Hints And Tips When Purchasing A Second Hand Car Part 2

By Author: Razvan Jr.
Total Articles: 273
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The engine of the car is one of the most important components of any vehicle. First thing to do is to check out the general state of it. A dirty one usually implies that the owner did not really take care of it and servicing it was neglected. On the other side, a very shiny engine means that it could have been cleaned thoroughly in order to hide problems like oil leaks.

Prior to starting the engine, check out the color of the oil by removing the dipstick. If the color is very black, it usually means that the car has not been serviced recently, or at all. Also, do not forget to check for beige "mayonnaise" on the dipstick, a possible symptom of head gasket leakage. An engine that was run without antifreeze may have a serious problem which is why you should check out the quantity and the color of the coolant. It must be the color of antifreeze and not a rusty red color pattern.

Listen carefully the engine when starting up from cold. The oil indicator light must turn off soon after ignition; if this situation does not occur, there may be engine wear. Heavy rattling and/or knocking noises very soon after ignition might ...
... suggest wear of the crankshaft and big-end bearings. Listen for clattering or light knocking noises from the top of the engine which indicate camshaft wear.

After turning on the ignition, open the throttle sharply. Check out for blue or black smoke coming from the exhaust. The blue smoke comes from burning oil and suggests engine wear while the black smoke suggests unburned fuel and has several possible causes. While drive testing the car you must check out the engine to see if it misfires. If it does, it is best to avoid the car. Listen to any pinking sounds like metallic rattling that usually occurs when the throttle is open.

Moving on to the transmission; if the car is equipped with a manual gearbox, check the clutch and see if it works smoothly and all of the gears (including reverse) work easily. If the gear change stiffens as revs increase the clutch may be worn. Check for clutch slip by driving the car up a hill in top gear.
When driving change down into each gear from a higher speed than normal to test the synchromesh. If the gears baulk and/or crunch; or if the gearbox of the vehicle whines in an excessive matter; then the only solutions are a gearbox overhaul or replacement. If the car has an automatic transmission, check the transmission dipstick for optimal fluid level, this is best done with the engine hot and idling.

For suspension verifications, check out the shock absorbers or dampers by pushing down hard on the bodywork at the corners and letting go. The car should rebound once just past the level position and afterwards go back. Verify if there are any knocks from the suspension over poor road surfaces which might indicate that the bushes are worn, as well as dampers and joint.

Moving on to the steering, if it is vague and heavy, it usually means that the tires are worn or under pressurized. You need to rock the steering wheel in a gentle matter while watching the front wheel. There should not be any noticeable delay between the road wheel movement and the steering wheel.

As far as the braking is concerned, the pedal must offer a good resistance and not sink most of the way to the floor when applied. If it has servo braking, check out that it actually works. In order to do so, pump the brake pedal for a couple of times, holding it down and starting the engine. You should feel the pedal creep down as it operates. Also, remember to verify the brake hoses under the wheel arches for chafing, leaks and eventual swelling.

Last but definitely not least, the tires. Check them on the side walls on all of them, including the spare wheel. There should be more than 2mm of tread all over the tire and the sidewalls should not be damaged or cracked. An uneven wear on treads usually suggests steering, tracking or suspension problems.

Good luck.

About Author: www.VanzariAutoRomania.ro is a second hand auto car sales portal where users have the possibility to buy European cars of all models and price ranges.