ALT-1 What to be Wary of when Buying a Car
When I was active duty, one of the things I would do was go with any of the people who worked for me to look at any car they were interested in buying, particularly if it was a used car. I was able several times to prevent them from purchasing possible money pits. These are some of the things I would help them see. Remember to take a bright flashlight, some rags, an inspection mirror, and maybe a rug or cardboard to lie on while doing some of these.
BEFORE STARTING THE CAR
Check the car carefully. Don't skip the paint, it tells a story. The paint should be smooth and reflect a sharp mirror finish. Look at the reflection of the surroundings in the paint, the reflected image should look exactly like it does directly. If there are bumps or it is blurred, the odds are great that portion of the car has been repainted.
Open EVERY door, hatch, truck, hood, and window. Accidents can cause linkages to come loose, damage doors and other openings. They should all open easily and close without being slammed. Inspect how tight they close and that the doors, when looking down the side of the car, are in line with the body. They should not dip in nor protrude out from the car body.
Inspect the door jams. Typically, cheap paint jobs fail to mask the metal tags on the door jams. If they are painted, RUN from the car.
Look for disturbed carpeting, is the spare tire out of its holder, are all the ashtrays in place? Remember, one day you may wish to resell this car and these are what buyers will look for when you sell it as well.
Look at all the windows. Are there cracks, chips, and other damage? While chips may not be reason to not purchase, some states do not allow cracked windshields or they may dictate where cracks can be located. If cracked, heat, cold, and road bumps can make the crack "grow" eventually forcing you to replace it.
Look under the car. Inspect the shocks that are mounted on some bumpers. If the bumper has been hit, there are typically marks on the shocks to indicate they have moved. Inspect the shocks at the wheels, are they "wet;" this could indicate leaking shocks, they will need to be replaced.
IMPORTANT check with a local mechanic if the car is equipped with airbags. See if there is a way to confirm the airbags are correct and installed in the proper locations. There is widespread fraud today with people not wanting to buy airbags for vehicles that have had them deploy. Instead they either fill the hole with newspaper, or worse, they buy a used airbag. Turn the key on and look for the light. It should typically flash a few times before going out. If it does not light at all, DO NOT BUY THE CAR!
ASK if there is flood damage, fire damage, and if there was an accident with the car. They are required to disclose if the car was in a flood if asked. However, if you can pull back a carpet, look for rust inside on the floor pans, smell of musty or "wet dog" smell may be an indication. These cars may have hidden wiring damage as well as engine and drive train damage if these were not properly cared for after a flood.
Get a CARFAX report. It may not report the damage, but they do offer a warranty.
If you sit on the ground directly in front of each tire, grab the tire at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock and try to shake it, particularly the front tires. Listen for clunks. If there are clunks, you may be looking at ball joints for the front and bearings for the back.
Ask for maintenance records. If they are detailed, check to see if they are substantiated with receipts. Some who take care of their cars have these.
Ask about any recent maintenance and who performed it.
Open the engine compartment, look at belts and hoses. Hoses should NOT be painted and should NOT need oils on them. Look at the fluid levels. If they are low, this could be an indication the car has not been properly maintained. Check the color of the fluids. Brake fluid should be clear, not dark and should not be milky in appearance. Power steering fluid can be red or brown. But both should be clear, not cloudy. Open the radiator. The fluid should be clean, not rusty. Check the water level in the overflow container. Is there rust in there? Check the level in the wiper fluid reservoir. Is it clean? Check the engine and if an automatic transmission, check the dipstick for cleanliness, older cars the oil may be dark, but touch some to your forefinger and rub it with your thumb. Is there a gritty feel to it? Smell the oil, does it smell burned? These are all indications of problems or potential problems.
Open the oil fill cap and look inside. It is clean or is there a sludge buildup?
Check the belts. Are they shiny (serpentine belts) on their backs and/or cracked? These will need replacing. Are the edges frayed? This indicates the belt has been in use for some time.
Check thoroughly around the engine compartment and under the car for signs of any fluid leaks from the engine, radiator, transmission/transaxle, differential (if equipped) and at all four wheels. If the wheels are wet on the inside, it could indicate a leaking brake system.
TEST DRIVE
Do not buy a car that you cannot drive first. Maybe it isn't comfortable to drive.
Turn the key on until all the dash light illuminate. Verify the brake light, air bag (if equipped), check engine, and other lights come on as they should. Hit the high beams and verify the light on the dash illuminates as well as the headlights switch to high beams. Is the car equipped with daytime running lights? Do they both light?
Start the car with the hood open and listen to the engine while standing there. Clunks, rattles, and metallic noises should be identified. Valves and lifters clattering could indicate worn components or at a minimum a need for adjustment.
Sit in the driver's seat and with your foot on the brake, in an automatic car, put the car in each gear in turn. Does the car lurch? Are there clunking noises when you do it?
Set the parking brake and put the car in drive, ENSURE YOU ARE PREPARED TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE REGULAR BRAKE in the event the parking brake does not work. If there are cars in the immediate vicinity of the front and back, this can be done once you are driving it, just pull off somewhere open and do this. The parking brake should stop the car from moving in drive.
Do NOT have the radio on while driving. It may mask noises you need to hear to help determine the mechanical condition of the car.
DO take this car to a trusted, good mechanic. Even if you have to pay a fee, something they discover may save you even more if it causes you to not purchase a car.
There is so much more, but a cautious buyer can typically tell by the time they have done these to see if the car is worth the money being asked. Do not hesitate to walk away from a car and do NOT leave a deposit for a car. If it is gone, keep looking; there will be a better one someplace. Do not rush buying; you may overlook a major potential problem. Most states do not require warranties on used cars and you typically are stuck with what you have purchased. GET a written bill of sale AND the title. If you cannot get the title at the time of purchase, do not purchase until they have the title. Without it, you cannot transfer ownership to yourself. If they have lost the title, they will need to get one. Do not go looking at a car if you are rushed for time. Ensure the seller has set aside the time for you to give the car a good look over and make sure your own schedule will not force you to leave before finishing.
