How to check a car you're buying

Before you spend the money to have a car looked over by a mechanic there are some things you can look at yourself that are good indicators of a vehicles condition. These tips are aimed at the person who knows little or nothing about engines and may not know what to look for.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• clothes that you don't care about
• gloves

1. You found a vehicle and now you want to know if it's worth spending your money on. This tips are not inclusive in determining whether a vehicle is sound but simply some things to check before taking the vehicle to a mechanic for a paid inspection. Many times you will find problems with a vehicle that eliminates if from the running without having to spend money to have a professional look at it.
2. Before starting the car up pop the hood and take a good look around the engine compartment. Check the battery cables and battery posts. If you see a white powdery residue on the battery posts and the ends of the cables you may want to start asking the owner about maintenance. I often see small amounts of residue on batteries so you may wish to look under the hood of multiple vehicles to get an idea of what's normal and what's excessive. Excessive build up is easy to avoid and if not done may indicate that the owner did not have a lot of interest in doing regular maintenance in other areas. While the residue itself is usually a minor issue I tend to shy from a vehicle with this for fear of other problems that may have been neglected or ignored.
3. Look at the hood liner--is it caked in oil? this may be evidence of a upper engine oil leak. Older cars often have seals that have dried out and are no longer doing the job. Some can lead to a very expensive repair job. If you see evidence of a leak ask the owner if they know where it's originating from. An oil leak does not always mean an expensive fix but I would recommend getting a expert opinion before buying as some leaks can easily cost a few hundred dollars and up to fix if you have to take it to a shop.
4. Start pulling dip-sticks next. You want to check fluid levels as this will give you an idea of how the car was cared for. If fluids are below acceptable levels it indicates that the owner did not take the time maintain the vehicle. Pay careful attention to what the oil looks like. Thick, gummy or grayish colored oil most likely has an additive that is being used to mask a burning problem or worn bearings. Oil that is extremely dark in color shows that oil changes were not done often enough.
5. Look at the radiator; Fluid in the radiator should be greenish-yellow or possibly red or orange. It should not appear cloudy, rusty or have lumps of congealed oil. Thick white scum in the radiator is indicative of a oil leak into the cooling system which will cost you some money. Check the outside of the radiator; Look for damp spots or greenish colored stains as these indicate seepage. If you see silver spots it means that the radiator had leaks that were repaired with solder.
6. Now that we've played under the hood, step back for a good visual of the body. Close the hood and from each corner crouch down and sight along the length of the vehicle. Look for ridges, creases and other evidence of body work. If something comes to your attention ASK!. It may have been minor, it may not have been. Also ask if they have the paperwork to back up their reason for the bodywork.
7. Tires should wear evenly. Use a coin, ink pen, car key or some other relatively thin item to measure with. Keys are handy and what I generally use. Pick several spots on each tire and by placing the key between the treads and marking the key with your finger nail simply walk around the vehicle comparing wear on the individual tires.
8. Open and close all doors and trunk or cargo area. Insure that they open smoothly, that the locks work and the doors do not sag when left open. Roll down the windows. If they are power windows watch as each goes down to see if they operate at a normal speed.
9. Climb in and play with all the seats. Check that seats that fold down do so, seats that are removable can still be removed. Check the belts as you move around the car. Does each buckle and unbuckle? Do they pull out properly? If the car is equipped with power seats start the engine and play with the buttons. This is your chance to act like a kid again so do it! Push very button you can find. Broken electronics in a vehicle can be not only frustrating but the cost adds up.

Tips & Warnings

• I will be writing more tips on other areas of car buying such as the road test so check back!
• WASH YOUR HANDS!! You played under the hood and have fluids on your hands. Wash them or if not possible use waterless sanitizer. This is even more important if your forgot your gloves.