How To Inspect A Used Car

By Author: Richard V. Riddick
Total Articles: 5
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So you've chosen a car at a Chrysler dealership in Florida that you like and is in your price range. Now you need to inspect it to make sure you're not getting a piece of junk. It's best if you take the car to a mechanic, but you can perform an inspection on the spot to make sure it's even worth your trouble. Here's how.

Before even starting the car, giveit this preliminary inspection:

Check for rust underneath the car. A rusted frame is unsound. Look for another car.

Inspect the tires and wheels. Wheels with the suspension out of alignment will often cause uneven wear on the front tires.

Check the exterior for recent paint jobs which might indicate damage to the body. Look for over-spray on the rubber window molding. Tap around on repainted areas and listen for a change in tone, indicating patchwork.

Check the inside for damage to the upholstery, and check the odometer while your at it. If the odometer is low but the wear and tear on the inside looks abnormally beat up, it bears closer investigation. There are many honest Chrysler ...
... dealerships in Florida, but there are dishonest ones as well. Be safe.

Check under the hood. If you see nuts and bolt with rounded or stripped heads, it could indicate poor repair work. Check the spark plugs. If they are newer than the rest of the engine, it shows the car has undergone regular maintenance, which is good.

It's time for a test drive at the Chrysler dealership in Florida, which should be done with a cold engine, which will reveal more than a warm engine.

Make your test drive route as similar to your daily driving experience as possible. Mix up the route with a combination of city and neighborhood roads, expressway, rural roads and parking lots.

Does the car start easily? Did it make any funny noises? Did you have to turn the key hard to start it? Check for these at the Chrysler dealership in Florida.

Test the interior systems: wiper, radio, lights, and air conditioner, making sure there's no drop in engine performance when the AC is turned on.

Whether automatic or manual transmission, the car should shift smoothly without any knocking or grinding noises or hesitation. Test a manual transmission going up a hill slowly in a higher than normal gear. If the clutch is good, the car will try to stall. A poor transmission will rev but not move forward.

To check the brakes, find a secluded road with no traffic, accelerate to approximately 50 mph and hit the brakes. If the car pull to one side, it may indicate a loose brake caliper or the hydraulic fluid is low on one side. If car shudders it can mean warped brakes. In addition, the brake pedal should feel firm when pressed down. If it sinks to the floor it might need a new master cylinder.

While driving, take your hands off the wheel. If the car pulls to the side, the front end may need alignment.

Check the alignment. While driving, take your hands off the steering wheel for a moment and see if the car pulls in one direction. If it does, you might have some front-end alignment problems.

Pay attention to the vehicles sights, sounds, feelings and smells. If you see smoke, smell burning, hear noises, or feel bumps, the car likely needs some work and should be avoided.

Richard V. Riddick is a freelance writer for Planet Fiat, a Chrysler dealership in Florida. Visit the Planet Fiat website for more information about used car dealership Florida.