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The car was sitting on a street that flooded over the weekend. About 5-6 inches of water got into the car, but as far as I know it didn't reach the car's computer (2008 Toyota Corolla - I believe the computer is somewhere up near the glove compartment).
The water was shop-vacced out the next morning (Saturday) and the car towed to the dealership Monday morning. It was never started during the flood. When my husband tried to start it Saturday morning, it would turn over but not start.
The service department ripped out the seats and carpet Monday afternoon. The insurance adjuster got there Tuesday and declared the car totaled. It hadn't been put on the service center's computer yet to see what the damage was.
I trust my insurance agent and the service center guy who's reporting back to us. I've never dealt with the insurance adjuster.
It's totalled because the cost of repair exceeds the value of the vehicle, so it's less expensive to just pay you out what the car is worth, less deductable.
To diagnose potential electrical issues and replace an interior are expensive and time consuming.
There is a lot of wiring/electrical parts in the car other than just the 'computer' you are referring to. There are many modules and such and many wires that run along the floor boards that will turn into a nightmare over time with rust and corrosion. I'd be thankful that they totaled it if I were you.
In my state, if your 2008 Corolla is worth $10k, but it will cost more than $7,500k to fix, the car is automatically totaled - costs to repair can't exceed 75% of value. The car may be fine and may be bought as a salvage vehicle and rebuilt, but for the insurance company, its easier to just give you a check for the car at $10k rather than spend at least $7,500 trying to fix it.
Flooded cars are never right after being repaired - too many electrical gremlins "swim in" and the car never recovers.
In my state, if your 2008 Corolla is worth $10k, but it will cost more than $7,500k to fix, the car is automatically totaled - costs to repair can't exceed 75% of value. The car may be fine and may be bought as a salvage vehicle and rebuilt, but for the insurance company, its easier to just give you a check for the car at $10k rather than spend at least $7,500 trying to fix it.
Flooded cars are never right after being repaired - too many electrical gremlins "swim in" and the car never recovers.
I think that's your main issue. They don't want to have to keep messing with this car. There are just too many possible future problems. So they'll total it, sell it off at an auction, and be out from under the liability.
Though the car was never hooked up to a diagnostic machine, one of the service guys went through it with some kind of hand held unit. I talked to him this morning and he said the electricals were pretty much hosed.
Thanks to all who answered. I appreciate your input.
I am seriously thinking about getting full coverage for my car. It was flooded recently, but luckily it's working now. I went to a Honda dealership yesterday. They have about 70 vehicles being repaired with about 20 with flood damage. A good number are SUVs.
Without full coverage, I am super thankful it still works.
Take the money, buy the car from the insurance company, get a shop electrical manual, learn auto electrics while fixing it. Most flooding repairs involve taking every connector apart, drying it out, spraying it with anti-corrosive fluid and putting it back together. This is tedious and time consuming work, because you only work with one connector at a time, but not very complicated. Done right you might be able to pay yourself a couple of grand while keeping the car.
If you or DH are handy, do what GregW suggests. If not, take the money and run. Fundamentally Greg's right though - somebody is going to be getting a pretty good car out of this, at a considerable discount money wise, by investing a little sweat equity.
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