The
following comprehensive USED CAR CHECKLIST will assist you
in rating the overall value of that used car you are considering.
Although you may not use all of the included suggestions, you are
urged to review the entire guide and print it out BEFORE
you plunk down your hard earned money. We promise you'll be glad
you did!
MECHANICAL
INSPECTION CHECKLIST
PHONE CONTACT:
Name:
______________________________________ [place original ad here]
Address:
______________________________________
Phone: (h)
______________ (w) ______________
Date/Time:
______________________________________
1. Can you
describe the car and its condition?
_____________________________________________
2. Does it run
well?
___________________________________________________________________
3. How is the:
Body?
____________________________________________________________
Any Rust?
_________________________________________________________
Paint?
____________________________________________________________
Interior?
___________________________________________________________
Tires?
____________________________________________________________
Engine?
__________________________________________________________
Brakes?
__________________________________________________________
Shocks?
__________________________________________________________
4. Does it
have Overdrive or Turbo? __________ Does it work? _______________
5. What
special features or options does it have?
__________________________________________
6. Why are you
selling it?
_____________________________________________________________
7. How long
have you owned it? ...had it for sale?
__________________________________________
8. Is it
currently registered and licensed?
_________________________________________________
9. Where is
the car located?
___________________________________________________________
10. How many miles
does it have on it? [15K/yr
avg.]
_______________________________________________
11. What problems
have you had with the car?
_____________________________________________
12. Has it ever been
hit or in an accident?
_________________________________________________
13. What work does
it need?
____________________________________________________________
14. How much are you
asking for it? $______________________
15. What's the least
you're willing to take for it? $______________
QUESTIONS
TO ASK YOURSELF:
Why am I buying this
car? ______________________________________________________________
What do I intend to
do with it?
___________________________________________________________
Will it be my
commute vehicle?
__________________________________________________________
What service and
support is locally available?
______________________________________________
Will I be driving it
year-round or summer only?
______________________________________________
Do I want to work on
the car more than driving it? ______________
Am I willing to pay
a premium because someone else has already done most of the serious
work on the car?
__________________________________________________________________________________
What is the most
that I'm willing to pay for this car?
___________________________________________
What is the least
that I think that the car can be had for?
_______________________________________
A
Few Suggestions:
1. Read some of the
"How to buy Used Cars" books available at your
library. They
provide useful strategies and cautions that go far beyond
the scope of this
list. Also, review this list carefully before using it.
2. Always
inspect/take delivery of the vehicle in the broad daylight,never in
the evening/night or in the rain.
3. A clean piece of
cardboard placed under the engine/trans after the test-drive will
help show fluid leaks.
4. In some states,
older non-titled vehicles may be titled with just a bill of sale.
Other states may require an additional security bond to be posted.
Use extreme caution in either of these cases!
5. Require seller
have the vehicle pass all state inspections (safety, emissions) at a
mutually agreeable shop (NOT one of his mechanics) before you pay
for it. Old (15-30days) inspections are of absolutely no use to you.
6. A general guide
to reading exhaust smoke:
Black smoke =
unburned fuel - Valves bad or out of adjustment? Carb out of
adjustment?
Blue smoke = burning
oil - Accelerating: Piston rings bad? Decelerating: Valve
seats/guides bad?
White smoke =
burning coolant! - Bad head gasket? Warped or cracked Head or Block?
TOOLS TO BRING
FOR INSPECTION:
Essentials: A
cynical, mechanically-minded friend, Your standard tool set,
Voltmeter, Compression Gauge, Tire gauge, Flashlight, Magnet, 2
different spark plug sockets, spray lube, clean rags Clipboard, pen
and hi-liter to use with a photocopy of this list, some cash,
drivers license and copy of your insurance showing you are covered
driving the sellers car.
Optional: tow
rope, starting fluid, jumper cables, timing light, ramps, jack
(floor or scissors), mirror, coveralls, rags, gas can, oil, duct
tape, wire, repair manuals, misc.fuses, calculator
ADDITIONAL
POST-CHECKLIST QUESTIONS:
Original Owner?
___________________________________________________
Names/numbers of
previous owners available? _____________________
What regular
maintenance was done? Records? ______________________
Who was your
mechanic? name/address/phone? _______________________
What gas mileage
have you been getting? ___________________________
Are there any repair
or gas mileage records? ______________________
Oil change interval?
______________________________________________
Type of oil used?
____________________________________________
How old are the
tires? ____________________________________________
Battery?
_____________________________________________________
Has it passed
emissions recently? _________________________________
Where?
_______________________________________________________
Has any bodywork
ever been done? __________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________
Receipts?
____________________________________________________
Any mechanical work
recently? _____________________________________
Where?
_______________________________________________________
Receipts?
____________________________________________________
What work remains to
be done or corrected? ________________________
Are there any
missing parts? ______________________________________
Do you have any
extra parts or wheels for it? _____________________
What new/aftermarket
parts are in the car? ________________________
Receipts?
____________________________________________________
Was it ever used for
towing? _____________________________________
Has it ever been
crashed, burnt, stolen, hit or rolled? ________________
How was the car
generally driven? ______________________________
On highway or in
town? _______________________________________
Are the engine,
transmission, steering, differential original? __________
(If not, why not?
Origin and receipts?) ___________________________
Do you have any
books about the car or the engine? ________________
(repair books,
owners manuals, history or general interest, parts catalogs, club
newsletters)
Any interesting
history? _______________________________________
Has it ever been
raced? _______________________________________
Are there any tools
that come with the car? _______________________
Do you know of any
parts cars or good parts sources? ______________
EXTERIOR
AND INTERIOR INSPECTION. (Don't start the engine.)
OWNERSHIP
VERIFICATION: (Do
all of the following seem OK?)
Name on title:
___________________________________________________
Name on
registration: _____________________________________________
Model/Year on title:
______________________________________________
VIN on title:
____________________________________________________
VIN on registration:
______________________________________________
VIN on dash:
___________________________________________________
VIN on door:
____________________________________________________
Mileage on title:
_________________________________________________
Mileage on odometer:
____________________________________________
Price on title:
___________________________________________________
Asking price:
___________________________________________________
Blue Book price:
________________________________________________
UNDER
HOOD:
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Anything
broken? _____ Patched? _______ Leaking? _______
___ _____ Is engine
clean? ______ Any rust? _______ Stock? ________
___ _____ Has it
overheated? _______ Paint blistered? __________
___ _____ Check
fluid levels. Look for leaks ____________________
___ _____ Check
fluid condition with flashlight __________________
___ _____ Any play
in main crankshaft pulley? __________________
___ _____ Any play
in any of the other pulleys? _________________
___ _____ V-Belts
cracked? Frayed? Missing? __________________
___ _____ Radiator
corroded? Hoses cracked? __________________
___ _____ Check
coolant; run finger inside radiator neck to check for oil.
______________________
___ _____ Heater
hoses stiff? ______ Cracked? _______ Patched? ___________
___ _____ Vacuum
hoses stiff? _______ Patched? ______ Capped? ______ Missing? ______
___ _____ Is
emissions equip original & working?
__________________________________________
___ _____ Are
catalytic converters original & working?
______________________________________
___ _____
Distributor, cap, rotor, and points OK?
__________________________________________
___ _____ Wiring
harness appearance? Any new electrical tape?
_____________________________
___ _____ Open fuse
box. Any missing? Any wiring hacks?
__________________________________
___ _____ Any
non-stock engine modifications?
____________________________________________
___ _____ Remove
grounding cable, check for shorts
________________________________________
___ _____ System
polarity: + or - ground? _________________
___ _____ System
voltage: ___________ volts.
INTERIOR/ELECTRICAL:
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Is
anything broken? ____________ Torn? ________ Patched? __________
___ _____ Carpets
OK? Underlayment condition? _____________________________
___ _____ Rust, rot
or water under the carpets? _______________________________
___ _____ Any wiring
hacks under the dash? _________________________________
___ _____ Seats
dirty or torn? (Look under cover.) _____________________________
___ _____ Do both
seats adjust? Seat heaters? _______________________________
___ _____ Dash
cracked? Headliner torn/dirty? ________________________________
___ _____ Windshield
cracked? Chips? Scratched? ____________________________
___ _____ Windows
all open & close? Any cracks? ____________________________
___ _____ Mirrors
all present and adjustable? _________________________________
___ _____ Steering
play? Does shaft move at all? Why? ________________________
___ _____ Brake
pedal feels right? Smooth? Firm? ____________________________
___ _____ Clutch
pedal feels right? Smooth? _________________________________
___ _____ All
gauges/controls work? Stereo? Tape? ___________________________
___ _____ Headlights
high/low work? Lenses OK? _____________________________
___ _____ Tail and
side lights all work? Lenses OK? ___________________________
___ _____ Brake
lights all work? Any broken lenses? __________________________
___ _____ Turn
signals all work? Any broken lenses? __________________________
___ _____ Windshield
wipers & washer work? ________________________________
___ _____ Heater,
defroster, AC, and fans work? ______________________________
___ _____ Safety
equipment(seat belts, horn work?) ___________________________
ENGINE
START-UP, RUNNING, AND TEST DRIVE.
IGNITION ON, BUT
DON'T START ENGINE:
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Temp light
should come on! Connected? ___________________________
___ _____ Oil
warning light should come on! Connected? ______________________
___ _____ Charge
warning light should come on _____________________________
___ _____ Feel Hood
for heat. (was car running prior to showing up?) ____________
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