How To Inspect A Used Car Before Buying 'Checking Engine & Transmission '

In this video, I'll be going over how to inspect a used car before buy/purchasing it. The most important things to check like the engine and transmission, inspecting your fluids inspecting the body for rust or damage from an accident.

If you're purchasing the car or truck for resale, you're going to want to make sure you get it at a price that will be profitable. Also, it will be very important to make sure a vehicle is going to be registerable and inspectable.

Also scanning for code and making sure all the obd2 monitors are set is very important. Here are a few options for small affordable scan tools on Amazon.

A few of the major takeaways from this used car buying guide video would be:
1. Always make sure the title is clean and transferable.

2. Check Kelly Blue book value of the used car you are buying to make you are getting at a good price point. Even more important if you plan on flipping this car for a profit.

3. Checking carfax is always a very smart idea. You can check the service history and find out if the used car or truck has been in any accidents along with making sure the milage of the car matches up with its service history so you know for sure the odometer has not been altered.

4. Checking for rust and body damage is also a very import inspection item due to the possibility of failing a state safety inspection.

5. Always be sure to get the used car you are looking to buy up to full operating temperature to make sure there are no overheating problems.

6. A thorough test drive is always a must. Check transmission for good smooth shifting while listening for any noises of any kind.

This is just a list of a few of the more important things to check when buying a used car. Please feel free to comment below with more common problems you may have come across trying to buy a used car.

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Due to factors beyond the control of The Flat Rate Mechanic, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information or improper use of this information. The Flat Rate Mechanic assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this automotive repair video. The Flat Rate Mechanic recommends safe practices when working on cars or trucks with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this repair video. Due to factors beyond the control of The Flat Rate Mechanic, no information contained in this automotive repair video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.

[goldwolf]

1) Check for a clean title
2) check car fax for history
3) check KBB value so you don’t over pay
4) check AC
5) Check Dash for lights and use scan tool for any erased codes that may not show up on dash lights
6) Check under the hood for low fluids, good integrity fluids, dry rotted hoses and belts
7) turn engine on and listen for bad sounds and idle
8) check exhaust for smoke
9) test drive check for smooth shifting and alignment and power
10) check under car for any major leaks or rust issues
11) check for body damage and frame damage

He should have mentioned

12) check tires and brake pads and lines. If those fail, you die
13) check all the lights (head, turn, reverse, brake) to make sure they are working
14) Check windows to see if they roll up and down, those are not essential but can get expensive to repair.
15) check temperature - while and after test driving. Bad fan or water pump won’t leak so you won’t see it but can F up the car. Also when test driving, drive for a good while to check to make sure the battery doesn’t run out so you know the alternator is still ok.
16) SUPER IMPORTANT!!!! Ask when the timing belt was last changed. If it breaks, some engines (interference engines) will completely be ruined. timing belts need to be changed in ABSOLUTE INTERVALS. Check the manual to know after how many miles the timing belt should be changed. If it’s 60, 000. Change it at 60, 000. Don’t try to get a few more thousand miles out of it. CHANGE IT or the engine could die. (If it’s a chain instead of a belt, no need to worry about mileage because those don’t need to be changed unless there’s rattling in the engine)

[Splif]

Check all glass for the OEM stamp. This could indicate salvage by break in or accident history. Also check all seams and carpets for water stains or musty smell. This can be signs of water intrusion come time for rainy season or car wash. Check tire thread and the struts at all 4 corners. Irregular wear is also caused by accidents and lack of proper maint. A bad strut will be wet with hydrolic fluid. Test drive with the windows down and radio off. Listen for creaks and cracks specially over rough road. Shift through the gears before driving off, any hard shifting shows bad tranny maint. weird noise could indicate bad mounts. Check the brake rotors if visible. Grooves or warping mean hard driving or poor maint. Check the insulation under the hood for any radiator fluid stains or oil stains. Look under any seat covers dash covers floor mats.

Final piece of advise is if a deal doesnt feel right just walk away. Theres tons of cars for sale. Its better to pass on a good car than fall for a lemon. Take your time and spend your money wisely.

[wilsonvinas]

If you dont have a scanner, make sure the Check Engine light turns on when you turn the key to the on position. Some people like to remove the bulb from the cluster to make it seem like it has no codes.

[joshjack]

Don't think I saw you check but breaks and tires are something I will never skip on checking again.

Last car I bought very nearly killed me because the breaks were so far past done, the pads were non existent and had carved into the disk, this made low speed braking feel fine but the rest of the drive home was not low speed driving.

I knew the car needed work, but was in a fortunate position of having access to everything it needed for nearly free and as such didn't give it a good check over, I had the same model with a broken timing belt and between the two paid less than the cost of a set of good tires but still.

Always check the brakes if your driving it home.

[josephfades]

Also, make sure the title is for the correct vehicle. Make sure the Vin number on the title matches the actual car and that the seller did not sign their name in the "Buyer Signature" section. That can cause alot of problems when trying to put it in your name.

[alcove]

Whats up reggie its Lexi and AJ we saw you yesterday great vid

[utku]

Awesome video man! Subbed. Keep up the good work. The only minor issue was the "technical problems" (the occasional buzzing sound).

[ryans]

Me: car doesn’t seem so bad.
Me: oh body damage rust no thanks.

[wholeNwon]

"Are you the owner? Is the title in your name and do you have the clear title in hand?" I want the car cold, if possible and start under the hood looking for leaks, obviously. Remove the oil cap and look for signs of blown head gasket. Look at the condition of the coolant. Is it the right type? Oil in coolant? Look at the condition of the ATF and smell it, etc. Often I can walk away then without even starting it.

[scuba]

what a heap! maybe used as a station car

[anthonyg]

Great video. it sounded like you had gum or toothpick or straw in mouth.

[casparcoaster]

Really dissappointing. No perspective. No idea what the really most important issues are. I wish someone on Youtube with real knowledge would just give some mechanical basics. Is it looking under the hood? is it looking at the suspension? the brakes? the frame? the oil pan? the exhaust? If the car is offered for 1500 with a 5000 book value, well, what should I do? No one seems to be able to give a basic list of most important things to check, from most important, to least important, and, what means absolutely not, and which ones should we fix, and which one's should we ignore? this was not that video, it was you talking to a telephone.