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Ten Ways To Check A Used Car

Written by Robert G. Jackson    Friday, 13 February 2009

Before you take the time and spend the money to have a car inspected by a mechanic, here are some checks you can perform yourself. 1. Look for misaligned body panels or mismatched paint, which can indicate that the car has been in an accident. Check outdoors when the light is good. 2. Check for rust on and under the doors, under the carpeting, around the wheel openings, and inside the trunk. Rust is expensive to fix and if it has spread too far, it can be impossible to fix permanently. 3. Check for rain leaks around the glass, stains on upholstery and carpeting, and a moldy smell. A leak can be hard to trace. 4. Check for drips under the car. Whether it's engine oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, brake fluid, or engine coolant, repairs could be expensive. 5. Try all the controls, and check the displays. Make sure all the lights are working. 6. When the ignition is turned on, make sure the "check engine" light comes on while the computer conducts the bulb check on the dash panel. If the light doesn't come on, it could mean that the bulb was removed to conceal a problem with engine emissions. 7. Drive on a level road. The car should track straight, without constant steering correction. Pulling to one side could mean front end misalignment a minor problem or a frame that's badly twisted from a crash. 8. On a quiet street with no traffic nearby, step smartly on the brakes. The car should stop without pulling to either side. 9. With the engine idling, pull the dip stick from the automatic transmission and check that the fluid is cherry red, the sign of a healthy transmission. There should be no burned smell or bubbles on the stick. The transmission should shift smoothly and distinctly from gear to gear, without clunking or hesitating. A manual transmission shouldn't grind when you shift, and the clutch should engage smoothly, without slipping or grabbing. 10. Acceleration should be smooth. With the transmission in low gear, accelerate to about 15 mph. Then release the accelerator, let the speed drop to about 5 mph, and floor the accelerator. A cloud of blue smoke from the tailpipe is a sign of an engine that burns oil. A cloud of white smoke may also indicate a serious engine problem. (Wisps of white smoke on a cold, damp day for just a few minutes after the engine is started are nothing to worry about.)

Last Updated ( Friday, 13 February 2009 )