How to inspect a used car before you buy is what any new buyer should ask themselves. So how do you inspect a used car that you are interested in. Information from Dalesandro autos Damascus Ohio online web portal.
Read the window sticker: The Federal Trade Commission requires dealers to post a Buyer's Guide in every used vehicle offered for sale. Usually attached to a window, it must contain certain information, including whether the vehicle is being sold "as is" or with a warranty, and what percentage of repair costs (if any) the dealer is obligated to pay. The Guide information overrides any contrary provisions in your sales contract. In other words, if the Guide says that the vehicle is covered by a warranty, the dealer must honor that warranty. If any changes in coverage are negotiated, the Guide must be altered to reflect them before the sale. If a sale is designated "as is," it means that the dealer makes no guarantees as to the condition of the vehicle, so any problems that arise after you have made the purchase will be your responsibility. Many states do not allow as-is sales on vehicles selling for more than a certain price. Information online from Dalesandro autos Damascus Ohio web portal on how to inspect a used car. How to inspect a used car before buying: Make sure the car is parked on a level area and was not driven about an hour before your inspection. Under the hood: @ Check the oil. Look at color of oil to see if it was just changed. If dipstick has water droplets or gray or foamy oil, it may have a cracked engine block or even a blown head gasket, @ Coolant level. Coolant should be greenish or orange not milky or rusty. And greenish stains on the outside mean there are pin hole leaks. @ Transmission check while warm dip-stick should not have metal shavings on the rag. @ Brake fluid. @ Hoses and belts. Squeeze rubber hoses running to the radiator, air conditioner also other parts, the rubber should be firm and not rock hard, cracked, or like mush. Touch drive belts and see if cut or frayed. Information from Dalesandro autos Damascus Ohio website on how to inspect a used car before you buy it. Exterior: @ Doors open and close. @ Glass. @ Suspension. @ Lights & lenses. @ Tires should have 1 /16 inch to be legal. @ Look for oil leaks. Interior: @ Odor inside indicates mold an water leaks. @ Seats move up or down and back. @ Pedals a car with low miles should not show much wear. @ Instruments and controls turn car on and off 3 times to see if starts, now turn ignition without starting the engine, all warning lights and the Check engine light should illuminate for a few seconds and then go off when start engine. Also that engine is hard to start when cold and also idles good, make sure you try all switch, buttons, plus levers.While the engine is running, turn on the heater full blast and see how hot it gets, and about how quickly, now turn on the air conditioning and see if it blows cold air quickly. @ Radio. @ Roof. @ Trunk look for mold smells and water under the carpet were the spare goes. All information is from Dalesandro autos Damascus Ohio online webpage how to inspect a used car before you buy. Engine look and listen: @ Engine start engine leave running while. @ Listen for tapping that could be a very serious problem. @ Look at the engine while running and listen for sounds. Under the car: @ Look under the car on the concrete for leaks also directly up under the car look for oil wanting to drip off parts. @ The frame should not have cracks or be bent or rusted bad. @ Look for cars that are undercoated. @ Make sure the rubber boots on front wheel drive cars are there and not leaking grease. @ feel the tailpipe. a black or grease mean burnt oil. Tailpipes should be dry and dark greyish and rust is normal. @ If you know a car dealer have him or her check it for you. Look for: @ How many miles. Get car fax. @ How many sets of keys. @ Wrecked. @ Steering. @ Signal lights. @ Flooded. @ Brakes condition. @ Windows up down. @ Run awhile see if over heats. @ Dents. @ The more that's wrong the less it is worth. Mileage odometer: Auto's average about 12,000 miles a year. If the car looks wore out, it may have more miles than they claim or know about. Federal and state statute for altering, set back odometer. You can sue for 10,000 dollars and attorney fees. You just prove that is was tampered with while the there possession. Some people look for fingerprints and other tampering near the odometer. While you can even take out something near the odometer dash and look behind for dust. If you see finger prints or no dust then someone was behind the dash for a reason. A car fax helps. Information from Damascus autos Damascus Ohio online page | home | |