How To Choose Good Second Hand Car

[45louise]

Hi all

Well... I will be CM pretty soon.

I heard that lots of car in used car shop had been flooded during heavy rain.

Well.. can you guys tell me how to avoid these kinds of used vehicle??

Is there any technically know-how??

Thank you in advance.

[geoffphuket]

Have a good look at the headlamps. A water 'tide-line' on the inside would be a good indication the car's been submerged.

[elkangorito]

What you're asking is a "big ask". I'm sure that the TV people who are "really" knowledgeable (western mechanics) will back up some of what I am about to say.

Petrol.

1] When the engine is cold, remove the radiator lid & check the smell & colour of the water. Providing that there is no coolant added to the water, it should be clear & may be rust coloured. If a milky white residue is noticed on the water or found on the radiator cap, there could be a head/head gasket problem.

2] Check the engine for oil leaks. This is best done after the vehicle has been driven for at least 30 minutes. There should not be any oil leaks.

3] Open the oil filler cap on the tappet cover. You should not see any milky whiteness anywhere. Oil mixed with water will give a milky white residue.

4] The vehicle should not constantly blow blue/white smoke under acceleration (or otherwise). If so, pistons/rings may need to be replaced. Black smoke usually indicates an air/fuel "mixture" problem.

5] A "puff" of blue smoke upon starting usually means that the "valve stem seals" need replacing. Expensive but not critical since it proves that the cylinders are being overly lubricated. It may redice performance & reduce the life of spark plugs (assuming a petrol engine).

6] How many "real" kilometres are on the clock? If the vehicle has a "timing belt", it may be wise to replace that belt immediately if it has more than 100 000 km on the clock.

7] Remove the dipstick & check oil colour. Same as for 1] & 3], oil should not be a milky white colour.

8] If automatic, drive & check ALL gears manually. Does it easily go into the gear that you select or is it stuck in 2nd (for example) when taking off from standstill? Make sure that all gearchanges are smooth & "logical" ie the engine is not over or under revving at the time of gear change.

9] Vibration. Is the vehicle "smooth" to drive? Is there any vibration or noise that feels/sounds strange?

10] Body. Is there any sign of rust or any sign of the removal of rust? You can normally tell by tapping the "rust prone" areas. There will be a distinct difference between a dull sound & a metallic sound.

11] Prior major panel beating. Check for unpainted welds or new/odd looking paint over welds. This could mean that the vehicle is a "cut & shut". You should not buy such a vehicle. Also, check for any misalignment with lights etc & body work. This could indicate previous accidents.

12] Power steering. Check the power steering pump & the associated pipework...if you see any oil leaks, you could be up for some serious repair costs.

13] Air conditioning. There should be no abnormal sounds (ie squeals or grinds) when the a/c is activated.

14] Exhaust. The exhaust, starting from the outlet manifold, should be free from any holes. Exhaust systems with holes can cause unconciousness (Carbon Monoxide) & death.

15] Tyres/wheels. The tyres/wheels should not scrape against any body work whilst driving or turning.

16] Suspension. If the vehicle is a usual & standard vehicle, it should "ride" smoothly. Suspension modifications can mean that the suspension is quite hard & uncomfortable. Thjius can be dangerous.

17] Shock absorbers. Try pushing your whole bodyweight on any front or rear corner of the vehicle. It should bounce back with a minimum of bounces (ie it should not bounce more than once). Faulty shocks are the cause of many accidents.

18] Grab hold of the front wheels and try to turn them left or right with your hands. If you can feel an obvious "clunk", there may be steering/bearing problems. A small "clunk" is allowable. Very important.

Unfortunately, if you are not able to find the things that I am talking, you are in trouble...unless you find someone knowledgeable to go along with you.

There are some differences when looking for a 2nd hand diesel vehicle.

[45louise]

Wow... really appreciate it..

Really help me a lot..

Well... not only me I guess...