Buying used car | Consumer reports
Find a used car without problem has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with the application of good research and investigative skills Knowing how to identify potential problems and to determine how a reliable used vehicle can save you headaches expensive cars on the road following tips can help you determine if a vehicle used is a good value or potential problems.
1 Check back Reliability A good way to reduce the risk of buying a vehicle prone problems is to choose models with a good reliability record before starting the annual survey of Consumer Reports provides business subscriber exclusive information reliability in the real world that can help you reduce your selections See the best and worst used cars for quick reference list of best and worst used cars from our latest survey reading the story of reliability tables that accompany most profiles of vehicles Consumer Reports to get a more detailed view of how specific models have been held in 17 trouble areas, and all.
2 Read the window sticker The Federal Trade Commission requires brokers to publish the Guide in every used vehicle offered for sale from a buyer usually attached to a window, it must contain certain information, including if the vehicle is sold as is or with a warranty, and what percentage of repair costs if necessary the dealer has to pay the buyer information guide overrides any contrary provision in your contract of sale in other words, if Buyer guide said that the vehicle is covered by warranty, the dealer has to honor the guarantee in case of change in coverage are negotiated, the Buyer's Guide should be modified to take into account before the sale.
If a sale is named as it is, this means that the dealer makes no warranty as to the condition of the vehicle, so that all problems after making the purchase will be your responsibility Many states do not allow not in the state sales vehicle sales over a certain price.
3 Check the exterior Start by taking a walk around the car, looking for dents, chipped paint, body panels or parts Mismatch, broken lamp housings and chipped windows Gaps between body panels must be of a uniform width and online.
Closer inspection may reveal overspray on chrome trim or rubber or in vehicle wheel wells This is a telltale sign of the repair of the body panel.
Testing for the presence of a load body with a small magnet If the magnet does not stick to the panel, the car may have filler in paint vehicles with plastic or fiberglass panels, however, won t attract a magnet while a door, hood, or trunk that doesn t close and seal is proof of previous damage and or repair botched a CAPA sticker certified Automotive Parts Association on a body panel: the part was replaced inconsistency seams around the hood, doors, or in the trunk also indicate repair.
4 Check the A long look inside the cabin can reveal many obvious problems, like headliner sagging, cracked dashboard, and missing knobs, handles and buttons frayed seatbelts or those with melted fibers due to the friction can be evidence of a previous frontal impact above 15 mph - damaged seat belts must be replaced.
Prematurely worn pedals or sagging driver's seat are signs that the vehicle has high mileage A light airbag indicator remains lit may indicate a bag deployed and was replaced badly - or not replaced at all smell mold caused by water leakage, can be very difficult to get rid of the discolored carpet, silt in the trunk, or intermittent electrical problems may be signs of flood damage.
5 Check under the hood At first glance, the engine, the radiator and the battery should be relatively free of grease and belts and little or no corrosion hoses must be flexible and not worn look for wet spots, which can indicate an oil leak or fluids of Fade son, tubes or lines or blackened firewall can be signs of overheating or even a fire engine.
With the engine cold, check that all fluids are clean, filled to the appropriate level, and not have leaks Check the engine oil while the engine is cold Remove the dipstick from its tube and clean with a dry cloth reinsert and remove again the oil level should be between the full and add normal engine oil brands is brown or black, depending on when it was changed gritty or gelatinous oil may indicate long periods between oil changes thin, foamy oil which is the color of milk chocolate can point to a blown cylinder head gasket or a severely damaged block or cylinder head of fine metal particles in the oil indicate internal damage or heavy wear.
The transmission fluid dipstick is usually located at the rear of the engine compartment Check just after the car has been driven for more than 10 minutes with the engine idling and both the brake and applied the parking brake, move all velocities Let the engine running and put it in neutral or park according to the owner's manual and check the level against the benchmarks of the gauge also inspect the condition of the fluid transmission fluid should be bright red pale reddish brown, not dark brown, black or colored mustard; these colors can indicate serious problems if it has a strong burnt smell, which can indicate severe wear.
6 Check the tire wear should be even across the entire width of the tread and even on the left and right sides of the car tires that are frequently used in inflated tend to have more wear in the middle; tires driven underinflated tend to wear more on the heavy wear sides on the outside shoulder near the sidewall of the tire indicates a car that has been driven hard This can be a sign that other parts of the car can suffer excessive wear due to aggressive driving of Cupped tires, those who have worn unevenly along the circumference of the tread, may indicate various problems with the steering, suspension or brake.
7 Check the direction in slow motion of the car, turn right and left of the steering wheel Make sure there is not any game or the game or the thud of excessive headset may indicate a worn steering mechanism or damaged linkage.
While driving to a smooth cruise on floor flat, the car shouldn t wander or need constant steering corrections often a shaking steering wheel indicates a need for a balancing of the wheel or the front line, which are easily remedied, however, this can also be a clue that there sa problem with the driveline, suspension or frame, which could mean costly repairs are in order.
8 Check suspension Check the suspension by pushing hard on each fender and let go of the car should rebound softly once or twice over two grave rebounds indicate worn shocks or legs also drive the car on a bumpy road about 30 mph a car bouncing and slams at moderate speed on the common floor may have a worn or damaged suspension.
9 Check Tailpipe A puff of white smoke at start is probably the result of condensation, not a cause of concern black smoke after the car warmed indicates an air-fuel mixture too rich - usually because of a filter dirty air, a faulty oxygen sensor, or a mass air flow meter that measures the amount of intake air blue smoke indicates the combustion of the wrong sign oil, necessitating costly repairs swollen white smoke indicates the water in the combustion chamber, generally because of a defective cylinder head gasket, the cylinder head damaged, or even a cracked block - all costly repairs.
10 Step on the gas While driving, engine speed is too before the car accelerates This is a common sign of a clutch improperly adjusted or worn, or an automatic transmission A damaged clutch adjustment is a relatively cheap service but a damaged clutch or automatic transmission repair can be extremely expensive.
Listen shots and pings while accelerating These indicate bad ignition timing or an engine starts to overheat.
11 Check recalls and TSBs Check for recalls have been issued and if the recall was made service The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; 800-424-9393 lists all the official recalls Ask the Seller for the documentation on the callback If a recall work was not done on a car you are considering, it must be done as soon as possible Manufacturers automobiles are required to perform self-service call load, whatever the age of the vehicle or how long ago the recall was issued.
Technical Bulletins or TSBs, are reporting a manufacturer sends its dealers about common or recurring problems with a specific model, and how to correct Because TSBs aren t usually related to safety, manufacturers are not required to inform owners or pay for repairs if a vehicle manufacturer may pay part or all of the work if the owner asked to see the lists of the NHTSA TSBs Check TSBs that have been issued for the model you are buying and if the seller made all necessary repairs.
12 Check the vehicle's history report A historic vehicle Carfax or Experian Automotive can warn you possible odometer fraud; reveal past fire, flood and accident damage; or tell you if a rebuild or salvage title was never issued for the vehicle to access this information, provide the vehicle identification number or VIN, which is on top of the dashboard, near roof pillar side driver reports should cost 15 and the process takes about five minutes.
13 Visit a mechanic before purchasing a used vehicle, have it checked by a qualified mechanic who regularly automotive diagnostic work a full diagnosis should cost around 120 An organization called Car Care Council certifies diagnostic stores If you are a AAA member, you could use one of the recommended organizational facilities.
In addition to the basic check, asking the engineer to set the vehicle on a hoist and inspect the landing gear structure elements were pinched and large bumps in the floor or the fuel tank may indicate past a welding accident on the framework suggests a damaged section may have been replaced or cut during repairs have mechanical air fresh underlayment that can be used to hide recent structural repairs.
A dealer should have no problem lending you the car for inspection as long as you leave the identification, but you must offer a private seller may be more reluctant to follow the seller to the shop where the inspection will take place.
The law can protect you if your car becomes a part of the pumpkin to buy smart is knowing what protection you have before you need the state laws vary widely in the degree of consumer protection, they offer the law of New York, for example, requires that car dealers offer written guarantees on all vehicles with less than 100,000 miles selling for 1,500 or more.
In California, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a car with unsafe tires, glass damaged, nonfunctional fires or inefficient brakes Other states offer protection varying amounts Check with your attorney general office State or local consumer protection agency to learn about the laws in your area.
If you bought a lemon from a dealership The Office of the State Attorney General can explain how your state laws protect you if you think you bought a rebuilt wreck, contact the National Association of Consumer advocates who maintains a list of lawyers who specialize in such cases if you have a problem with a car covered by a warranty or a service, and the dealer refuses the service, you have several options for managed service agreements by a car manufacturer, contact the local representative of the company These representatives are allowed to adjust and approve repairs regardless of the dealer who sold the car if you bought the vehicle from a franchised dealer, you may be eligible for mediation by the Program the national Association of Consumer auto dealers auto Action for more information automatic stopper, call 800-252-6232 or visit NADA If the broker is ready, consider using a dispute resolution organization to mediate your disagreement Some eements service agr require this as a first step before continuing with the dealer or manufacturer careful drafting of the sale contract before buying to see if you can continue, or you need to submit to arbitration.
From a private seller Your options are much more limited If the seller has written guarantees on the condition of the vehicle, you can use them as a basis for filing a complaint, you can resolve disputes involving small amounts of money usually less than 2000 without a lawyer by the small claims Court Clerk of your yard of small local claims can tell you what the exact limit of the dollar is in your state and provide information on how to file a complaint.
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