How To Evaluate Used Cars
There are very specific things to look for when you inspect and evaluate used cars. This section provides a simple guide (including checklists) to help you ensure a used car purchase you'll be happy with.
What You'll Find Here
The Exterior Inspection
Exterior Inspection Check List
The Interior Inspection
Interior Inspection Check List
The Test Drive
Test Drive Check List
Most used car buyers don't take the time or make the effort to thoroughly evaluate used cars. Neglecting this step often results in costly repair bills or worse, owning a car that is not worth fixing. Here are some of the checks and tests you should perform before you buy.
Evaluate Used Cars - The Exterior Inspection and Check List
Body Condition
Outside the car, look for signs of rust inside and around the wheel wells, window trim and at the base of the doors. Look for discolorations or blisters in the paint and check the paint inside the trunk lid and hood. Is the paint all the same color? Are there any cracks or pits in the windshield?
Open and close doors. If they squeak or groan loudly, if they bind or lift when closing and opening, that might be the sign that the car has had major frame damage.
The Tires
Look for uneven or irregular tire wear on the outside or inside of the tread. This tells you that the tires were not balanced properly or that there is a front end alignment problem.
You can determine if there is a safe amount of tread left on the tire by taking a penny and inserting it so that Lincoln's head goes into the tread. If the tread is deep enough to cover his eyes, there are still some miles left on the tires.
Suspension
Press down hard several times in rapid succession on the corners of the car and let go. The car should dip once and then settle back. If it continues to bounce it probably needs new shocks.
Engine Condition
The smoke from the tail pipe should be barely visible. If it comes out black that probably means too much fuel is being supplied to the cylinders and an adjustment should be made by a mechanic. However, if it comes out blue that means that the engine is burning oil.
The Exhaust System
The exhaust system, i.e., the engine pipe, catalytic converter, muffler and tail pipe should be well anchored to the under carriage. If the exhaust system looks okay you may want to perform a pressure test.
While the car is running - parking break on -, hold a large, heavy piece of cloth tightly against the end of the tail pipe to stop the exhaust from leaving the tail pipe. The engine should begin to labor and sound like it's about to stall. That's good.
If the engine continues to run at the same rate, does not appear to labor and you hear noises popping out from different mysterious places, the car probably has one or more leaks in the exhaust system.
Checking Under the Hood
If you see signs of oil on the engine, that may mean some gaskets need to be replaced. After you've taken the car out for a test drive - and a test drive is a must - recheck the engine for any signs of fresh oil leaks under the car.
Fluid Checks
- Check the coolant
- Check the oil dip stick
If the oil seems to have a lot of sludge in it, that means the oil needs changing and it could also be an indication of the previous owner's poor attitude toward car maintenance. - Evaluate used car's transmission fluid - Automatic transmissions
Check the fluid after the car is thoroughly warmed up. It should be pink or reddish in color. If it's orange, that could signal transmission problems. Sniff the fluid on the dip stick. If it smells burnt, that's a sign that the car may need a transmission overhaul. - Look for fluid leaks under the engine compartment
Look under the engine compartment for any signs of fluid or liquid that has leaked from the car. If the fluid is slippery and oily, it's probably coolant, transmission fluid, motor oil or brake fluid.
Never remove the radiator cap if the engine is hot. The coolant should be of a uniform color. If it appears to be streaked by a secondary color - like red - it could represent rust and indicate that the coolant hasn't been changed recently.
Evaluate Used Cars - The Interior Inspection & Check List
Basic Condition Check
When you evaluate used cars, check out everything that "turns on" and everything - like the seats - that was designed to move. If you smell mildew there could be a leak, or worse, the car could have been in a flood. Does it seem as if someone has just emptied a bottle of air freshener in the car? Unusual smells might suggest the seller's effort to hide a problem.
Electrical System
Check to make sure that all the electrical accessories work - all the time. Turn them on one at a time and then all at the same time and in different series.
Instrument Panel Lights and Gauges
Check all the lights and gauges on the instrument panel. The most important are the oil pressure and temperature gauges.
Evaluate Used Cars - The Test Drive and Check List
Never buy a used car unless the seller lets you drive it. And never test drive the car with the radio or CD on as the music or voices could mask telltale sounds coming from the car.
Drive the Car
Notice if the car seems to drift to one side or the other. This could be a wheel alignment problem or it could be a frame problem. Check to see if the wheel vibrates or shimmies at highway speeds either when going straight or when turning slightly left or right as when changing lanes.
The Brakes - Straight Line Stopping
Find an empty road or even a large vacant parking lot. Check to be sure that no one is behind you, then accelerate to 40 miles per hour and apply firm pressure on the brakes. The car should come to a smooth, straight line stop with no pull to either the left or right.
Check Acceleration
Find a hill or incline. Stop at the bottom, then step on the gas gently. The car should move up the hill smoothly with no hesitation, surges or strange sounds.
Evaluate Used Car's Alignment and Suspension
Find a reasonably rough road and drive over it at about 25 miles an hour. Notice how the car feels. Does it seem to hold a straight line? If it drifts back and forth it may have an alignment problem. On rough road surfaces, if the car jumps or seems to swing back and forth, it may have a problem with its shocks.
Detecting Transmission Problems
As you're driving listen for any unusual sounds as the gears shift. The transmission shifting should be quiet on automatic shifting cars.
Evaluate Used Car's Steering
Steering wheel "play" should be within reasonable boundaries. There should not be more than an inch or two of play before the wheel clearly responds to your steering input.
