adminHere are a few general pointers on how to physically check out a used car before you buy it.
1. Level Ground
Make sure that the car is on level ground before checking it out. This is to ensure you will be able to clearly check the tyres and to see if there is anything sagging on the car.
2. Paint Job
Carefully check the paint job of the car, taking note of any rust spots, dents or scratches. Look at the sides of the car from end-on for waviness; that indicates paintwork. Run your finger along the edges of the joints between panels; roughness indicates residue left from masking tape.
3. Vehicle Trunk
Check the trunk of the car to make sure it is still in good condition. It should not show any sign of rust, or water entry due to cracks or holes. Wear inside of the trunk indicates usage of the car.
4. Damage
Check under the hood of the car for any indication of dents, damage or rust. These can all be signs that the car was either poorly taken care of or damaged. Each fender, just inside where the hood joins should have the decal with the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the car, if one is missing, that fender was replaced.
5. Hoses and Belts
The hoses and belts should not have cracks; the radiator hoses should not be soft.
6. Upholstery
Go inside the car and check the seats and upholstery of the car for any tears, rips, stains or other type of damage.
7. Air Conditioning (where applicable)
Check to ensure the air-conditioning of the car is working well by turning it on to see that it works. If air-conditioning is a must, buy a car with a R134 coolant. Most cars fitted with a R134 are 1993 or newer and have a sticker on the AC Condenser.
8.Odometer/Speedo Reading
Check the odometer of the car for the mileage. This is important because the mileage indicates the car’s age. On the average an ordinary driver will drive between 15 000 and 20 000km a year, however this depends on many factors. Remember, cars age by time and mileage. Buying a 19-year-old car with very low miles is not necessarily a good thing.
9. Test Driving
Test-drive the car before making any final decisions. This is perhaps one of the best ways to know the condition of the car. Hence, a buyer should make all effort to do a test drive first before coming to any decisions.
10. Service History
Check out the car’s service history, which should give you some information regarding the performances, repairs and problems of the car.
Ideally, the current owner would have kept a record of the times when the car needed servicing and should be willing to show you this information.
There are instances where used cars are sold because of past accidents or negative experience.
11. Brakes
Be sure to check the brakes of the car by pressing down hard enough on the brakes to decelerate rapidly, but not enough to slide. Try this going around 60km/h in an area without traffic.
You should not feel any arbitration from the brake pedal, or hear any squealing or strange noises.
Brakes that pulsate indicate the need for having the rotors resurfaced and new pads installed. It should not swerve; a bad brake calliper or worm steering components can cause this.
12. Engine Leaks
Inspect the engine for any sort of leaks or corrosion. On the engine block, look for any dark brown oil stains; this will indicate clear that there is leak in a gasket, and could possibly lead to an expensive repair in the future.
Check the brake fluid and reservoir to make sure it is not leaking. The belts should look new; they should not have cracks or signs of drying. Old belts can snap, and if you do not know how to replace them, it could cost between $100 to 500 depending on which belt goes bad.
13. Other things
Other things to look out for before buying a car include the head gasket, tyres and the exhaust system. Vehicle history reports are inexpensive and contain very valuable information.
Do not read very deep, the important things are accidents and odometer discrepancies.
If you are looking at a car form a dealer, have them provide you with a vehicle history report. Make sure they give you the last page off the printer.
Online Reporter