What To Look Out For Before Buying A Used Car.

Shopping for a used car could be very daunting especially with the intricacies involved.

Considering the cost of brand new cars people are left with no choice other than settling for used cars

which are considered less expensive, however in doing this there are certain tips that need to be

adhered to in order to get the best deal.

LOOK OUT FOR SERVICE RECORDS

The service records are not always available, but it helps if the dealer can produce some proof that the vehicle was maintained regularly. If you can get access to the service records, look for oil changes and mileage records. It helps if you can verify that oil changes were done regularly. Depending on a manufacturer, the recommended oil change interval varies from 3,750 to 10,000 miles. If the vehicle was driven between oil changes for much longer intervals than recommended, the engine might be worn inside.
If a car has a timing belt (not all cars have it), see if there is any records that it was replaced. Typically, a timing belt needs to be replaced every 60,000 to 105,000 miles, depending on the vehicle. If it hasn't been replaced yet, it might cost you to have it done.

BURNT SMALL UNDER THE HOOD

This is not a positive sign when burning smell is sensed under the hood a thorough check should be carried out especially regarding the electrical.

PROPER INSPECTION OF THE HOOD

When you are checking a used car at a dealer's lot, have a quick look under the hood before the test drive. It helps if you have a small flashlight. Make sure, the engine is off, the transmission is in "Park" and the parking brake is on. What you are looking for are the leaks, smell of burnt oil or antifreeze, signs poor quality repairs or lack of regular maintenance and 'racing' modifications.
If everything looks clean and shiny, it doesn't yet mean much, as car dealers often clean their used cars under the hood before showing them to potential buyers.

LOOK OUT FOR COLD STARTS AND ENGINE NOISE

The best way to catch hidden engine problems is to start it cold. To do this, it might be a good idea to come to the dealer a little earlier than your appointment time. First thing that this will reveal is how good is the battery, because if the battery is old, it might need to be boosted to start the car. Another thing to look at a cold start is the engine noises. If the engine rattles or makes other loud noises, it might be excessively worn or has some mechanical problems. Similarly, a blue smoke at a start-up means the engine is worn and it's best to look for another vehicle.

WATCH OUT IF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON

After the car is started, all warning lights on the dash should come off. For example, in this car, the engine symbol that is known as "Check Engine" light remained on after it was started. This means that the engine computer detected some fault. It could be a minor issue, but it also could be a very expensive to repair problem. There is no way of knowing how serious the problem is until the car is properly diagnosed. Read more what 

EXHAUST SMOKE AS A SIGN NOT TO PURCHASE

Here is another example: we started this car and noticed a blue-gray smoke from the exhaust. It smelled like burning oil too. A blue smoke means that the engine burns oil. Cars like this should be avoided.

MAKE SURE YOU TEST DRIVE

Test driving remains the most assuring of checking a used car , when test driving check out for engine noise , engine idle speed which should be stable when you start the car, also check for engine temperature once the engine is heated up the temperature stays around the middle anything beyond this signifies an underlying problem, also check for vibration and lack of power during acceleration.

After all these inspections would have been carried out it is and the car certified ok , it is advisable to call an independent technician for further inspection.

LOW OIL LEVEL

 

  
When the oil level in a car is this low or dirty it simply means that the engine consumes fuel.

 

This simply means that the engine oil has been recently changed and the car seems good to go 

LOOK OUT FOR LEAKS

 

Its very imperative to look out for leaks in an engine (signs of gasket gum) this is not a good sign


Oil leaks might not be visible from above but the best way to check out for this is to look under the vehicle this is usually very revealing

CHECKING THE VALVE CASE

 
  

This test simply tell you the state of the internal part of the engine, it tells you there’s carbon build up in the engine