What Are The Signs of a Flood Damaged Car?

A flood damaged car is a car with problems that are waiting to happen. For instance, rust can start overnight but take years to actually start showing through the paint and electrical problems are intermittent and may not first appear for weeks or even months after the damage.

Most experts recommend avoiding flood damaged cars completely. But how can you recognize that a car has been in a flood? After all, most sellers are not going to advertise that information. Here are a few tips to help you avoid purchasing a car that’s been through a flood.

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Car Manufacturers recall Volvo S60 and Lexus RX350

This year two popular cars, the S60 Volvo and the Lexus RX350, are being recalled. The Volvo recall will affect the units sold between May of 2006 and May of 2007. This will include over 8.000 cars. The cars are being recalled because there have been problems in which drivers lose control of their vehicle’s steering. The power steering reservoir hoses in the S60 are not routed correctly. This may create an increase in pressure and a loss of power steering fluid, which could lead to a car crash. Volvo has stated that they will examine all of the cars that are recalled and will replace the power steering reservoir hoses for free.

Meanwhile Toyota has also been having problems. The 2011 Lexus RX350 has only been released recently but 32 units are already being recalled. This is apparently because of a calibration error in the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM). If the Vehicle Stability Control is engaged the right front wheel may not work properly, which could lead to a crash. These recalled cars will also be inspected and the VDIM will be replaced free of charge as well. Both automakers will be recalling their cars sometime in August of 2011.

What Kind of Damage Can Make Your Car a Write Off?

This is a tough question that can often be answered by more questions; how much do you love your car? How much did the car cost you, therefore is it worth repair? Do you have the money for the repair? If you can’t afford to repair your car, whatever the damage is, it’s a write off to you. There’s a chance you could sell it on but be prepared to have to sell for scrap or parts. Some damage just isn’t worth repairing because the costs outweigh the worth of the car when you consider mileage and age. Your car can suffer from varying degrees of damage but some faults will cost you a lot more than others.

When you are buying a car, consider how easy it is to get parts. If you have an older or foreign car, sometimes parts are hard to come by and can cost thousands compared to the same parts by different brands. Consider too the labour, the parts needed may not cost a fortune, but the labour required to fit them may be a pretty penny.

The more mechanical issues with your car are what will cost you the most to repair. Transmission repair is particularly pricey as this is the part that pretty much runs your engine. Suspension repair, radiator and heating and cooling problems, exhaust repair and brake repair all fall under essential work if you want to drive a car that is safe and hopefully reliable once fixed. Continue reading

Why has my engine seized?

If you are in the unfortunate situation where you have to ask yourself why your engine seized, you may be in more trouble then you think – a seized engine is a serious problem with no easy solution. This is not a situation with a quick fix, so options should be considered carefully.

When the engine is seized, it means that it will not turn over at all. This is not the same as, say, a dead battery or a wiring mishap. In these cases it is the simple matter of locating the trouble and doing a quick repair job. If the battery is re-charged, or the loose wire tightened up, the car is off and running again. The causes of this problem are generally going to be heat related. If an engine does not have enough motor oil, it will overheat and seize. The same is true of water, or of any other vital motor fluids. Extreme heat causes extreme stress, and under stress motor parts break down, and the engine ceases operating. Continue reading

Make Money by Selling your Damaged Car

When it comes to cars they often suffer more damages and repairs than most people anticipate. Cars that always break down or constantly suffer from one problem or another can be disconcerting and stressful. And what usually happens is owners continue to keep fixing their car because no one will buy the vehicle due to its many issues – this is when companies that specialise in purchasing broken down vehicles can offer their services.

These types of companies are often looked over or not even thought of because of automatic assumptions about them. But the truth is, these companies are doing people a favour by helping them get rid of their damaged car and paying the owner to do so.

We Buy Any Damaged Car is is a nationwide company and we can offer you an excellent price for any accident damaged or mechanically damaged car that you wish to sell, for whatever reason. As long as the car or vehicle is under 10 years old we can help you within 24-48 hours of your call or email. Contact us today!

Help! My Head Gasket Has Blown!

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Cars often bring great joy to their owners. The thrill of the open road, the excitement of driving along a scenic coastline, and the pleasure of singing along to your favourite tunes while driving down the motorway, are moments we all enjoy. But, cars can also be a major pain the neck…and the wallet. One of the most serious problems is a blown head gasket.

Why is a Blown Head Gasket So Serious?

The head gasket seals the cylinder head to the engine block and also allows coolant to leak into the cylinders and causes compression loss. A blown head gasket will cause:

* A severe decrease in power due to a loss of compression.

* A loss of coolant which will cause overheating.

* Coolant leaking into cylinders or the crankcase which would dilute the oil and
cause more engine wear.

There are three main reasons why a blown head gasket is a serious issue:

* It is expensive to replace.

* It may have been caused by some other engine problem.

* Additional repairs and expense may be needed to completely fix the motor.

What Should You Do When Your Head Gasket Fails?

Your first thought will be to take it to your mechanic and get it fixed. However, you now know that it will be costly to repair and may require additional repairs at an even great expense. Considering the cost of this, it is advisable to think about replacing your car instead of your head gasket. A new head gasket may only delay the inevitable deterioration of your car. If the automobile is older, the cost of repairing the blown head gasket may be greater than the book value of the car. Unless you love your car and can’t bear the thought of parting with it, buying a shiny new model may be the right choice.

BMW 5 Series Turbo Problems

The BMW series 5 has been in production for nearly forty years now and is BMW’s second highest selling car model after their 3 series. Despite the fact that is second to the series 3, it actually represents 50% of the company’s sales. This is because of the high quality parts and efficiency of the series 5. The Series 5 Turbo, however, can experience mechanical issues over time which can cause major financial problems for an owner.

 

To know what might cause turbo failure, you should first know what a turbo is and how it works. A turbo or turbocharger is a compressor that helps increase the pressure of the air going into the engine, thus increasing the performance of the car overall. They work using a turbine that is powered by the engine’s exhaust. It is important to know that a turbo is not necessary for a car to run, but is extremely useful for its performance.

A turbo is subject to high stress due to the nature of its operations and turbos can fail for various reasons like: cold weather, excessive RPMs, lack of engine use, and a buildup of rust. It is very rare though, that a turbo charger would fail all at once. A turbo charger will show clear signs that it is beginning to degrade, such as: increased exhaust smoke, a burning oil smell, lower boost power (if you have a boost gauge installed) or lower overall RPMs and power. If you are keen to observing your car’s health, you will notice these signs and can take actions to fix your turbo before it fails.

Fixing a turbo is usually something a handy person will not be able to do alone. However, it is possible to diagnose the problem of the turbo by checking its parts individually for failures. The most common problem you will find with a turbocharger is rust build up. Sometimes it is possible to clean away the rust with any kind of rust remover. The best course of action is to take it to the dealership to get it fixed by a trained mechanic.

The BMW Series 5 is renowned for its amazing performance and power and the turbo is an integral part in the BMW’s performance. If your turbo is failing your car will still run, but at very much reduced power and efficiency. You should check up on your car’s turbo monthly to make sure no rust and wear is building up on the turbo. In the situation where your turbo has failed, take it to a trained mechanic be be aware that the costs for repair will be pretty steep.