A Careful Inspection Is More Than Kicking Tires

The biggest worry when buying a used vehicle is that you’ll purchase an attractively packaged bundle of repair bills. You can reduce that concern by doing a careful mechanical check on any car you consider. Here’s what to do.

* Turn the vehicle on and leave it running while you inspect it.

* Ask about the auto’s history. Does the owner have records of when the oil was changed and the auto was repaired?

* Look at the vehicle in full sunlight to see whether the body and paint appear even. Uneven joints can mean the car was in a wreck.

* Open and close all the doors and the trunk. Push back the rubber bumpers around the doors and windows to see whether the paint underneath is the same color as the rest. If not, the vehicle has been repainted--another sign it may have been in an accident. Be sure the car has a front license plate. A missing front plate is yet another possible sign of an accident.

* Climb in and check out the gadgets--blinkers, windshield wipers, heat, air, radio and gauges.

* Shift gears several times to see whether you hear any scraping or clunking--a sign of a bad transmission.

* Check under the vehicle for leaks and white dust that clings to the undercarriage. White dust is often body filler, a resin used to cheaply repair dents.

* Check the exhaust for drips or black smoke.

* If the car hasn’t overheated during this process, take it for a test drive to check the brakes, steering, power and suspension. If it’s running hot, walk away. Overheating can be caused by a variety of problems, several of which are serious and costly to correct.

* If it passes all these tests--and the price is right--take the car to your mechanic for a final review before buying.