Posted on 11/07/2012 8:20:22 PM PST by count-your-change
A nine volt battery and steel wool works well. I know I wouldn’t freeze if there was something to burn available.
The way it works here is anywhere there is a wreck, if it is considered “totaled” the auto is moved to Missouri for salvage. Instead of salvage it is cleaned, repaired where any damage does not show, and moved into Arkansas.
There are lots of “salvage” places along the Missouri border just north of us. Now they have been found to be running these ruined autos into other states.
Back about 35 years ago, the company I worked for decided they needed a new auto for the plant manager. They bought a “Brand New” one with less than 60 miles on it.
After several years, I noticed some cracks in the paint, and that the color of the trunk and rear panel did not exactly match the other parts. A quick look under some of the padding showed dents, and lots of bondo.
Years ago I had a wreck on the front of an auto I had, and it was considered “totaled”. We sold it to a local junk yard where it sat for a few days, then I went by and it was gone. There in the junk yard was the entire front end which had been removed and replaced from another junked auto.
Many years later, I had another wreck (caused by another driver) in which my truck was “totaled”. The local truck dealer took it in and a few weeks later I saw it going down the road. I know it was mine because of minor blemishes on the off side where no damage occured.
I found out the hard way that if a car is flooded, DON”T TOUCH IT! The electronic parts will corrode almost immediately, and the rotating parts will get water in the bearings and fail in short order.
People don’t realize that all electric motor and alternator bearings are designed to keep lubricants in, but not water out. That is what the hood is supposed to do.
On the truck I was sold under false pretenses, the following parts failed within a few weeks.
Electric window motors.
Starter.
Alternator.
radio
AC and heater motor.
Then I found water in the differential oil.
Rust began to show through all over the truck. When I pulled out the door panels to replace the window motors I was shocked to find rust all over the unpainted interior parts of the door.
No, a flooded truck or auto is no more valuable than scrap iron.
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