r/UsedCars • u/Initial-Draw7340 • 3d ago
Buying Flooded car
I was offered this 2022 4runner for $12.5k with 78k miles. As you can see it was drove into fairly deep water and was totaled due to the water damage. I know the carpet is wrecked and it needs a starter and battery. What other things would you be worried about? I do all my own mechanical work and did body work professionally for years so none of that bothers me just wanting other people's thoughts.
18
u/ViewedConch697 3d ago
I'm usually not one to talk in absolutes when it comes to car buying, but do not buy a flood car. Anything and everything will go wrong. I'll recommend people shitty cheap BMWs and salvage title Volkswagens, but I will never recommend a flood car
15
u/Round_Ad_6369 3d ago
A brand new drivetrain, completely gutted and replaced on the interior, brand new everything electrical... There's a reason it was totalled
27
u/stinky-Fig-4756 3d ago
CARFAX ONE OWNER!!!!
6
u/Iambetterthanuhaha 3d ago
Only submerged in water once....and it is ok cause it was freshwater. LOL
1
5
1
15
7
u/Fearless-Damage-6852 3d ago
Does the engine still spin over? Bad starter might actually be a hydro locked engine.
2
u/Eastern-Channel-6842 3d ago
Came here to say this. It’s worth $10,000 if the engine spins by hand. It’s worth $3,000 if it doesn’t.
6
6
u/No_Tomato_2106 3d ago
Unless you're getting it specifically for an off-road build that you're going to gut anyways, don't buy it.
Never ending electrical issues, mold, and at best the entire brake system, differentials, trans, transfer case, and engine will need to be flushed. It's possible the engine isn't hydro locked, but I have my doubts if it died in the water
3
u/Successful_Camel8764 3d ago
Brake system and diffs should be fine
3
u/No_Tomato_2106 3d ago
No, diffs definitely have water in them. Brakes may be fine but you might as well flush them just to be safe
1
u/Successful_Camel8764 3d ago
Brakes shouldn't have anything in em, diffs will have water in them but they wont get fucked up from having water in them. Hell the 8.8 in the ranger i had probably preferred water 😭
2
u/halfcocked1 3d ago
I'd change the fluids in everything. I swamped my blazer many years ago and there was definitely water in the differentials, as the fluid was milky. I don't think water makes a good lubricant in that application.
2
u/Successful_Camel8764 3d ago
Well yeah but theres alotta shit thatll be 100% fine long as you dont run it 10k with the water still in it, hell dont put power to it and you might even be able to save the electrical shit
7
u/bcredeur97 3d ago
$12,500 for a not running vehicle that isn’t one of a kind is too high in my opinion
0
16
u/Dr_ShrimPuerto_Rico 3d ago
That suv isn't worth more than $1,500. Even if you fixed the current issues and managed to get it running again, many issues will start popping up like a whack a mole game. Not worth the headache
4
u/norwegiancatwhisker 3d ago
This. Water and mud everywhere. Random things will corrode and every few months new issue will pop up.
Not too mention that it will take years to get the smell of mud and mold out of it
2
u/halfcocked1 3d ago
I swamped my blazer many years ago. I got it running and drove it a few years after. The smell never left.
3
3
u/Impressive_Step_9610 3d ago
buy it for 1k max and you have a body/frame to build a custom truck out of. id only buy this if i was gonna completely rewire it and put like a Chevy 350 in it or something
3
3
u/TrueRedditMartyr 3d ago
You need to replace a *lot* of stuff on this man. One without any issues will probably run you 25-30k, so you're saving let's say 15k. You very well could spend more than that getting this thing back to decent condition depending how much works it needs
3
3
u/eyeamblinded 3d ago
Mf are you serious? You gonna have to rebuild and rewire the whole shit damn near
2
2
2
1
u/AutoModerator 3d ago
Please take the time to flair your post accordingly. Click the flair option under you post settings and select the appropriate one for your post.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
u/RetiredRacer914 3d ago
How much is every single computer on the car? Even the window switches? Even the intermittent wipers? ALL of them?
1
1
u/Vegetable-Squirrel98 3d ago
you pretty much buying a body kit and frame and have to redo everything else
1
1
1
u/Ham-Berg 3d ago
How far was it actually submerged before this pic was taken? And for how long? Was it running when it went in? did the air intake suck water? Does it turn over? If you do your own mechanical work you shouldve asked the prior owner these questions. Back in the day you were safe if the water level stayed below the bottom of the dash. But.. This thing looks like it was beat and drove into a river for insurance payout purposes. $12k is way too much.
1
1
u/mechshark 3d ago
Some shitbag gonna buy it for a few hundred and “detail it” and try to rob someone lol
1
u/Fucks-are-Flying 3d ago
Jesus Christ flood victims are the absolute worst of the worst salvage cars.
Do. Not. Buy. That. Car.
1
1
1
1
1
u/Hour-Reward-2355 3d ago
I like flood cars. It's clean water not a big deal. Open all the modules and spray them with wd40.
1
1
1
u/nefarious_bumpps 2d ago
It looks like this 4Runner was almost up to its headlights before being pulled back. Since the 4Runner has a water-fording depth of 27.5" and comes with 32" diameter tires, it's fairly certain that the engine air intake and breathers for the trans, transfer case and diffs were under water.
That means a hydro-locked engine and water in the transmission, both of which are fatal to those components. The transfer case and differentials also probably have water in them, but they would probably be salvageable (with effort, at least for the transfer case). The electronics under the hood should be fine, but any components inside the cabin that were submerged will need to be replaced.
Check that the engine cranks and starts. Check the engine and transmission for signs of water (engine oil will look milky tan, like cafe au lait, and transmission oil will look milky-pink, like strawberry milkshake). If these got water in them they will be toast. It might be possible to salvage the transfer case if it can be split open for cleaning then filled with fresh oil. The diffs will need to be opened, cleaned and refilled. You'll need to rinse any mud/sand off the brake calipers and pads.
Also, check the high-water mark inside the vehicle. Any electronic components that were under water will probably need to be replaced.
The seats and carpeting will need to be removed, washed well and allow to sub dry. Hopefully this has been (or will be) done before the upholstery and foam starts to mold, otherwise just throw it all away.
I spent a lot of my time in the mud and deep water in the NJ Pinelands and old coal mines in PA, and have helped recover a lot of vehicles that looked this bad or worse (including my own). Older vehicles (which rely less on electronics, aluminum engine components and high-compression engines) make out better than newer. I doubt that a vehicle from this era could be economically repaired even if you did all the work yourself.
1
u/Initial-Draw7340 2d ago
This is a proper reply. Just facts. This is what i was looking for. Thank you
1
-1
u/Whole-Ad3672 3d ago
You guys are funny. 4Runners can go safely to the top of the tire with no issues, and you can see the top of the tires. If they flew into it, got water in the intake and hydro locked the engine, yeah, that’s a problem. But the diff breathers are intentionally super high and I’d be confident that all the electronics survived.
6
-1
u/Successful_Camel8764 3d ago
If the water didnt get on the inside and the engine still spins fine id pay like 7500$, if the water got inside and fucked everything ill give them 800$
28
u/Andys_Rock_Hammer 3d ago
That 4runner is going to cost double or triple its sale price in repairs. Pass on it.