Buying a used car often means there’s a great bargain to be had, but there are also some dangerous pitfalls to avoid at the same time. According to automotive experts HPI, one in every three used cars they check has a hidden history, and one in twenty has a mileage discrepancy which could mean that it has been clocked, or its real mileage has been altered.
If you are somewhere near Cananda,igua, Ontario County, New York, or its neighboring cities and on the lookout for buying a used car, click here to check out Vision Hyundai Canandaigua. It’s best to protect yourself from risks and ideally buy a used car at the right price by opting for an authorized dealer.
Better yet, read on to find out more about the things you need to know before buying used cars so that you can buy one knowing that you are getting the best possible value:
What To Know Before Buying A Used Car
Know That You Should Not Buy A Used Car At Night.
If you have plans of buying a used car, the first thing to keep in mind is that you must inspect your prospective car in the daylight. Make sure you see it in good sunlight and compare its body panels to each other, ensuring that they all look uniform.
If it has been painted, that’s your first warning sign to stay away. It is likely to have either been in an accident, or the panels could be rusty. If they are rusty, then it’s probable that the rust is on it’s way out and the panels are close to wearing out.
Know How To Check The Tires.
When spending several thousand dollars on a vehicle, surely you don’t want to spend another $8,000 for a new set of tires.
Before buying a used car, check the tires properly by running your hands over them. Make sure that the tires have an even wear pattern; if it is feathered at all where it is cupped, it means that it has a bad alignment, potentially worn parts, or again it could have been in an accident.
Know How To Check A few Things Underneath The Hood.
Transmission Fluid
First and foremost, check the transmission fluid. Usually, there’s a yellow handle for you to look at the nice red fluid. If it is not red, then there is something wrong.
Furthermore, smell the fluid to make sure that it doesn’t have a burnt smell.
Engine Oil
The second thing to check for is engine oil and ensure that it is not low in any way and again should not smell burnt. Engine oil can be a telltale sign because if there had been any issues, they would have changed the oil beforehand.
Brake Fluid Reservoir
You can tell how much the brakes are worn by how much fluid is left in your reservoir. If the brakes are worn, the pistons will be coming out further, and the brake fluid reservoirs will be lower. On the other hand, if the brake fluid reservoir is full, it is a good sign that the brakes are in fine shape.
Belt, Corrosion, And Rust
Gauge the general condition of the belts by checking that there is minimal corrosion and rust on the exhaust and aluminum parts
Antifreeze
Make sure that when the antifreeze is cold, there is no oil in it and it has a nice green or pink shade, depending on its makeup.
Know How To Interpret OBD2 Reader
Onboard Diagnostic II is a device used by mechanics to diagnose car problems. It is crucial to run an OBD2 scan on the car, and the result should be “0 codes”. That means that the car is good as new.
Know How To Listen For Any Noises
When you start the car, turn off the fan, radio, or speakers, and listen closely for any sounds. Anything that ticks, knocks, or squeaks is a warning sign that it would probably cost you more money in repairs.
Know How To Interview A Car Parts Store Owner Or Vendor
Once you find a car that you like and are interested in, call a parts store and check if there have been a lot of orders for this particular car. This will tell you whether it has lousy wheel bearings, bad brakes, bad transmission or other issues, and that might end up saving you a lot of trouble in the long run.
Red Flags
Smoke In The Exhaust
Once the car is warmed up, if you start to see smoke in the exhaust it can tell you certain things about the engine.
First off, if you notice a thick billowy white smoke coming from the exhaust that indicates that the coolant has somehow got inside the combustion chamber.
It also means that the car could have a cracked cylinder block, cracked cylinder head, or maybe just a head gasket which is blown, all of which are anything but good.
Additionally, if you notice a cloud of smoke with a bluish tint to it, this indicates that oil is getting inside the combustion chamber. This could mean that the piston rings have worn out too much and are not adequately sealing the combustion chamber. It could also indicate that the stem seals have too much oil passing by them, and it is leaking and infiltrating the combustion chamber.
Finally, you may see a grayish or blackish smoke coming from the exhaust, and that would indicate a rich air-fuel mixture or incomplete combustion. A lot of things could be causing this black smoke and these could be as simple as a clogged air filter, a combustion chamber that isn’t sealing fully, problems with your intake bulbs, or a result of spark plugs not firing correctly.
Oil Or Fluid Leaks
Another clear indication that you shouldn’t buy a used car is if you see that there is oil or any other fluid leakage in the engine bay area. Look under the car and make sure that no oils or fluids are dripping, and that all the fluids are contained within the car.
Keeping these things in mind would save you from buying a car that could become a problem later on.
Conclusion
Buying a used car is a tough row to hoe because you don’t want to get ripped off and don’t want to end up in a vehicle that you regret buying.
As much as you might want to buy a brand new one, used cars are not a bad option. You can make sure of an excellent buy if you know where and how to look for what needs to be checked.
Take heed of these factors while buying used cars, look out for red flags, and never again regret the decision to buy a used car.
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