Don’t Buy A Lemon!

 

Purchasing a used vehicle can be risky. When excited buyers get emotionally caught up in the vehicle purchase, they often miss mechanical, cosmetic, and safety issues during visual inspections and test drives. These problems are compounded if the vehicle being purchased is located in another city and is purchased prior to being seen in person. To eliminate much of the anxiety and get an accurate picture of the condition of the vehicle, many buyers choose to have a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) done before the sale is final. A Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) by an ASE certified technician is good insurance against buying an expensive set of repair or maintenance bills along with your new used car. What do we look for at a pre-purchase inspection?

 

• Engine/Transmission – All aspects of the engine and transmission that can be inspected visually.

• Suspension/Brakes – Brake Pads, Rotors, Tires, Ball Joints, Bushings, Sway Bar/Links, Control Arms & More.

• Whether the car has ever been wrecked, repaired, or has rust damage.  Damage to the body or suspension can decrease the value of the car and may require further repairs.  Simple curb hits can bend upper or lower control arms, affect the hub assembly, and/or numerous other parts that may not be readily visible.

• Belts/Hose Condition

• When is the timing belt due to be replaced?  (Replacement of timing belts needs to be done per the manufacturer’s schedule of miles on the vehicle and/or year of the car.) Replacement of the timing belt and associated components can cost around $1000.)

• Body/Paint – Inspect for signs of accidents

• Tire life

• Will the tires require replacement soon?  Are they safe?  Does the car need an alignment, which improves tire wear?  You can tell a lot about a vehicle’s suspension system just by looking at each tire’s individual wear.

• Fluids – Condition/Age, Levels

• Electrical Components

• Computer Scan – Scan for engine fault codes, check PID’s, Stored Codes

 

 

We Look for the Little Things — It’s Always the Little Things

We know unforeseen factors can exist, so we look for any signs of misuse or neglect that may lead to future breakdowns and repairs. Our trained and certified ASE mobile mechanics are thorough, prompt, and quick. We don’t ever sacrifice quality, but we’ll always offer the best price for your pre-purchase inspection.

 

Be a self-advocate!  A Pre-Purchase Inspection is well worth an hour of your time, and for less than $100 (money that you may even save in your negotiation), you can buy with confidence and be steered clear of a “money pit”.  Contact your favorite Pit Stop Automotive auto technician, and be an informed buyer!