Used Car Inspection List

How to inspect a used car.  A used car that is 3-4 years old is a great way to reduce expenses.

Note this list is not a substitute for having the car checked out by a professional mechanic.

Questions for Owner:
-Why are you selling car?
-What is wrong with car?
-Maintenance records or logs? .
-Get carfax
-Look at the title is it clean, no salvage? 
-Is the title in the owner's name?
-Original owner?
-Was car ever in a car wreck?

Before Drive:
-Look in the tail pipe to see if there are huge oil deposits indicating the vechile has been burning oil.
-Check the tires for even wear.
-Look for uneven or misaligned body panels indicating body work after an accident
-Put your body weight on each corner of car then release it.  Does car bounce excessively indicating shocks or suspension problems?
-Pull top and sides of tires out with your hands.  If it moves then you may have tie rod or suspension issues.
-Use a magnet to look for bondo indicating prior accidents

Inside Car:
-Operate the radio, wipers, windshield sprayer(s), all fan speeds heater and air conditioning.
-Does the flashers work?
-Does the emergency signal turn on all four flashers?
-Verify headlights work in low and high.
-Verify all door lock and unlock with key fob and driver's door switches.
-Verify all windows open and close from drivers switches.
-Verify all seat belts are present and are operational.
-Verify the day time running lights work. (If it has them)
-Verify the seats can be adjusted and moved back and then front
-Verify every door handle inside and out actually opens the door.
-Put the car in neutral on flat pavement.  Actuate parking break.  Veryify car should not move when given a gentle push.
-Verify the horn works.
-Using your car phone charger verify all cigarette lighters work
-Look at floor boards, water log or flood damage?

Under Hood:
-While wearing leather gloves and If the engine is cold open up the radiator to verify fluid level.  Note: if the engine is not cold you could get burned very bad doing this!
-Verify brakes fluid is full.  If it is not full look for leaks.
-Verify engine compartment has no trace of oil or coolant.  
-Look at engine oil. The oil should be slightly dirty. 
-Look under car at engine and trans for leaks.  Beware of wiped clean.
-Look at radiator overflow.  It should be above the mark, otherwise you may have a leak. Verify motor oil isn't in overflow.  If it is below the mark look for coolant leaks.

Start Car:
-Listen to car when the car is switched to drive do you hear a "clunk" indicating a drive shaft or trans problem?
-Start the car up in park and race the engine RPMs looking in the mirror for black smoke indicating oil burning.  If it is white it could be a blown head gasket.
-With the car idling is there excess noise like a ping or tick?
-With the car in drive but no gas does the car "ping" or "tick" indicating an engine problem

Road Test:
-Shift the car to drive and press on the accelerator slowly does the car immediately start to go forward or does the engine have to rev up a bit indicating a slipping transmission?
-Does car immediately turn over and start?  
-Take the odometer reading.
-Take the car for a drive for five miles up to 60 mph.  Stop the car and pop the hood any leaks in the engine compartment or under car.
-While driving be aware of any shake or vibration in steering wheel indicating a problem.
-Verify the odometer moved five miles after test drive.
-With the windows down hit the breaks and verity the car does not sway or serve indicating breaking problems.  Verify brakes don't grind.
-Get on an open road or free way and set the cruise control.

Final talk with owner:
If you find a few things wrong with the car, and feel those items are not a deal breaker ask the owner of they are interested in fixing those items. Can't hurt to ask.

theLateFrugal

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