What do I look out for when buying a used car?

Answer 1

Buying a used vehicle is a process of steps that most consumers dont have time to study ...do you ???

Go to my webpage http://www.usedcartips.org/TESTDRI.html and then go main page and study the 10 steps...I share with you expertise in the field as a hobby with no strings attached selling books or CD's, I made all the money I need from consumers that had more important matters in mind than buying a car...lol

Answer 2

Look out for new paint. New paint might equal recent repairs due to a collision or from rust. Make sure to look at the tread depth on the tires. If the tread depth is too low and you have to buy new tires right after you purchase the used car make sure you have the extra cash to do so. If you are familiar with things under the hood then...lift the hood! Look to see if the engine is clean. Usually clean equals well maintained. Just make sure that it pressure washed 30 minutes ago for the first time in many years just to make it look presentable. Take of the oil filler cap. Run your finger inside the top of the valve cover. If you come out with a bunch of oil sludge then the car probably hasn't been very well maintained. Make sure you ask to see the preventative maintanence records(oil changes, brakes) things that with preventative maintainance will keep the car running longer and getting you where you need to go.

Answer 3

Bigfreds answer was right but I would ad that you need to research any car you look at with carfax and Consumer Reports. It's a large ticket item and any time or money you spend researching will pay off.

Answer 4

First and foremost see if it has been in a serious wreck.

Next check and see if it has been under water or in deep water. If so you are going to always have trouble with the electric's and electronics. Look under the dash board for signs it has been flooded

Next check the mileage on the engine.and car itself. It is illegal to turn back odometers but it is still done. Note high mileage does not necessarily mean the care is not a good buy. It hurts an engine more doing the start stop city driving than highway driving. A car that has been driven on the highway mostly with a 100,000 miles on it can easily be a better buy than a car only driven in the city with 40,000 miles on it.

Check the steering of sloop and looseness. Check tires for even wear. New tires are a good indicator that car is high mileage or it has suspension problems usually caused by being in wreck and frame being bent. Or the suspension is wore out. While you are at it look under the fender wells to see if the car has been wrecked. Also while under the fender well check the brake rotors for signs of wear.

Check the doors, trunk, hood for excessive wear by openigs them and closely them several times. While you are checking them look under the hood and in the trunk for any signs of the car having been in a wreck.

If it passes that quick overview test, take it for a test drive. While you are at it run a compression check on the engine. If you don't have a compression gauge have a mechanic you know and trust do it for you. Low compression means wore out engine. Oil on plugs (wet plugs) mean worn piston rings.

When test driving gun it like you are in a drag race and listen to the engine. Knocking and pinging can be as simple as cheap gas but it can also be an indicator of a rod knocking means it is ready to throw a rod.

After accelerating hard several times to check the engine and transmission, brake it hard enough to almost lock up the brakes. It is a good idea to do this in a parking lot incase brakes lock up and you go into a slide. What you are doing is checking for even start line braking with the car not trying to pull one way or the other. You are also checking for any unusual braking noise. And the same time you want to pay attention to how the brake pedal feels.

Now you check for vacuum leaks which can be expensive to have repaired. Turn your a/c on and put the car in hard acceleration while feeling of the air vents. Air stops blowing usually means vacuum leak somewhere.

Now check all lights, turn signals and stops lights along with interior lights and especially dash lights.

After driving the car around getting the engine and transmission up to temp. shut it down and let it cool off. Then check the oil and water. While you are at it check the belt or belts. Details can hide a lot of ills but after a few miles they will start showing up.

After checking oil in engine, and transmission check water if there is a cooling problem water will start looking dirty. Also check around power steering pump and cylinder for signs of power steering oit. And while you are at it check all the piping and wiring going to the air conditioner. There is a cut switch located around the dryer on most cars check and see if it is unplugged and if unplugged if a jump has been stuck in it.

As a final fluid check, check the grease in the rear end if it is a rear wheel drive type car.

After youi do all that then get with your insurance agent and get him or her to pull up a complete history of the car. If the car has been involved in a serious wreck and insurance companies were involved you agen will be able to tell. He or she can also tell how much damage was done to the car as well.

Also ask for the previous owner's name and address and then talk to the previous owner. If it was a lease car ask to see the company's maintenance records on the car. And if it was driven by one person like a salesman get his or her name and talk to them about the car as well.

Hope that helps. The key to buying a used car is not get taken in by the looks especially if it is on a lot. Most car lots use professional detailers to clean cars up. They can make a car which is ready to fall apart look almost new.

Once you have done all the above now you start talking to the dealer about warranty. You can get an extended power train warranty on most used cars but you have to ask for it.

Here is a tip, by law if anything is wrong with the car they are legally bound to tell you. If the car has ever been in a wreck they have to tell you that also. If the car's mileage has been turned back they have to tell you that as well and furnish the true mileage on the car.

Now here is a few tricks to look out for. A little dab of saw dust witl make a wore out transmission or transaxle shife like a dream for a little while. Usually long enough to get it your name signed and get it off the lot. By the same token a couple cans of STP will quiet down knocking rods and lifters. Extra heavy industrial grease will make wore out tie rod ends and ball joins feel good and tight.until the first time you drive through water of any degree like in a heavy rain.

Last but not least if it is a car I have owned don't buy it. Because by the time I am finished with a car or truck, all it is good for is land fill.

Answer 5

squealing brakes , brakes pulling to one side, transmission slipping, overheating engine , uneven wear on tires , front end pulling to one side while driving on level road , hard to start ,
Oh yeah owned by a little old lady that only drove it to the store and back .
Or last registered in NEW ORLEANS !!!!!!!!!!!!