How To Examine a Pre Owned Car For Sale
Begin examining a preowned car for sale by circling it while watching for evidence the body was repaired. Look for patches of paint that don't match perfectly or if one headlight looks newer than the other. Bring along a small magnet to detect repaired body panels, as magnets won’t stick to body filler.
Rust is a huge concern especially where there's lots of snow and in coastal areas. Rust often begins eating through metal in hidden places like inside doors and gutters. Other places of concern comprise door sills, wheel arches, edges of boots and bonnets, spaces surrounding head and tail-lights, and spare wheel wells. Of course, you should always check the floor beneath the carpet. Remember to check for rust underneath the car. And while you're down there, check for signs of oil leaks and other defects.
Inadequate maintenance usually reveals itself in the engine compartment. Corroded battery terminals or holding brackets, oily engines, frayed wiring, and cracked hoses are all red flags. There should be no signs of leakage around the radiator core, neither should cooling fins be bent, clogged, or grimy.
Take off the radiator cap and start the engine when it's cold. Watch for air bubbles surfacing in the water. These could signal a defective cylinder head gasket. A coating of oil or grunge inside the radiator cap is also a sign of possible neglect.
Check the pre owned car’s interior for indications of wear and tear that don’t match what the odometer suggests you'd see. Check the brake and clutch pedals for wear. Make sure they're not too new or too old and worn in relation to the car's purported mileage.
Make sure all controls, such as heater, wipers, etc, are working properly. Examine the wind shield. Small scratches and chips might be fixable, however cracks and craters are probably not.
Ask the car's seller to start it up while you stand in back to see what comes out of the exhaust. Visible vapor is normal on a cold winter morning, but a puff of blue/gray smoke might indicate worn valve guides or valve-stem oil seals. Persistent smoke can signal the need for new pistons and rings, maybe even a total engine overhaul.
Listen to the engine idle with the hood open. Minor ticking noise might be acceptable, but beware of knocks or whines. Rev the engine quickly and listen for a knock that could betray worn bearings.
A test drive is indispensable. No matter the engine size, there should be no hesitation or misfire when you accelerate. Step on the gas a few times to check for free play in the transmission.
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The clutch should operate smoothly, no jerking. The rumble of release bearing when you step on the clutch can auger expensive repairs. Examine the clutch free play before you start, and remember the setting as you drive. Too little play may cause the clutch to slip excessively as you change gear, whereas too much often causes gears to grind. Too much slip on pull-away or during shifting can also be a sign of a worn clutch. The gearbox itself should operate smoothly.
Steering feel varies greatly from car to car, but the car should always stay straight-ahead if you let go of the steering wheel on a straight and level road. If the preowned car you're considering veers on its own, it could be due to a simple alignment, but this might indicate expensive-to-fix suspension damage.
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Check over the wheels for dings that could indicate suspension or tire damage. Also, look carefully at the condition of the tire sidewalls, and check the tire tread for uneven or excessive wear. As a general rule, tires worn at the center have probably been over-inflated, whereas wear along both edges suggest too low air pressure. Uneven wear is often a sign of defective shock absorbers.
Finally, have the seller to drive the car while you follow in another vehicle. Examine the car I motion for buckled wheels or a bent chassis (indicated by a crab-like movement). These can be signs the car has been in one or more accidents and undergone major repairs.
It is the rare and lucky shopper who stumbles upon a perfect preowned car. Ultimately, you must weigh the pros and cons and judge if the car for sale is worth the asking price. A thorough examination will at least minimize the risk of making a serious mistake, and probably provide ammunition to negotiate the best possible price for yourself.