When you’re looking at used trucks or other used vehicles and you find one that you want to purchase, one of the most important things to do is have a pre-purchase inspection performed on the vehicle in order to make sure the vehicle is one you should choose to drive and enjoy on the road. There are several items you need to have checked and having a professional mechanic check your vehicle is typically the best way to make sure the vehicle is going to give you the drive you want and last a long time.
There are times when you might not have a mechanic that can perform the inspection for you but you want to make a decision regarding whether to purchase the vehicle or not. When this is the case, you can perform the inspection on your own without any formal training to help you. You’ll be able to spot some of the imperfections and proof the vehicle has been fixed, repaired, or may even have something wrong with it. You should check these items to see what’s wrong and make the decision regarding the vehicle before you purchase a used model.
What Items Should You Look For in a Used Vehicle Inspection?
Body Damage – Walk around the vehicle and look for any signs of body damage including scuffs, scratches, dents and obvious repair work. This should be an easy visual inspection and you should be able to tell if there’s any rust or imperfections that need to be addressed. If you find more than you can live with don’t buy the vehicle.
Engine Area – Look under the hood and see if there are any oil leaks and any other fluids that appear to be leaking. Check the battery for corrosion and the hoses to see if they look good or appear to be ready to break. This is one of the most important areas of the vehicle, spend some time checking this area to see if it’s in good condition.
Start and Listen – You want to start the engine with the hood up and listen for anything that sounds off about the engine or about the exhaust. Check the gauges to see if they are working properly and make sure they read what they should be. If the vehicle is a manual you need to check the clutch to see what it takes to move the vehicle.
Jack It Up – Lift the car off the wheels and check the suspension and the wheels by pulling on the wheels after you jack up the car. You shouldn’t feel looseness around the wheel. If you find anything looks or troublesome, you need to have a mechanic take a look at the vehicle for you because you might have front-end issues.
Lights – Check the lights and make sure they all work the way they’re supposed to. Turn on the signals, the headlights, push the brake pedal, and take a look at the interior lights of the cabin to see if they come on when they are supposed to. The lights are an extremely important part of the safety of the used vehicle you may want.
Under the Car – Either get down on the ground and get under the vehicle or hoist it in the air on a lift to see what the underside looks like to determine if there’s any damage or rust. This is a good chance to check the bodywork once again to determine if there’s been any work done on the vehicle. You want to make sure there are no rust holes.
Tires – Take a look at the tread of the tires on the tires and see if they still look good. You can also check the date code on the tires to see how old they are. Some cars may have older tires on them in order to give you an idea of when the tires were built. You want to have newer tires on the vehicle that you drive and don’t want to have to replace tires right away.
Extra – Look for any extra items that make the vehicle special and see these items work right. If you have a convertible you want to buy, make sure the roof works, if you see a sunroof in the vehicle make sure it works. There’s something special about every used vehicle and you need to ensure it’s going to work well for you. If possible, request maintenance records for the vehicle you are looking at.
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