Harvey Destroys 500 thousand cars

At least 500,000 cars are deemed inoperable and junked as salvage following Hurricane Harvey.lThat number could grow as people continue to return home and clear out damaged property.
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Lauren Fix, an auto expert and "Car Coach" spoke to Inside Edition where she gave the run down on the cars.

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“If the vehicle is floating, completely underneath [the surface], it's junk — just forget about it,” she said. “If it is below [a] point called the sill, your brakes, fuel lines, exhaust system and computers need to be checked.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"If the water is halfway up the door, you're probably in trouble, because all that dirty water has now flown into the vehicle.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Fix continued, "Safety systems don't work. Anti-lock brake systems and the car could stop and die at any time and even worse, there's zero warranty." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Fix further have tips for unsuspecting buyers who may be sold a flood-damaged car.

“If you suspect that a vehicle might be flood-damaged, turn the fan on as high as possible for heat and the air-conditioning and put your nose to the vent," she said. "If it smells moldy or perfumed, that's a sign water has been down those vents and you want to walk away from that vehicle."

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