Will "soaked cars" flow into the second-hand car market?, Flood receding parts | possible | repair | consumer | purchase | used car | vehicle | soaked in water
Recently, extreme weather has triggered rainstorm and flood disasters in many places. In some areas, there are many vehicles damaged by soaking in water. Some consumers are worried that these vehicles will be hidden dangers for vehicle safety when they enter the second-hand car market.
Will soaked cars flow into the second-hand car market?
According to Luo Lei, an expert from the China Association of Automobile Dealers, the circulation of soaked second-hand cars is not prohibited by law, and consumers must be cautious when making purchases. "In general, do not buy a used car that has been soaked in water because you do not know when safety issues may arise. If you purchase a used car that has been soaked in water without your knowledge, you must take legal action to protect your legitimate rights and interests."
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News+Luo Lei: People may think that vehicles that have been submerged in water are called flooded cars. However, under what circumstances would soaking in water have a significant impact on the technical specifications and safety performance of the vehicle? According to the evaluation standards released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers in 2011, a vehicle that is soaked in conductive liquids such as water and causes damage to its core components and electrical components is generally referred to as a flooded vehicle when the water level exceeds the bottom of the vehicle seat.
The degree of damage to vehicles submerged in water can be divided into various situations: the first is that the waterline has just crossed the slide rail, and this situation is called low level immersion. It will have a certain impact on the vehicle, such as rusting of the chassis and lighting interfaces, but the degree of impact is not very high. After simple repair, it can be used normally.
The second type is that the waterline has already reached the dashboard, which has a significant impact on the overall performance of the vehicle. For example, seats, instruments, engines, transmissions, lights, speakers, air conditioning, central control equipment, radars, and many other components are susceptible to water erosion.
The third type is that the water has already submerged the roof, which is what we call a "car without a roof.". Such a car is basically worthless, and insurance companies usually recover it as a total loss car and compensate the owner in full according to the car price. Even if such a car is professionally repaired, there may still be serious hazards.
As long as it is a water immersion vehicle, there will be safety hazards. Even vehicles that are submerged in water at a low position may generate incorrect signals and become a safety hazard when the water passes through the sensing components of the brake system. In addition, there are many high-tech applications in cars nowadays, such as safety aids, navigation equipment, etc. After being immersed in water, the reliability of electronic components will be greatly reduced. If not all parts are replaced during repair, there will be a safety hazard. My personal suggestion is that non professionals should not purchase such vehicles.
News+Luo Lei: As long as the car is not in the scrapping process, it will be repaired and flow to the second-hand car market, because such cars still have a certain commercial value. Nowadays, vehicle repair technology is very advanced. Most vehicles can be used normally after parts replacement, cleaning, and comprehensive repair, which can meet some driving or travel needs.
In addition, the purchase price of water soaked cars often undergoes significant adjustments. Buying a used car may cost 100000 yuan, while buying an equivalent soaked used car may only cost 30000 to 40000 yuan, so some people may be tempted to buy it at a low price.
In relevant regulations, there are no clear restrictions on the circulation of used cars soaked in water. There are various situations in the circulation of automobiles, including normal second-hand cars, second-hand cars that have experienced accidents, and second-hand cars that have suffered total losses. As long as someone is willing to purchase, they can be auctioned off. However, there are clear regulations in the industry that if the vehicle being sold is a flooded vehicle, whether it is a low level flooded vehicle or a total loss flooded vehicle, consumers should be clearly informed of the important defects of the vehicle and the possible consequences it may cause.
At present, the vast majority of car manufacturers will clearly inform consumers whether they are flooded cars. Otherwise, once the consumer detects or proves through certain evidence that the car was soaked in water before purchase, the merchant will bear corresponding legal responsibilities. It is not ruled out that a small number of merchants may not know or have not detected that their vehicles have been soaked in water. However, I personally believe that there are very few car dealers who knowingly conceal consumers while being soaked in water, and some may face greater legal responsibility.
News+Luo Lei: Identifying water soaked cars is relatively simple, and ordinary consumers can also do it. Firstly, second-hand cars will undergo mold growth after being soaked in water, resulting in a putrid odor, especially in the adhesive parts. Also, consumers can pull up their seat belts and check for any watermarks on them. A more intuitive method is to look at some relatively hidden places. You can open the interior cover of the car door to see if there is any remaining mud and sand inside. If there is, it is undoubtedly a flooded car.
Of course, if you suspect that the used car you purchased is a flooded car, you still need to go through a professional organization for testing. After purchasing a car, even if the merchant provides a testing report, consumers can still apply for comprehensive technical testing of the vehicle through purchasing services, hiring a professional third-party second-hand car testing agency, or through judicial appraisal agencies, to avoid potential safety hazards to driving.
If you find a used car soaked after purchasing it, you need to retain relevant evidence from the original transaction, especially recordings, videos, and signed contracts, and use legal means to protect your rights.
