How to Check a Used Car before You Buy it - Part 2

Here comes the part 2 of 3 about How to check a used car before you buy by Knut Holt.

START THE MOTOR AND TEST

After having seen the car all over, it is time to start the motor. The motor should ideally be started when it is cold. A motor started easily when it is warm, does not necessarily start easily when cold.

• Start the motor. Does the motor start easily or not? Listen for sound of uneven motor work, sounds of vibrations or sounds of friction. Do you feel any vibrations outside the normal?
• When starting the motor, kick the brake pedal. It should easily go down and kick in the brakes when the motor is started. If not, the brake servo can be broken.
• Listen for unusual or high sounds from the exhaust system indicating breakage.
• Look at the dashboard panel. Do all indicators work? Does any indicator signal any problem?
• Try the steering by turning the steering wheels. How much do you have to rotate it before the wheels turn? It should not be more than around 2 cm or 0.8 inch.
• Try the window washers and the window wipers, and any light wiper and washers.
• Kick in the clutch, and try all the gears if it is manually geared.
• Try out the cabin heater or air conditioning.
  

TEST DRIVE

Then there is the time for a test drive. When you are test-driving the car, you should try out the following:

• Set the gearbox in reverse, and back out of the parking place. Does the gas and the clutch work smoothly when backing? Does the car get smoothly into motion?
• Set the car in motion forewords. Does the gas and the clutch work smoothly in foreword motion? Does the car get smoothly into foreword motion?
• Increase the speed and gear up to second gear if the car is manually geared. If it has automatic gearshift, just speed up until the second gear sets in. Are there any problems to go up one gear? If the car has an automatic gearbox, does the second gear kick in when expected?
• Try the breaks from a low speed. Is there any problem with the brakes, like poor action, vibrations or unmoral noises? Does the car pull to one side when you use the brakes?
• Park the car and note down all your findings so far. Then start again.
• Try a wider range of speeds, and the rest of the gears. If the car has an automatic gearbox, do the other gears kick in when expected? Does the motor feel quick, or is it lazy?
• Listen to the car mechanics. Is there any rattling or whining sounds from anywhere? Be especially aware of singling sounds from the gearbox or unexpected motor sounds.
• Watch out for any smell of gasoline, diesel, oil or anything burnt during drive?
• Does the car go in a straight line and direction at higher speeds, or does it wiggle or pull to one side. Is it still easy to steer it both to right and left? Is the steering accurate?
• Try the breaks from a higher speed and notice any irregularities.
• Look at the figures for motor temperature. Is it in the normal range?
• Finish by testing the reverse once again when parking.
• When finished the test drive, look into the motor room. Do you see any oil leaks, or water leaks, or is there any unexpected high temperature? Is there any smell of burnt substance? Is there any smell of gasoline or diesel?
• Note down all your findings.

To be continued to part three.