Looking at used cars.
Here where I am at in St Louis Mo people have the need to replace their car from
time to time. So here are some tips for you to think about.
I do not know about your state laws or the inspection and what they look at. So
this is a small list of things you need to look at or have someone look at for
you.
1: tires look for the dot numbers on the tire as well as how much tread is
left. The numbers should read like this 4806 this is what this number means 48
is the day the tire was made and 06 is the year.
2: brakes have the rotors measured for run out as well as thickness. Pads and
shoes for thickness. Operation, do you feel any vibration when the brake is
applied? How does the pedal feel?
3: suspension parts, bushings, links, tie rod ends, drag links. Is the steering
wheel straight? Does it shake at any point? If it shakes at say 50 or 60 mph
this might mean the tires are out of balance.
How much does it dip or roll when braking or cornering? Check the struts or
shocks.
4: how does the engine run? Does it hesitate or stumble? Check the oil and
antifreeze are they clean? How about the hoses are they hard or sponge like?
Check the air filter and fuel filter.
5: Check the lights and switches. Along with this have the battery checked out
along with a starter draw test.
6: check the interior of the car burn marks dirty or stained carpet are good
signs the car was not taken care of!
7: Check the outside of the car flaking paint dull paint. Crunch marks can bee
seen if you look down the side of the car. Carfax.com is a good site to go to
but remember they are only as good as the information they receive from the
shops and insurance companies. So some things could get left out that you would
need to catch.
8: Door and trunk operation, binding or creaking doors or trunk lids are not
hard to fix but check the doors for drooping or bad hinges. Does the door stay
open? How about the trunk lid does it stay open and close easy?
One of my pet peeves are hoods with the struts holding them up and them not
doing so. (Ouch my head!)
This is just a short and incomplete list but should help you check out a car or
truck a bit better.
Here in MO we have a safety inspection in which I think should be rewritten and
a new guide passed by our state senate brake pads will pass when they are at
2/32 of an inch to me this is way to thin and within a week could be metal to
metal. The brakes have squealers installed which hit at 3/32! Manufactures of
pads say when you hear a noise have them checked out and do not wait.
I also do not agree with the ABS system on your brakes not working and that
would pass safety inspection.
Tires that are bald but do not have cord showing passes safety? I do not
understand how they can call this a safety inspection. We all know how bald
tires react in rain covered streets let alone if it snows!!!
When I went and took the safety test (yes I passed)
I asked questions and the major response was it became my job to inform the
people of the condition of their car. I had to let people drive off with bad
brakes and bad tires! And yes the inspectors at our shop like many others passed
cars that to me were still not up to par! But I can only do what I can do and
have to go by the laws of the state.
By all means check the laws in your state and if you think they should be
changed then write your senator and see what you can do.
Lets all drive safe and pay close attention to what we are doing and what we are
buying.
Thanks
Ken Boyer