Just got a 95 DX hatchback and not sure if it has flood damage. All the electronics work but there is caked on dirt from under the rear seats all the way to the tailgate. Also, when taking off the rear bumper cover, there is a pile of dirt inside the metal bumper and on the bumper foam piece. Inside the fuel door, there is caked on dirt all over. And in the engine bay, these weird white dots all over the place. I can't find rust so far, but what's up with all the caked on dirt and possible mold? Also, weird black box under the intake pipe that I circled in red. I have a 93 DX and it does not have that box. Any clue? Thanks.

 

Think Ron beat me to it, just as I was working on the clean up lol.

 

Did you run a Carfax or AutoCheck before buying it?





eH.

 

Yea, came up clean. But you know, maybe they never reported it?

 

Interesting. It's hard to believe someone wouldn't file an insurance claim for flood damage. Could be the car wasn't insured?

Where does Carfax list the car's history? East Coast? South?





eH.

 

There's NO rust that's the main thing, take BPC to it and enjoy i'm amazed the bumper beam is solid but maybe you're from Texas not up here in Ontario.


Most big insurance companies in Ontario(my experience) only allow a certain amount "claims" here's the worst part doesn't matter if you're at fault or not. I'm 1 accident away from having my insurance completely cut off! my most recent accident had to be out of my pocket(not that I care ) some guy backed into me police sided with me BUT if I claimed it I'd be cut off so 4k is my bill to foot lol....

 

California car.. yea, I'm happy no rust. Guess I'll just pressure wash the whole thing. But what are the dots in the engine bay and that mystery box?

 

My integra had that when I originally got it, it rubs off tho with a wire brush I assume its an early oxidization of the metal. It looks emissions related to me just cause of the location of it and the thin hoses coming off it.

 

I can rub it off with my finger.. it's squishy like jelly... And yea, probably right. There's a hose that goes to the intake pipe and a wire that goes through the firewall. Maybe the 95's had more emission stuff on them...

 

Cali emissions are weird

 

Clean it up with some simple green and come back in a few days with any new findings.

 

That picture with the throttle cable, it looks like something shot upwards. The dots look brown

 

As for that box, where does the various wiring go? In the bottom pic I see two fat tubes on either side of the box, one going across the front of the pic - where do they go?

 

The "mystery box" looks like an aftermarket cruise control actuator.

As to the crud and dirt...it's a 20 year old car and those areas likely haven't seen the light of day since it was originaly assembled, it's going to be dirty there.The grass and dirt inside the bumper beam could be a critter nest.

 

every honda ive ever owned looked just like that. wouldnt worry about it, just wash it off.

 

I didn't read everyone's replies so not sure if this was mentioned or not. But the water in the rear of the car likely entered through tail light gaskets or another type of failed seal, and pooled in the trunk. It splashes around and ends up under the rear seats during acceleration and deceleration.

A couple of those pictures definitely shows mold. That's gross. I'd clean that with bleach immediately. Or something else that will kill the spores.

 

Another idea for mold is "Biocide Systems 3213 Auto Shocker Interior Odor Eliminator"

I used it to get the musty smell out of a car. It releases a chlorine dioxide gas that kills mold and mildew every where not just where you can spray a cleaner.

be warned though. It means closing the car up for 12 to 24 hours in a shady location then venting it thoroughly.

I also had to remove about a gallon of soda from the rear seat cushion (a great breeding ground for mold and bacteria). i tried a bissell upholstery cleaner but as it got the upholstery clean it sucked more soda up into the fabric.

Finally pulled the back seat out and sprayed it down with a ton of Folex from Lowes then took a hose to it. all the stuff ran out and the foam went from dark brown back to light yellow. Also pulled the body drains and washed out the seat pan.

 

Thanks for the replies. I think maybe you're right about it being an aftermarket cruise control. I found a bunch of wires going to the steering column, and a broken switch on the steering column, the ECU and to another mystery box screwed the the panel under the steering column. I'll remove it and let you guys know what happens lol.