Buying a used foreign car very often turns into a lottery. To reduce the likelihood of unpleasant surprises, and at the same time, do not resort to paid "proprietary" diagnostics, you will be helped by strict adherence to certain instructions for buying a used car.
Necessary
- - a small magnet wrapped in a cloth;
- - a mirror and a flashlight for inspecting hard-to-reach places;
- - flat and Phillips screwdriver;
- - candle key;
- - a set of open-end wrenches;
- - rags.
Instructions
Step 1
Check the data specified in the vehicle documentation, the date and year of the vehicle. Check it against the year marked on the seat belt anchorages. Check the engine number and body number (inside and under the hood).
Step 2
Examine the body. It must be clean, otherwise there is no point in examining it. Sit down near the right headlight of the car and inspect it for dents and paint defects. Inspect the port side and roof in the same way. Check the doors, they should close with the same force and make the same sound when closing. If this is not the case, the geometry of the body is violated.
Step 3
Examine the salon. Check that all seat adjustments, especially electrical ones, are working. It is better to check the health of the lighting devices with an assistant. Pay attention to the operation of the wipers and washers. Also, all options are subject to mandatory verification: electric mirrors, heated seats, etc. All this will affect the final cost of the car.
Step 4
Inspect suspensions, brakes and chassis. Lock the steering wheel, suspend the front wheels with a jack and try to move them with your hands, taking the wheel first from the left and right sides, and then from above and below. This will determine the presence of steering play and suspension play. Check that the shock absorber is working: press down firmly on the wing and release, the machine should rise, lower and rise again. If the number of swings is more than two, the shock absorber does not work. Check suspension and steering pivots for grease and tightness. The thickness of the brake pads can be changed, so this is not particularly important. But if they are of different thickness, this may indicate that the cylinder is not working.
Step 5
Check the vehicle systems with the engine off. Inspect the engine - it must be dry and clean, not freshly washed. Evaluate the oil, it should not contain small metal particles formed as a result of wear on the crankshaft liners. Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
Step 6
Check the vehicle with the engine running and in motion. Switch on the ignition and check the health of all indicators on the dashboard. Examine the status of the main systems of the car by the indicators. Start the engine and inspect it for oil or antifreeze leaks. Check the color of the exhaust fumes. Black smoke indicates a malfunction of the fuel system, blue indicates the flow of oil into the combustion chambers. Evaluate the work of the main systems of the car in motion
