How to Fix a Salvage Title Vehicle
A salvage title vehicle has been in an accident or a flood, or it has been stolen but recovered, and the company insuring the vehicle has determined that the cost to repair the damages done to the vehicle exceeds a certain percentage of the vehicle's cost. This does not mean a salvage vehicle is not worth repairing. If a thief took the car on a joy ride (versus stripping it of its parts or wrecking it) before the vehicle was recovered; if the floodwaters remained below the level of the vehicle's electrical components; and if the accident didn't damage the vehicle's most vital parts, the vehicle may run for years to come. Fixing a salvage title vehicle is a risk because the extent of the damage is not always evident.
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Instructions
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If the Vehicle Has Been Stolen or in an Accident
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Bring the vehicle to a mechanic to determine its problems if your knowledge of automobiles is minimal.
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Use auto diagnostics software, which interfaces with a vehicle's engine control computer (ECU), to garner trouble codes stored in the ECU and pinpoint potential causes for problems.
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Look at the vehicle's panels to make sure they line up.
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Ensure the front end gaps are equal on all sides.
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Test the doors to make sure they open and shut properly.
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Open the hood and look for signs of damage in the engine bay.
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Fix the identified problems by yourself if you have the knowledge and tools necessary. If you don't, hire a professional mechanic.
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Regularly change the vehicle's oil and complete regular maintenance to ensure the vehicle will run safely for as long as possible.
If the Vehicle Has Been in a Flood
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Find out if the water was fresh water or salt water. Because salt water can corrode wires and connections, the repairs may be costly if not impossible.
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Look for rust on any metal components under the dash. If you see rust, it means the water level was high enough to potentially damage electrical components.
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Look for rust inside the cigarette lighter, which may indicate a dangerously high water level.
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Notice whether or not lights are out on the dashboard--lights that have gone out also indicate a high water level.
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Check the car over for general maintenance issues if the water level doesn't appear to have been too high.
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Use auto diagnostics software, which interfaces with a vehicle's engine control computer (ECU), to garner trouble codes stored in the ECU and pinpoint potential problems.
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Fix the identified problems by yourself if you have the knowledge and tools necessary. If you don't, hire a professional mechanic.
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Regularly change the vehicle's oil and complete regular maintenance to ensure the vehicle will run safely for as long as possible.
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References
- Photo Credit http://www.sxc.hu/photo/48767
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Comments
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The question was "how to fix a salvage title" not how to determine the extent of the damages to a wrecked vehicle so this article was no help at all.
