As Texas continues to recover from Hurricane Harvey, and Florida from Hurricane Irma, a conversation arose in my household about the vehicles that were completely flooded in both storms. I live with someone who has firsthand knowledge of what happens to vehicles when events like these happen. So in days to come, if purchasing a vehicle, or parts, it would be a good idea to make sure you do your homework.
The conversation began as I asked what happens in an event like this. The first part of the response was it depends on whether or not the vehicle was insured. I found out that if the vehicle was not insured, the owner can do with it what he or she likes, including selling it. The right thing for these people to do, would be to let the purchaser know that the vehicle has been flooded. Sadly, not everyone does what is right. So it is best to always know the history of any vehicle you buy. Unless of course, you are a mechanic and don’t mind a rebuild.
Second part, if the vehicle was insured, than like any vehicle in an accident the process begins with an adjuster. This adjuster verifies the vehicle and checks for damage or declares it a total loss. Total losses are sent to an auction facility where they prepare the vehicle for auction. Vehicles go to the auction block after the claims are processed and title is received. At the auction, vehicles are bought by salvage yards, used car dealers, exporters, metal recyclers, and yes possibly even individuals. Vehicles coming through this process are supposed to be sold as is with notification of flooding. It is against the law to not notify the buyer. Vehicles do not normally go to the crusher until all useful parts have been pulled. I found this whole process interesting and thought maybe you would too. Hence why I am passing it on.
Learning about this whole process had me questioning my knowledge of vehicles. I have had some fortune in this area. I grew up with a brother that could take anything apart and put it back together. He and I worked on my first vehicle together quite often. He taught me how to check my distributor, gap a spark plug, change my distributor cap, plugs, and plug wires. He also taught me how to check my timing, check my radiator and oil, how to change my oil and filters, how to change my tires and check the tread depth, and we even changed out the exhaust system on that thing. Fast forward to current time, I still have a car guy in my life. Thus, for a number of years I have had someone to do the work for me. And there in lies the problem. We get so caught up in life that we allow others to do things for us when they have the ability and then we forget how to do any of it ourselves.
With that said, because I have not had the hands on experience for a number of years, I began to try to take refresher courses I’ll call them. So in recent years, anytime he has said “do you want to go to the car show?” well yes of course is my reply. Going to these shows allows me to learn a little about motor sizes, horsepower, automatic transmissions, manual transmissions, nitrous oxide, paint jobs, tire sizes, rims, and so on and so on. He may have just gone there to look, but I am full of questions. What year is that one? What size motor is that? Why would you put a scoop on a vehicle like that? How does the hydraulics work? By the end, I am sure he regrets inviting me. At the last show I got to eye my dream car – a 1965 Mustang fastback. Now that dream may not have come true, but I will not complain as we do have a 1966 Mustang – 2 door coupe – hardtop – 289 – v8 – 4 barrel – with 3 on the floor and she is sometimes more vehicle than I can handle.
So if any of you out there are like me, out of practice, or you just do not have time, or you just are not interested in vehicles, I think if you are going to drive one, maybe you should try to make the time and just learn a few basics. As a driver, and a female, who has been stranded at least once when my clutch went out, I thought it advantageous to at least know how to maintain my vehicle if nothing else. So I thought I’d pass on some advice; If you learn nothing else about your vehicle, I hope you will at least look into learning how to do the following: Check your air filter, check your fuel filter, check and change your oil, know how to add antifreeze, check transmission fluid, check your windshield wipers and wiper fluid, check your headlights & tail lights, check your brakes, check and change a tire, and maintain a spare tire. We never know whats out there, or when we may get a lemon, but if we at least know a little, maybe just maybe, we won’t get stranded on the side of the road. Oh and by the way it never hurts to know a good mechanic if you are not one.
So mechanic or not, you know I always invite you along for the ride, and this time I hope you will heed my advice or even better leave some for me and every one else if you have advice to give. If no advice, maybe you will tell us about your dream car, or the one you own, or your dream bike for that matter, or the one you own. Either way, I hope one of these days you will join the conversation. If no one else is listening, at least you know I am..
Cars today are so bound in electronics, it makes them difficult for the home garage man to even get into the shroud to repair some of the simplistic things of old, like the oil, the spark plugs, timing, etc. Alan, my first car was a blue 78 Chevy Nova, I loved that car!!!
My first car was a ’78 Chevy Nova 3 on the tree. I wish I knew then what I know now. I’d have it restored and in tip top.
I’m grateful for a trusted mechanic. Im also grateful for a trusted mental health therapist who has been teaching me to use empathy to discern honest people from shysters.
California is monitoring all cars with plates from there and are on the radio telling people what to look for, rust in the engine areas, look for water lines, they are saying even the best deatailers cannot get all the signs of water damage. But you want to be sure to look, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.