On buying a secondhand car

Internal Inspection

Lights and mechanical parts

Make sure all headlights, tail lights, brake lights, back-up lights, and direction signals work properly. Test the radio, heater, air-conditioner, and windshield wipers.

Cabin

Check the upholstery for major wear and tear. Do not forget to look under the floor mats and seat covers. Check the steering wheel. When unlocked, with the engine off, it should have no more than two inches of "play." Check the inside of the door for any rust, especially at the bottom. Examine and fasten the seat belts and make sure they are comfortable and snug. Make sure the seat is comfortable and that adjusts to your needs. Open the glove box and spend some time looking at the car’s repair history and owner's manual. Check what was done and what was recommended. Look for frequent oil changes and inspections.

Odometer

Check the dates of repair against the kilometres you see on the odometer. A car with low mileage, but with a lot of wear on the driver's seat or on the brake and accelerator pedal, may indicate tampering with the odometer. A musty smell inside the vehicle could mean that the car was damaged in a flood or that rain water leaks into the car.

Under the bonnet

Check the battery connections to see that they are clean. Check the oil level to see that it is full. If you are buying a car with a warranty, you do not even need to look under the hood. If it makes you feel any better, go ahead, get out of the car and raise the hood. Look for overspray or for paint where it is not supposed to be.

Cooling system

Unscrew the radiator cap and peek inside. The coolant level should be almost full and there should be no oil or foreign material floating inside. The coolant should be clear light green, but do not panic if it is a little cloudy - it may just need to be replaced.

Oil pressure

Try to check oil pressure on the cold engine (at least an hour after the engine was switched off). Start the engine and look at the low oil pressure warning lamp or oil pressure gauge on the instrument panel. The time between the engine start and the oil pressure indication on the instrument panel should be no more than 1 - 2 seconds. The longer the time, the worse the engine condition.

Oil level and leaks

If you find that the oil level is "min." or less on the dipstick, you can suspect that the engine consumes more oil than what is required. Check the engine thoroughly for oil leaks. The more it leaks, the worse the engine.

Air filter

Take off the air filter cover and look inside. If you note the presence of heavy dirt (sand, insects, leaves, etc.), then you may suspect that the last owner of the car was not paying proper attention to its maintenance.

Instrument panel

All the warning lights such as those indicating low oil pressure, low oil level, overheating, etc., should go off after the engine has been started.

Brake and clutch pedal wear

This indicates how a car has been driven so far. Do not compare it with the odometer reading, because the latter can be manipulated.

Rubber beading

Check for any cracks in the rubber beading close to the windshield, outside of glass windows, inside trims, along the roof linings, etc.

Door hardboards

Slide the slass windows up and down to check that they operate properly. Check levers such as glass window winder, door opener and safety lock.

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