Be Cautious When Buying Used
In the market for a new set of wheels, or, new to you, that is? If so, tread lightly because buyers can be taken for a ride if they are not careful. To avoid purchasing a car with hidden problems, consider the following buying precautions:
Safety first:
Do not be fooled by the mileage on the odometer! To see if the instruments have been tampered with, look for fingerprints or scratches inside the plastic covering. Kilometre numbers that don’t line up properly on the odometer offer another fraud clue. This may be a crude attempt at getting you to buy a vehicle that has far more kilometres (and problems) than what the low mileage would suggest.
Buyer beware, things to look out for:
- Excessive wear and tear in the interior, regardless of what the odometer says, is a clue that the car has seen some kilometres.
- Brake pedal pad worn through the metal beneath, driver’s seat outer edge is worn through and water leaking directly under the floor mats.
- Damp, musty odours are indications of leaks in the windshield, weather stripping or heater core.
- Clanking noises when the vehicle is in gear point towards a problem with the drive shaft universal joints.
- Motor oil that is not full indicates that the engine may be leaking or burning oil.
- Transmission fluid that is black or brown may indicate internal damage.
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