'd get all teh stuff from junkyards, do all the work myself, and only use it as a beater...with no plans of resale down the road. Just my .02