HOW TO FIX A GOOD USED CAR .
Always inspect the vehicle detail , whether buying from a dealer as an individual, before taking it to the mechanic for final inspection. You need not be an expert to give a car a good and insightful review. There is much that can be discovered simply by using their eyes, ears and nose. Wear old clothes and bring a friend for help . Perform inspection in broad daylight on a dry day or in a well lit garage. The car must be on a level surface and not have been driven at least during the hour prior to inspection.
Check the exterior of the car
First , do a walk around the car and check it is level . If you are more of a down side , you may have a broken spring or other suspension problem . Shake the car to bounce exerting downward pressure on each of its corners. If the cushions are in good condition , the car should bounce only once or twice and not continue bouncing up and down. Then , pull and push the upper part the front tires. If you give or if you hear a rattle , maybe the media or the joints of the wheel suspension is damaged.
State body . Check all body panels and roof to detect scratches, dents and rust. The separation between sheets and the surrounding surfaces should be smooth . Examine the lines of the fenders and doors. Misaligned panels or excessive separation may indicate a neglected factory assembly or repair.
The easiest way to find out if used car suffered an accident is to ask the owner. Anyway, you should check it personally . The paint color and finish should be identical everywhere. A body panel that has been painted again may not have equal brightness or color as the original. It is very difficult for a body shop and paint can mimic the texture and finish of the paint factory baked . Look color differences in the outer edges of the panels. A panel that has been painted again may even be more glossy than the same original, but this painting may not have the same duration or weather resistance .
Sometimes a repair is evident. Further , observe carefully , nodding slowly to capture light . If you believe a dent to be fixed, use a magnet to see if it adheres to the suspicious area. If a plastic putty was used to fill the magnet will not stick . (This test will not work if any part of the body is plastic or fiberglass , as in the case of Saturn or Chevrolet Corvette. )
Look for signs of body repair on the threshold around the opening of the doors, hood or bonnet and trunk lid . If parts of the car have been painted, are likely to be remnants of spray paint or adhered to weatherstrip or rubber seals around the openings of the body. Look closely at the underside of the hood or bonnet and trunk lid to detect any evidence of damage or repair.
Do not worry about minimum aesthetic defects , worry about rust. In particular, look blistered or rust in the wheel gap and the base panel ( the metal plate under the doors ) as well as under doors same areas. With a flashlight , try to detect rust and salt corrosion in the hollow of the wheels.
Open and close each door , hood or bonnet and trunk lid. Ends ? Hinges rotate properly and smoothly? Gently move each door up and down , particularly the driver . If it feels loose on the hinges , the car has been too long or demanding use . Also check the gaskets or rubber stamps of each opening to ensure they are intact . If weather stripping or rubber seals are missing or loose or damaged can be caused water leaks , sounds and drafts.
Lights and covers. With the help of his friend , check the operation of all lights . Try both short and long lights , parking lights , the spinning and other auxiliary lights such as fog lights . Make sure all light covers are complete and intact and that are not cracked or fogged by moisture.
Tires . You can get a lot of information by looking at the tires. If the odometer mark less than 30,000 miles, it is likely that the car has yet tire factory . If the odometer indicates low mileage but the car has new tires , be wary . Turn the front completely to the right or the left to examine better wheels. All four should be of the same brand and size (except in some racing cars , in which different sizes of front and rear wheels are used) . If you find different brands and sizes of tires , ask why .
The wear of the bearing surface should be even across the width of the surface. Also, the tire wear should look like the left and right side of the car . Find out if they are rotated regularly front and rear tires . Otherwise , wear is usually greatest in the drive wheels .
An aggressive style of driving the tire tends to wear on the outside shoulder of the lateral edge . If the shoulder of the tire is very worn, it can be assumed that the car has been driven at excessive speeds .
Check the depth of the tread with either an instrument to measure the depth of the band ( achieved in automobile parts ) or with a penny . The legal regulations require a minimum of 1/16 inch tread. If you do not have a caliber of band , place a penny on the dollar in the groove with Lincoln's head down. If you can see as the top of the head , you must change the tire.
Far slightly palm of the hand on the tread of each tire . If outgoing note, the tire was misaligned . This symptom may simply indicate a lack of adjustment or indicate the need for an expensive repair suspension , ask your mechanic to check it. Tires wear that kind of tend to make the steering wheel vibrate at high speed.
Examine the side to identify possible wear , cracked or bulging areas and see if the edge of the rim has no dents or cracks. A strong impact against a pothole or curb may be misaligned or damaged a tire, a ring or a portion of the suspension.
Brake discs . Check rotors disc brakes . Most cars have disc brakes front and rear drum , some have brakes front and rear disc . With a flashlight , look through the wheels of the front wheels. The rotor disks should be smooth and free of deep grooves . Do not worry if you see traces of rust on the surface of the discs. After a test ride , after using the brakes , discs should look clean and smooth .
Crystals . Carefully inspect the windscreen and other windows to make sure there are no cracks . A small hole caused by the impact of a stone should not be cause for alarm , but should identify it as a bargaining chip . The cracks in the windshield often worsen over time and may require an expensive repair . Check the inside of the car. Odors. When you open the car door for the first time , smell inside. The smell of decay , moisture or mold may indicate water leakage. Be careful , because it leaks often be difficult to detect and repair . Remove the floor cubrealfombras ; palpate and smell to check for wet areas on the carpet. If in doubt, look for another car.
Pedal rubber cover . The rubber coated brake pedals , clutch and throttle denotes the use to which it was subjected to the vehicle. A car with low miles should not show excessive wear. If the rubber pedal is worn in some areas, has handled a large number of vehicle miles. If the clutch pedal rubber is very worn , the driver apparently has a habit of keeping down slightly , subjecting effort clutch and gearbox.
Instruments and controls. Turn on the car engine and let it run without moving . Observe if it is difficult to start the engine cold . Also notice if the engine has ups and downs while running without moving site . Then , try one by one all the switches , buttons and levers. Check all doors and locks and check the operation of the windows. If you have sunroof , open it and close it. Try indoor lights , light the top center and reading as well as the mirrors in the sun visors . Sound the horn .
Turn on the heater and check what the maximum temperature reached and how long . Turn on the air conditioning and make sure cools. If you have seat heaters , turn them on and check the temperature reached.
Test the sound system. Check the AM and FM reception and, if recording or touching CD , try placing listen and eject a tape or CD .
Seating . Try all seats even when not provide sit in the rear seats. It is normal for the driver's seat is more worn than the passenger , but the springs should not be defeated. The upholstery should not be torn or very worn , especially if we assume that the car has a few miles driven . Test all control points of the driver's seat in addition to the height positions from the steering wheel and to ensure achieving good driving position .
Considerations on the air conditioning
Especially if you are contemplating buying a model car or truck prior to 1994 , check for air conditioning. The arrangement of a broken or leaking air conditioner could be costly . The cause is the R -12 refrigerant used to cool all cars and light trucks until the early nineties. Because the R -12 is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC ) that thins the ozone layer , the United States and most other countries banned its production in 1995 when automakers began to use the R- 134a , which does not is a CFC . Since then, the reduction in supply has increased the price of R- 12 to $ 40 per pound, while the R- 134a is only between $ 6 and $ 9 per pound , making the classic aggregate of R -12 to a system with escapes one expensive while irresponsible. Factories became most vehicles manufactured in 1994 and all subsequent models to R- 134a while some models could get 94 out of the production lines with the R -12 system. An R -12 system with minimal problems often can be repaired for less than $ 100. But larger repairs can cost from $ 300 to over $ 1,000, depending on model. You can have service problems and even risk of fire if the vehicle you are considering buying is polluting refrigerants have been added to make a low cost repair . Take her temperature . An air conditioner in good condition produce cold air in minutes. Turn it on to maximum temperature with the fan at medium speed. Then when I go for a test drive , keep running. Beware if the air from the vents is heated and not cooled again . Although it may be a minor problem, for example , a defective switch or excess moisture in the system , the exchange of cold air hot sometime could mean a high price in the future .
Know what it contains. A decal on the inside of the hood or bonnet cap should mention the refrigerant used by the factory or if the air conditioning was refitted with some other product. Unfortunately , the stickers do not report if the original system received proper maintenance or how well workovers were performed , if applicable. It is for this reason that the surest way to know what air conditioning system is equipped vehicle and what state is it checked by a specialist. If necessary, a workshop that has air conditioning with an electronic leak detector and tracking inks can use to identify leaks . The workshop can also check to see if the system contains more than one refrigerant. Refrigerant mixtures pose additional problems and costs because special equipment is required to clean the system. And while both R -12 and R-134a are recyclable , it is necessary to collect mixtures and dispatch them from shop floor to the recycling plant , another expensive task . Few shops are equipped to service systems con taining contaminated refrigerant , which in itself reduces the value of the vehicle. Mixtures are also a clear indication that the system had a leak that might not be sealed before adding the next refrigerant. Worse, if the system with propane or other flammable gas leak and was charged to the passenger compartment are produced , the gas may cause a fire or explosion.
Is it worth turning the system ? In industry , observers estimate that thanks mostly to recycling the new century will have sufficient amount of R -12 to service older systems . If the R -12 system is in good condition , generally should not change, since a system become perhaps not as effectively refrigerate . Most shops recommend air conditioning switch to R- 134a only the latest R- 12 models and only when the compressor ( motor -driven pump that circulates refrigerant through the system ) fails. At a cost of between $ 300 and $ 1,000, the compressor is the most expensive component of the air conditioning system and it is more crucial overhaul .
If you need to replace the compressor, again probably be compatible with R- 134a system so that should use the new refrigerant. Surely , a specialist can tell you about it and estimate the cost , which you can negotiate a reduction in the price of used . And , if the cost of repairing or converting the AC represents a significant portion of that price, the owner refuses to discount , then maybe you should let go of that vehicle and continue your search .
Look inside the trunk
The trunk is another place where you can put to use their sense of smell and sight. Again , smell and try to find evidence of water intrusion. Check if the carpet is damp or musty smells . Lift the trunk floor and make sure the hole in the spare wheel no water or rust.
Check the condition of the spare tire . ( If the car has alloy wheels , the rim of the spare wheel is often all steel ) . In minivans, pickup trucks and sport - utility vehicles, the spare tire may be suspended under the vehicle in the rear. You will have to kneel to examine it. Also make sure there are no missing the jack and other tools to jack up the car , which must be completed .
Under the hood or bonnet
If the engine has been off for a few minutes, you can make almost all the checks that are performed with open hood. First, check the condition of the engine compartment. Dirt and dust are normal, but pay attention if you notice splashes of oil, a battery exhibiting corrosion or loose hoses and cables.
Wiring. Feel the folds of the plastic insulation covering electrical cables. If the cover is brittle and cracked at some point those wires have overheated. Where cables are connected to other cables, prefer neat to joints made ??with black electrical tape wire nuts .
Hoses and belts. Try tightening the various rubber hoses that reach the radiator, air conditioning and other components. The gum should not have lost their flexibility and be hardened , cracked or soft . Touch the fan belt and other belts V to determine if they are frayed .
Liquids . Check the level of all fluids . Dipsticks generally have a mark indicating the proper level. Engine oil should be dark brown or black and should not feel too dirty or gritty to the touch. If oil is honey that has been changed recently. White spots on the oil cap indicate the presence of water . The transmission fluid should be pink , not brown and smell of oil should not smell burnt . Nor should leave visible metal particles on your cloth , indicating trouble. In most cars , it is assumed that the automatic transmission fluid to be verified when the engine has already been heated . In some dipstick the transmission fluid level has two marks , one for engine cold , one for hot engine. Also check the brake fluid and power steering . Both must be within the level of security.
Radiator . Do not remove the radiator cap unless the engine has thoroughly cooled . Check the coolant looking into the container near the radiator plastic. Coolant should be green and not dark brown or milky rust. The white spots on the radiator are indicative of leaks through pinholes .
Battery. If the battery cells have lids for filling , clean the battery top with a cloth , then carefully lift or unscrew the caps to check the electrolyte level . A low level may not mean too much or the battery may have been used excessively . Have it checked by a mechanic.
Under the car
Place an old blanket on the floor so you can look at the engine from below. Use a flashlight . Not a good sign check drip oil or other oily losses or green coolant type . If you can find the place where they usually parked the car , see if that part of the garage entrance to the house is stained with oil, coolant or transmission fluid. Check the ground under the fuel tank for leaks in the fuel filler pipe and the fuel tank .
Do not be alarmed if a hot day seen a trickle of water colorless . It is likely to be just condensed water for air conditioning .
Examine sleeve CV joints or boots that are located behind the front wheels. Round is black rubber bellows located at the ends of the shafts . If the rubber sleeve is split and lose fat , take for granted that the car has or will have problems CV joint , another component with a high cost of repair.
Feel for residues on the exhaust pipe . If you are black and greasy , it means that the car burns oil . Soot on the exhaust should be dry and dark gray. Observe the tubes. Some rust is normal. Sometimes it's normal a lot of rust but this could also mean that a new exhaust system will soon need
