A Guide to Inspecting a Used Chevy

Don't ever rush an inspection on a used car.  Performing your inspections on a potential used car in the dark or in the rain can hide nicks and scratches, as well as making worn paint look slick.  So, remember to do it in the daylight.  If there is a particular car that has caught your eye, and the price seems right, you must perform an inspection to make sure that you are getting what you pay for.  This means checking the body of the vehicle for damage or blemishes, looking under the hood for any signs of poor maintenance, and examining the interior for wear and tear.  Take a look at every part of the vehicle you can think of.  Follow theses steps for a total inspection.

Step One: The Exterior

First check the tires. Tread wear should be even across the width of the tread and the same on the left and right sides of the used car.  Uneven wear can be a sign of an alignment, steering, or brake problem.   Be sure to confirm that the spare is in good shape and that the proper jack and lug wrench are present.  With help, make sure turn signals, head lights, and brake lights are working. Do an overall "walk-around." Look at the used vehicle from a distance, and up close, looking for dents, chipped paint, mismatched body panels, and chipped windows.  See if the used car is standing level. Bounce each corner up and down. If the shock absorbers are in good shape, the car should rebound just once.  Minor scratches and flaws are no cause for concern, but rust is. Check the outer body for blistered paint, which can mean rust.  Also inspect the wheel wells and rocker panels for rust.   Look down the side of the used car to see if all the panels and bodywork line up smoothly. Open all the doors and the trunk to  make sure they fit tightly.  Look carefully at the windshield and windows for cracks or large dings.   Even small cracks in the windshield will worsen and lead to a costly repair. 

Step Two: Get Inside the Car

 Next is the interior inspection. The upholstery shouldn't be ripped or badly worn, especially if the odometer has low miles on it.   Sit in the back of the car to check for comfort and legroom.  Adjust the driver's seat to the right setting, and make sure you can easily reach controls and can see out of the windshield clearly.  When you first open the used car's door, take note of the smell.  A musty, moldy, odor could indicate water leak on a used car.  An acrid smell may indicate the car was used by a smoker.  Some odors are very difficult to get rid of, so if the smell really bothers you, it may not be the right vehicle to buy. If sound is important to you, try out the sound system. At the very least make sure the tape or cd player works, as well as radio reception on AM and FM.  Test all the lights, controls, heater and air conditioner.  They should all be in working order.  The steering wheel should rotate smoothly from lock to lock without any unusual noise or vibration.  Try all the foot pedals. They should press down smoothly without strange noises or binding.  If the car is manual, the gears should engage easily and smoothly without any grinding with the clutch fully depressed.  Manual windows should crank smoothly.  Power windows should glide.  Also take a look in the trunk or rear cargo space. Observe for any water leakage, or musty smells. Look at every seat belt.  Frayed seat belts or ones with melted fibers (because of friction) may be evidence of a previous frontal impact above 15 mph--damaged safety belts should always be replaced.  

Step Three: The Engine

If you feel comfortable doing so, take a quick look under the hood, you do not have to be well versed in the mechanical workings of an automobile to do this.   To check the actual engine, make sure it is cool.  Look for puddles of gasoline, oil, coolant, or transmission fluid, as this indicates a leak.  Under the vehicle, look at the frame.  Welding suggests a damaged section might have been replaced or cut out to perform repair work. Fresh undercoating can hide recent structural repairs.  Structural components with kinks and large dents in the floor pan or fuel tank are all indications of a past accident.Make sure there are no leaks or sprays on the underside of the hood lining that would indicate a burst hose or fluid leak.  Squeeze the various rubber hoses running to the radiator, air conditioner, and other parts. The rubber should be firm and supple.  Check all fluid levels. The owner's manual of the used car will show where to look. The dipstick shouldn't leave visible metal particles on the rag, a sign of serious problems.   Melted wires, tubes, or lines, or a blackened firewall may be signs of overheating or even an engine fire.  With the engine running, listen for noises that might indicate a mechanical problem.  

Do Not Ignore Warning Signs

Knowing when to recognize a red flag is important.  It may mean the difference between getting a great vehicle, or getting one that you will have to invest money in. One red flag to look out for is odometer fraud; this means that the mileage has been rolled back.  The car  will appear to have much less mileage than it actually does.  There are some easy ways to compare what the mileage says on the odometer and what the wear and tear indicates the mileage should be around.  If seats are sagging and warn, if pedals are well worn, or if the tires are not original or have excessive wear than the mileage should not be very low.  If it is, than walk away form this car. If you have taken an honest look at the vehicle you are interested in, and everything seems to be in good shape, then it is time for your test drive. And hopefully, you are on your way to purchasing a 'new' used car!