When you set out to buy a used car, you do not want to make your final decision until a qualified mechanic has looked the car over and given you an honest assessment. But before you bring a vehicle to the mechanic, there are things you can look for to give you an idea as to whether or not you want to purchase the vehicle.
Tire Tread
You can buy a tire tread gauge at any auto parts store. Use the gauge to check the tread on the tires of the car you are considering buying. Remember that low tread should not be a deal breaker, it just means you may need to buy new tires along with buying the vehicle.
Tire Wear
Examine the tires closely to see of there is any uneven wear on the tires. If the outer edge of the front right tire is bald, but not the inner edge of the left tire, then the vehicle is out of alignment. Once again, this should not be a deal breaker but the need for an alignment is something you should make note of.
Puddles
Before you examine the car, ask the owner to move it to a spot in the driveway that is clean. After looking the car over, ask the owner to move the car back to its original spot. If there are puddles where the car was parked, the something could be leaking. A shiny black puddle is oil, a green puddle is anti-freeze and a pink puddle is transmission fluid. This could be the sign of a much more serious problem.
Scratches
Some car scratches are worse than others. If you see white at the bottom of a scratch, the scratch has not gone down to the metal. That scratch can be touched up with a touch-up kit with no problem. If you see silver or brown at the bottom of the scratch then the scratch has gone down to the metal. Silver means it is a fresh scratch, and brown means the scratch is already starting to rust.
Seat Rips
If the car has seat covers then ask that they be removed. Any rips in the seat upholstery will only get worse over time even when covered by a seat cover.
Slow Shifting
An automatic transmission that is slow to shift is low on fluid. That could be neglect on the part of the owner, or a transmission leak.
Soft Brakes
When you press down on the brakes they should give you resistance immediately. If you can press down almost to the floor then the brakes are soft. This could mean the brakes are low on fluid, or it could be a sign that the brakes need work.
Loud Ride
Over time the bearings on your car's wheels begin to wear out. Bearings are expensive to replace. If you hear a deep buzzing, or even a grinding sound, that seems to be coming from the front of the car, it could be the bearings. They should be looked at before you decide to purchase.
Check Engine Light
Cars have become incredibly complex machines run by electronic sensors and computers. If you are test driving a used car that has the "check engine" indicator lit up, it should be a red flag. The seller should take care of a "check engine" problem before putting the car on the market. No matter how much the seller tries to play down the importance of the indicator light, do not purchase a used car with the "check engine" light on.
Other Indicator Lights
Indicator lights other than the "check engine" light should alert you to a problem, and it should be taken care of before you purchase the vehicle. Tell the seller that you would like to take the vehicle to a certified mechanic to find out why the indicator light is on, and you would like the problem taken care of before you buy the vehicle.
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