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| Use this list to check out any used car you are looking to buy. Following this list does not
guarantee you won't have a problem, however, if you go by the list, you should have a pretty good idea of the problem
areas with the car. |
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| Preliminaries |
| Bring a rag or a roll of paper towels and wear some old clothes. If desired, also bring some
hand-cleaner for cleanup afterwards. |
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| Other items to bring: |
- flashlight
- pen or pencil
- notepad
- small magnet
- You may also want to look at Consumer Reports or search the internet for common problem areas in the vehicle
model you are evaluating.
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| Tips |
- Look at the vehicle first thing in the morning. See how it runs after it has been sitting overnight.
- Never inspect a car at night. You will miss too many things that you would normally catch in the daylight.
- Take your time with the inspection.
- Turn on the radio and air conditioning on only to see if they work. Once you have determined their
condition, turn them off. The noise from either of these items can cover up other problems.
- Roll the window down and drive at 20 to 30 mph beside a solid center median. Construction areas work great
for this. Listen for sounds echoed off the median. You should only hear the sound of the tires.
Investigate any other noises.
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| Yes |
No |
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Body |
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Are seams where doors and fenders meet even and straight? |
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Are seams where the hood and trunk meet the fenders even and straight?
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Does a magnet cling to all steel body panels? (Be sure to test fenders, the lower corners of doors, and rocker
panels & the areas below doors. If a magnet doesn't cling, suspect body filler was used to repair rust or accident
damage.)
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Are all body panels the same color? If only part of the car has been repainted, it probably has been in
an accident.
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Has the car been recently repainted? (Look for signs of spray paint on moldings; also
check the edges of the doors, hood, and trunk to be sure they are all the same color. Fresh paint may cover rust
that will continue to progress.) |
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| Yes |
No |
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Tires |
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Do all tires have the same amount of tread? Check for uneven wear patterns that might indicate balancing
or alignment problems.
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Are all tires the same size? (Check tire size markings on tire sidewalls.)
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Are all tires the same brand?
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Is there a spare tire, jack, and lug wrench? If the vehicle has locking hubcaps, is there a key for removing
them?
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Is the spare tire inflated (Press hard against the side with your thumb; the tire should be firm.)
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| Yes |
No |
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Suspension |
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Does the vehicle sit level?
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Bounce each corner of the vehicle. Do all corners respond the same? (Corners should only bounce once or twice
before stopping.)
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Do you hear a creaking noise when bouncing the vehicle's corners?
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| Yes |
No |
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Frame |
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Examine inside trunk, wheel wells, and under hood. Do you see areas that look like they have been crumpled and
straightened?
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Look underneath each side of the vehicle for a row of holes in the frame just inside the vehicle's outer edge.
Do holes appear scratched or recently cleaned? (If so, suspect the frame has been straightened after a crash.)
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| Yes |
No |
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Gas Cap and Filler Neck
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Is there a gas cap? Does it fit correctly? (If the cap locks, is there a key?)
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Remove the gas cap and check inside the filler neck. Is there a fuel-nozzle restrictor to prevent adding leaded
fuel? (Most states require them.)
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| Yes |
No |
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Interior |
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Is upholstery in good condition? (Look for tears, stains, and burns.)
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Are the dashboard and headliner in good condition? |
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Do seats adjust easily? |
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Are any window cranks, door locks, handles, dash controls or similar items missing?
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Do all interior lights and dash bulbs work? |
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Does carpet condition match the age of the vehicle? |
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Does carpeting smell of mildew or stale water, suggesting moisture underneath (or worse,
flood damage)? |
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Check under the dash at the top of the carpet. Are there stains suggesting heater core
or air conditioner leakage? |
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No |
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Accessories |
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Do all accessories, such as the heater, air conditioner, audio system, and alarm system,
operate fully? Test all functions of each. |
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| Yes |
No |
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Engine Compartment |
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Are there signs of oil or fluid leaks? |
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Run the engine at full operating temperature. Are there abnormal smells that might
be due to leaking fluids on hot engine parts? |
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Are there unusual noises, such as clattering or metallic sounds, or sharp hissing,
in the engine compartment when the engine is running? (Normal sound is smooth whirring of belts and fan.) |
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Does anything appear to be missing? (Look for shiny or clean areas where parts may
have been removed.) |
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Under the Vehicle Are there fluid leaks on the underside of the engine and transmission,
at axle ends, at brake line connections, or on the ground beneath the vehicle? Green fluid is usually antifreeze;
reddish fluid is usually power steering or transmission fluid; dark brown or black fluid is usually oil or brake
fluid. |
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Are any parts loose, with the exception of exhaust parts slung from flexible rubber
"donuts"? |
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Does anything appear missing, such as bolts, clamps, brackets or cables? |
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Are exhaust system parts rusty? |
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Are there marks from scrapes, indicating the car has bottomed out on rocks or pavement?
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Examine exhaust when the car is operating at normal temperature. Do you see white or
blue smoke? (Both can indicate an engine problem, especially if the smoke burns your eyes. A small amount of steam
is normal, especially in cold weather.) |
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No |
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Engine |
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Does the engine start easily? |
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Does the engine stall at any time? |
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Does the engine idle smoothly? |
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Does the idle speed seem too slow or fast? |
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Does the engine hesitate or stumble on acceleration? |
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Does the engine run smoothly during operation? |
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Does the engine seem to lack power? |
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If the vehicle has cruise control, do all features work correctly? |
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Do engine or other system warning lights appear? |
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Does the engine diesel (continue running) when shut off? |
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No |
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Transmission and Clutch |
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Is automatic shifting smooth? |
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On a manual-shift vehicle, is take-off smooth, without grabbing or jerking? |
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On a manual-shift vehicle, accelerate hard in a higher gear (third or fourth) or while
going uphill. If engine rpms rise without a corresponding increase in vehicle speed, the clutch could be slipping.
It may need to be adjusted or replaced. |
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On a manual-shift vehicle, try shifting to a lower gear when going slowly. Does the
transmission shift easily, without grinding? |
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No |
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4-Wheel Drive |
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Engage 4-wheel drive only on soft surfaces unless the owner's manual specifically says
the feature can be used on hard-surfaced roads. On a suitable surface, test-drive the vehicle in forward and reverse
with 4-wheel drive engaged. Does the vehicle shift smoothly in both directions? |
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Turn tight corners to the right and left. Are there clunking sounds or other noises?
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Do the wheels bind or pull, whether turning or going straight? |
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No |
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Brakes |
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Apply the brakes several times at different speeds. Also try a sudden stop. Does the
vehicle pull to one side when brakes are applied? |
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Do brakes stop the vehicle adequately? |
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If the vehicle has antilock brakes (ABS), try stopping suddenly. Do wheels lock? (A
pulsing brake pedal is normal.) |
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Does the parking brake hold firmly and release completely? |
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No |
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Steering |
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Does the vehicle pull to one side during normal operation? |
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Is steering difficult at any speed? |
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Turn sharply in both directions. Do you hear clunking or other noises, or feel rubbing
or binding? |
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Does the vehicle shake or vibrate while moving? (Take the vehicle up to freeway speed
for this test.) |
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Is the steering wheel centered when the vehicle is traveling straight ahead? |
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| OTHER CONCERNS |
- Is there evidence of flood damage? By law, this information should be on the title. Signs are upholstery
and carpet stains, odor, rust in normally dry areas such as beneath the dashboard and inside the glove compartment,
powdery green or white residue inside lowest electrical connectors.
- Is the owners' manual in the vehicle? How about the operating instructions for any accessories, and any
warranty information that still applies to items like tires and exhaust?
- Are previous repair and service records available? (Complete records are a sign that the owner has taken
good care of the vehicle.)
- Does seller have clear title to vehicle?
- If interested in the vehicle, spend a couple of dollars and get a Carfax
report before you buy it.
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