START
THE ENGINE YOURSELF
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Temp
warning light goes out?
______________________________________________
___ _____ Oil
warning light goes out?
________________________________________________
___ _____ Charge
warning light goes out?
_____________________________________________
___ _____ Do all
idiot lights go on/out right?
____________________________________________
___ _____ Are all
the instruments working?
____________________________________________
___ _____ Does it
start easily when cold? (Was engine pre-warmed?)
______________________
___ _____ Does it
run smoothly when cold? ___________________________________________
___ _____ Depress
clutch several times. Noises? ______________________________________
___ _____ Oil
Pressure: idle_______ 4000 RPM_______
___ _____
Volts/Amps: idle_______ 4000 RPM_______
___ _____ Any odd
engine noises when cold? _________________________________________
___ _____ Exhaust
condition/noises? Pressure even? ___________________________________
___ _____ Cap pipe
with clipboard. Any exhaust leaks?
__________________________________
___ _____ Any
deposits on clipboard? Does it smoke?
___________________________________
___ _____ Turn car
off. Does it restart? Restart again.
___________________________________
___ _____ Now pull
forward. Check for leaks on ground.
_________________________________
___ _____ Do you
have any gas? Does gauge really work?
_______________________________
TEST
DRIVE (Allow
30-40 minutes)
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Test the
foot and hand brakes first! _______________________________________
___ _____ Relax,
drive a bit to get used to it.
________________________________________
___ _____ How does
car ride? Soft or hard? _________________________________________
___ _____ Revs
smoothly to red line? flatspots?
_____________________________________
___ _____ Any
unusual engine noises/vibrations?
____________________________________
___ _____ Any drive
train noises or vibrations? _______________________________________
___ _____ Any
noticeable slop in drive train?
________________________________________
___ _____ Reverse
works? Rev.lights go on/off? _____________________________________
___ _____ Trans
shifts smoothly to all gears?
_______________________________________
___ _____ Overdrive
engages/disengages properly. ___________________________________
___ _____ Turbo
engages/disengages properly? ______________________________________
___ _____ Any
clunks, whines, rumbles, rattles?
_____________________________________
___ _____ Clutch
smooth? Slippage on hill test? _____________________________________
___ _____ Hand brake
works? Test against engine. ___________________________________
___ _____ Is the low
engine speed operation OK? ____________________________________
___ _____ Brakes
strongly to stop from 50mph? _____________________________________
___ _____ Do brakes
still work? Stops straight? _____________________________________
___ _____ Make 2
tight 360' turns each way. Any noises? ____________________________
___ _____
Accelerates smoothly from dead stop?
___________________________________
___ _____ Are there
any hesitations/flat spots? _____________________________________
___ _____ Does the
power seem right? Hill test. ____________________________________
___ _____ Is it
running too hot or cold? Why? ______________________________________
___ _____ Drive
beside a long wall. Any unusual sounds? ____________________________
___ _____ Is it too
noisy in general at highway speeds? _____________________________
___ _____ Any noises
or vibrations when accelerating? ______________________________
___ _____ Any noises
or vibrations when coasting? _________________________________
___ _____ Any noises
or vibrations when decelerating? ______________________________
___ _____ Any noises
or vibrations when braking? __________________________________
___ _____ Steering
action loose or tight? Parallel park. ______________________________
___ _____ Handles OK
on bumps, curves and corners? ______________________________
___ _____ Bad
understeer, oversteer, lean?
________________________________________
___ _____ Tracks
straight with hands off steering wheel?
_____________________________
___ _____ Brakes
straight with hands off steering wheel?
_____________________________
___ _____ Brakes
still work? Pulls? Pulse? Drag? Noises? ____________________________
___ _____ Having fun
yet? Comfortable? Does it fit? __________________________________
___ _____ Do the
heater, defroster and AC work right?
________________________________
___ _____ Are all
the instruments & lights still working?
_______________________________
___ _____ Now let it
idle a while. Is temp stable/OK? _________________________________
___ _____ Any
exhaust, gas or coolant odors? Pull forward.
____________________________
___ _____ Turn it
off. Go back to check ground for leaks.
_______________________________
Have friend get out and watch the car
driving
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Tracks straight? (Frame bent?)
_____________________________________
___ _____ Smokes?
_____________________________________________________
___ _____ Wheels wobble? Any noises?
______________________________________
___ _____ Leans? General impression?
_______________________________________
POST
DRIVE
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Open hood.
See or hear anything unusual? __________________________________
___ _____ Does
engine seem too hot? _______________________________________________
___ _____ Check for
fluid leaks after shutdown. (Oil, Coolant, Hydraulics, Trans, Fuel,
Differential)
___ _____
Check oil cap and dipstick for signs of water.
(Oil off-color, brown/grey/white or bubbly)
___ _____
Compression test: (disconnect coil, remove all plugs)
1. Dry: 1____ 2____
3____ 4____ 5____ 6____ 7____ 8___
2. Oiled: 1____
2____ 3____ 4____ 5____ 6____ 7____ 8___
Plug condition? (OK?
Burnt? Oily? Sooty?) 1____ 2 ____ 3____ 4____ 5____ 6____ 7____ 8___
YES or NO - Does it
restart when warm? Why not?_________________________________________
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