How to Buy a used car and steer clear of a car with hidden problems @Partsavatar Auto parts

This article will help you determine whether a used car is a good investment or trouble! ~ Brought to you by Partsavatar Vehicle parts.

Buying a car especially a used one is not any easy job. You cannot afford wasting your hard earned cash on any vehicle. It is necessary to pay attention to a few relevant considerations before actually making a purchase. Parts avatar advises some tips by which you can determine where the used vehicle is a good investment or a potential trouble.

Check the tires

Tires are very expensive part of an auto vehicle. So while buying a car first look for the condition of tire. Tire wear should be even across the width of the tread and the same on the left and right side of the car. Wear of a tire has its own pattern in regards to inflation. Over inflated tires tend to wear in the middle while under inflated tires wear to the sides.

Heavy wear on the outside shoulder of tire indicates that the car had been driven hard. If you notice cupped tires they can indicate various problems with the steering suspension and brake system of car. So check the tire wear pattern as it indicates whether the car has been properly maintained or had been rashly driven.

Reliability Record

Check the history of the automakers and the models to see the reliability record of that car you are thinking to purchase. It would be wise to purchase vehicle with a good reliability report. Read the history, survey reports and recall status of the model. Just check how beneficial that car is going to be for you.

Ask the seller for recall service documentation and check if any recall service had been performed on the vehicle. Automakers are required to perform recall service free of charge regardless of vehicle’s age or how long ago recall was issued.

Under the hood check

Checking under the hood auto parts is very important as it reveals the condition of the car and gives you properly knowledge of the auto parts which are on the verge of aging and auto parts replacements to be done in near future.

Visually inspect the car radiator, engine and its parts, battery and make sure they are grease free. Car’s Belts and heater hoses should be pliable and unworn.

Melted wires, tubes or lines are signs of overheating. There might be fluid leakage if you see wet spots. Check all the engine fluids to be clean, filled to the mark and do not have any leak. You can use dipstick to determine how clean the fluid or oil is. Note than different colors of oil indicate different engine problems. Normal engine oil is brown or black in color. Check the color of transmission fluid after driving the car for a while.

Do not turn off the engine, put the car in neutral mode and check transmission fluid’s condition. Transmission fluid should be bright red in color. Strong smell and metal shavings can indicate severe wear.

So make sure to check under the hood components thoroughly as there may be problems related to engine misfiring or engine overheating. Make sure that transmission fluids are of good quality and all other oils and coolants are filled to proper level.

Check steering and suspension

With the car idling, turn the steering left and right and check that there isn’t any clunking noise coming from steering.  Excess play may indicate worn steering gear. While taking a test drive, make sure that the driving isn’t wandering off on normal speed drive. Misalignment of wheels often results in a shaking steering wheel which is very risky.

Keep in mind that car’s driveline, steering and suspension systems auto parts make  the framework of your car and at the same time very costly to repair due to high labor costs. Give it a deep thought, if you want to buy a car with shaky steering wheel. Be pre informed about possible causes and symptoms of a bad steering and suspension of a vehicle.

Check the suspension system of car by pushing down hard on each car fender and letting go. Make sure that the car is rebounding softly once or twice. Car Shock absorbers and   auto suspension air struts need replacement of you notice more than two severe rebounds. You should drive the car over bumpy road at normal speed. If the car bounces and slams at normal speed, it means car may have a damaged suspension.

Check exhaust

Don’t panic if you notice white smoke upon start up, it is common and can be caused due to condensation inside the exhaust system. Black smoke is a warning. It can be caused due to dirty air filter, car's oxygen sensor that demands replacement or overly rich air fuel mixture. Blue smoke indicates oil burning which can require expensive auto parts replacement and repair in future.

 Damaged head gasket and cylinder heads are very expensive to repair due to their complex structure inside engine. If you notice billowing white smoke, it means water has entered the combustion chamber and head and gasket, cylinder heads are on the verge of damaging completely.

Notice the smoke color carefully. Exhausts emissions are very hard to deal with so don’t make a way for future expensive repair bills. Replacing car air filters and auto oxygen sensors can be easy but we are not investing large sum for future repairs. So beware.

Step on the accelerator

While driving if your engine is rev before the car is accelerating, it may be a sign of worn out clutch and damaged automatic transmission. Replacing car's clutch and automatic transmission parts can empty your wallet as they are very expensive.

Check the interior of car

Visually inspect the interior of the car as it may indicate issues like cracked dashboard, missing knobs and handles, frayed seat belts and worn pedals. Discolored carpeting and electrical problems are the signs that the vehicle had been the victim of flood damage. Prematurely worn pedals show that the vehicle has very high mileage. The odometer should show fair readings so detect and avoid odometer fraud.

Check the exterior

Thoroughly inspect the dents, scratches, broken lamps or lights, chipped windows and paint. A body panel repair may be needed if you find paint over spray on rubber trim on in vehicle’s wheel wells. Doors, hoods and trunks should close properly. Ensure that all the electrical, headlights, taillights and indicators are working fine.

When looking for a used car, there are potential benefits and drawbacks of buying it from a private seller. Know your rights as a buyer according to your state laws and don’t let yourself scammed. Carefully consider the above stated tips and buy a good car!

If you need any assistance regarding aftermarket auto body parts then contact our experts at parts avatar car parts.