How to Inspect Used Car before Buying: Complete Checklist
While buying a used car, there are numerous quotations that come to mind that will be associated with the quality and features of the car. You may sometimes feel skeptical about buying a car because you will have to pay a catastrophic amount of funds. You can lose your money if you decide to purchase a used car without inspection additionally, it will raise questions about safety.
Note: Consider preferring a trusted used car dealership to get the value on a used car purchase with minimum risk.
Thorough research and investigation skills will assist you to get the maximum benefit on a second-hand car purchase in Surrey. To eliminate future troubles while using a purchased used car.
- Check Interior Electronics:
Playing your favourite song and driving to your favourite destination, can’t be overlooked. Remember to analyze a used car’s sound system. Radio, stereo, and other electronic components in the cockpit must be imagined thoroughly.
- Analyze The Vehicle History Report (CARFAX REPORT):
A vehicle history report contains detailed information about a vehicle’s previous ownership, whether it was damaged or not, and a number of miles it has covered. It includes repair history or maintenance history.
- Inspect Engine-Related Components:
The car components need an essential check that are explained as under: –
● Don’t miss checking whether the engine gets too hot after using the car for a short period of time or not as it is the heart of the car; without this, you cannot move even a few meters.
● Analyse the condition of the bay, dust, and dirt properly for issues.
● Plattered oil can be a serious issue, immediately note that.
● Hoses and Belts: Rubber hoses are used by radiator and AC use, squeeze them to analyse whether the rubber is firm and supple or not. Pull the belts to examine their fragility.
● Fluids: Fluids help keep the car running smoothly that are power steering fluid, engine coolant, transmission fluid, engine oil, hydraulic clutch fluid, brake fluid, window washer fluid, and differential fluid.
1. Check the color of these fluids, it should be dark brown or black not gritty.
2. Oil will be honey color, if it was just changed.
3. Use a dipstick to determine the color of fluids.
4. If the dipstick has water droplets then, there must be a problem with an engine; It might be cracked, and it can be an issue of a blocked or blown head gasket.
● Battery: Batteries nowadays are free from regular maintenance as well as from refilling. Yellow or black color of a battery tells whether the battery is dying; however, if the battery has filler caps on it, then clean the top with a rag. Check the liquid level by unscrewing the caps carefully. A low level points to excessive usage of the. You may ask the mechanic to examine the charging system and run a load test.
- Check The Year and Mileage:
If a car has covered an average distance of 20,000 KM, you get a chance to bargain on its cost. A used car can be available in the market with high or low mileage, the choice is yours. If you have a tight budget then you can opt for high mileage and vice-versa.
- Inspect The Window Carefully:
According to bclaws.gov.bc.ca Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, it is prohibited to drive on a highway with a windshield cracked or having a condition that makes the driver visually impaired, additionally, the use of a windshield sticker, sign, poster or other thing on the window of the vehicle or windshield that makes the obstruct the person’s view of the highway.
- Examine Overall Body Condition:
You should inspect body condition deliberately; to do this, have a look over the panel and roof for scratches, dents, and rust. Also, check misaligned panels or large gaps and the paint finish should be the same on everybody panel.
- Tires, Lights, and Lenses:
The condition of the tires can be estimated from the number of miles it has covered. The tires’ condition sheds the light on how many miles it has covered; more miles it has covered means, poor the condition will be, and vice-versa. If car tyres belong to different brands not to a single brand, ask why they have been replaced. Also make it sure that all light lenses and including reflectors have no cracks, also check whether these are fogged with moisture, or missing.
- Observe The interior and Exterior Properly:
The examination of Interior of a used car is as important as the exterior. Interior components need in-depth observation that will help you to bargain on the car’s cost like seats, roof, pedals, etc.
● Seats: You need to carefully examine all the seats even if you don’t use rear ones whether these are ripped off or not, particularly in a used car with low mileage.
● Pedals: You can get an idea for how many years a car has been used from its brake, clutch, and gas pedals. A car with low miles shouldn’t show much wear. If you have a question in your mind regarding no. of miles covered by a car, inspect its pedal rubber; worn pedal rubber from different spots shows it is driven too much.
● Roof: If the water leaks through ill-fitting doors or windows, investigate from the roof stains or sags. Also, the sunroof or moonroof’s inspection can get you an idea whether it closes, opens properly, and seals well when shut. It is too simple to examine a convertible top for tears, you just need to shine a flashlight up into it.
● Trunk: Use your nose as well as your eyes to sniff and look for signs of water entry. If carpets smell musty, means they are wet, and check the spare-tire well for water or rust.
- Under The Vehicle:
Enquire transmission fluid, old puddles of gasoline, oil, and coolant. Water drips need cleaning from under the car that are condensed from the air conditioner due to the hot day.
● Tailpipe: Also check whether oil is burnt or not, examine a greasy and black tailpipe; its smudge should be dry and dark grey. Though some rust is normal, heavy rust could generate a requirement to purchase a new exhaust system.
● Underneath: Slide under the vehicle to do some basic checks by spreading an old blanket on the ground and slide under the used car to look under the engine with a flashlight.
Also, examine the rounded constant-velocity-joint boots that come with black-rubber bellows at the ends of the axle shafts. The car having bad CV joints condition like splitted and leaking grease indicates that it will need another costly repair.
Structural components with kinks and large dents in the floor pan or fuel tank all indicate a past accident. A welded frame indicates that it was replaced previously. Moreover, fresh undercoating can be used to hide recent structural changes.