The following comprehensive USED CAR CHECKLIST will assist you in rating the overall value of that used car you are considering. Although you may not use all of the included suggestions, you are urged to review the entire guide and print it out BEFORE you plunk down your hard earned money. We promise you'll be glad you did!
MECHANICAL INSPECTION CHECKLIST
PHONE CONTACT:
Name: ______________________________________ [place original ad here]
Address: ______________________________________
Phone: (h) ______________ (w) ______________
Date/Time: ______________________________________
1. Can you describe the car and its condition? _____________________________________________
2. Does it run well? ___________________________________________________________________
3. How is the:
Body? ____________________________________________________________
Any Rust? _________________________________________________________
Paint? ____________________________________________________________
Interior? ___________________________________________________________
Tires? ____________________________________________________________
Engine? __________________________________________________________
Brakes? __________________________________________________________
Shocks? __________________________________________________________
4. Does it have Overdrive or Turbo? __________ Does it work? _______________
5. What special features or options does it have? __________________________________________
6. Why are you selling it? _____________________________________________________________
7. How long have you owned it? ...had it for sale? __________________________________________
8. Is it currently registered and licensed? _________________________________________________
9. Where is the car located? ___________________________________________________________
10. How many miles does it have on it? [15K/yr avg.] _______________________________________________
11. What problems have you had with the car? _____________________________________________
12. Has it ever been hit or in an accident? _________________________________________________
13. What work does it need? ____________________________________________________________
14. How much are you asking for it? $______________________
15. What's the least you're willing to take for it? $______________
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
Why am I buying this car? ______________________________________________________________
What do I intend to do with it? ___________________________________________________________
Will it be my commute vehicle? __________________________________________________________
What service and support is locally available? ______________________________________________
Will I be driving it year-round or summer only? ______________________________________________
Do I want to work on the car more than driving it? ______________
Am I willing to pay a premium because someone else has already done most of the serious work on the car? __________________________________________________________________________________
What is the most that I'm willing to pay for this car? ___________________________________________
What is the least that I think that the car can be had for? _______________________________________
A Few Suggestions:
1. Read some of the "How to buy Used Cars" books available at your
library. They provide useful strategies and cautions that go far beyond
the scope of this list. Also, review this list carefully before using it.
2. Always inspect/take delivery of the vehicle in the broad daylight,never in the evening/night or in the rain.
3. A clean piece of cardboard placed under the engine/trans after the test-drive will help show fluid leaks.
4. In some states, older non-titled vehicles may be titled with just a bill of sale. Other states may require an additional security bond to be posted. Use extreme caution in either of these cases!
5. Require seller have the vehicle pass all state inspections (safety, emissions) at a mutually agreeable shop (NOT one of his mechanics) before you pay for it. Old (15-30days) inspections are of absolutely no use to you.
6. A general guide to reading exhaust smoke:
Black smoke = unburned fuel - Valves bad or out of adjustment? Carb out of adjustment?
Blue smoke = burning oil - Accelerating: Piston rings bad? Decelerating: Valve seats/guides bad?
White smoke = burning coolant! - Bad head gasket? Warped or cracked Head or Block?
TOOLS TO BRING FOR INSPECTION:
Essentials: A cynical, mechanically-minded friend, Your standard tool set, Voltmeter, Compression Gauge, Tire gauge, Flashlight, Magnet, 2 different spark plug sockets, spray lube, clean rags Clipboard, pen and hi-liter to use with a photocopy of this list, some cash, drivers license and copy of your insurance showing you are covered driving the sellers car.
Optional: tow rope, starting fluid, jumper cables, timing light, ramps, jack (floor or scissors), mirror, coveralls, rags, gas can, oil, duct tape, wire, repair manuals, misc.fuses, calculator
ADDITIONAL POST-CHECKLIST QUESTIONS:
Original Owner? ___________________________________________________
Names/numbers of previous owners available? _____________________
What regular maintenance was done? Records? ______________________
Who was your mechanic? name/address/phone? _______________________
What gas mileage have you been getting? ___________________________
Are there any repair or gas mileage records? ______________________
Oil change interval? ______________________________________________
Type of oil used? ____________________________________________
How old are the tires? ____________________________________________
Battery? _____________________________________________________
Has it passed emissions recently? _________________________________
Where? _______________________________________________________
Has any bodywork ever been done? __________________________________
Why? _________________________________________________________
Receipts? ____________________________________________________
Any mechanical work recently? _____________________________________
Where? _______________________________________________________
Receipts? ____________________________________________________
What work remains to be done or corrected? ________________________
Are there any missing parts? ______________________________________
Do you have any extra parts or wheels for it? _____________________
What new/aftermarket parts are in the car? ________________________
Receipts? ____________________________________________________
Was it ever used for towing? _____________________________________
Has it ever been crashed, burnt, stolen, hit or rolled? ________________
How was the car generally driven? ______________________________
On highway or in town? _______________________________________
Are the engine, transmission, steering, differential original? __________
(If not, why not? Origin and receipts?) ___________________________
Do you have any books about the car or the engine? ________________
(repair books, owners manuals, history or general interest, parts catalogs, club newsletters)
Any interesting history? _______________________________________
Has it ever been raced? _______________________________________
Are there any tools that come with the car? _______________________
Do you know of any parts cars or good parts sources? ______________
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR INSPECTION. (Don't start the engine.)
OWNERSHIP VERIFICATION: (Do all of the following seem OK?)
Name on title: ___________________________________________________
Name on registration: _____________________________________________
Model/Year on title: ______________________________________________
VIN on title: ____________________________________________________
VIN on registration: ______________________________________________
VIN on dash: ___________________________________________________
VIN on door: ____________________________________________________
Mileage on title: _________________________________________________
Mileage on odometer: ____________________________________________
Price on title: ___________________________________________________
Asking price: ___________________________________________________
Blue Book price: ________________________________________________ (see blue book values)
UNDER HOOD:
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Anything broken? _____ Patched? _______ Leaking? _______
___ _____ Is engine clean? ______ Any rust? _______ Stock? ________
___ _____ Has it overheated? _______ Paint blistered? __________
___ _____ Check fluid levels. Look for leaks ____________________
___ _____ Check fluid condition with flashlight __________________
___ _____ Any play in main crankshaft pulley? __________________
___ _____ Any play in any of the other pulleys? _________________
___ _____ V-Belts cracked? Frayed? Missing? __________________
___ _____ Radiator corroded? Hoses cracked? __________________
___ _____ Check coolant; run finger inside radiator neck to check for oil. ______________________
___ _____ Heater hoses stiff? ______ Cracked? _______ Patched? ___________
___ _____ Vacuum hoses stiff? _______ Patched? ______ Capped? ______ Missing? ______
___ _____ Is emissions equip original & working? __________________________________________
___ _____ Are catalytic converters original & working? ______________________________________
___ _____ Distributor, cap, rotor, and points OK? __________________________________________
___ _____ Wiring harness appearance? Any new electrical tape? _____________________________
___ _____ Open fuse box. Any missing? Any wiring hacks? __________________________________
___ _____ Any non-stock engine modifications? ____________________________________________
___ _____ Remove grounding cable, check for shorts ________________________________________
___ _____ System polarity: + or - ground? _________________
___ _____ System voltage: ___________ volts.
INTERIOR/ELECTRICAL:
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Is anything broken? ____________ Torn? ________ Patched? __________
___ _____ Carpets OK? Underlayment condition? _____________________________
___ _____ Rust, rot or water under the carpets? _______________________________
___ _____ Any wiring hacks under the dash? _________________________________
___ _____ Seats dirty or torn? (Look under cover.) _____________________________
___ _____ Do both seats adjust? Seat heaters? _______________________________
___ _____ Dash cracked? Headliner torn/dirty? ________________________________
___ _____ Windshield cracked? Chips? Scratched? ____________________________
___ _____ Windows all open & close? Any cracks? ____________________________
___ _____ Mirrors all present and adjustable? _________________________________
___ _____ Steering play? Does shaft move at all? Why? ________________________
___ _____ Brake pedal feels right? Smooth? Firm? ____________________________
___ _____ Clutch pedal feels right? Smooth? _________________________________
___ _____ All gauges/controls work? Stereo? Tape? ___________________________
___ _____ Headlights high/low work? Lenses OK? _____________________________
___ _____ Tail and side lights all work? Lenses OK? ___________________________
___ _____ Brake lights all work? Any broken lenses? __________________________
___ _____ Turn signals all work? Any broken lenses? __________________________
___ _____ Windshield wipers & washer work? ________________________________
___ _____ Heater, defroster, AC, and fans work? ______________________________
___ _____ Safety equipment(seat belts, horn work?) ___________________________
ENGINE START-UP, RUNNING, AND TEST DRIVE.
IGNITION ON, BUT DON'T START ENGINE:
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Temp light should come on! Connected? ___________________________
___ _____ Oil warning light should come on! Connected? ______________________
___ _____ Charge warning light should come on _____________________________
___ _____ Feel Hood for heat. (was car running prior to showing up?) ____________
2008 WheelsDirect2U