If the car has passed your inspection up to this point, keep in mind that it is still a good, potentially money-saving idea to have the car checked out by a qualified mechanic. What follows is a description of the items you should ask the mechanic to check.
Brake Check
The mechanic should take the wheels off and check the condition of the brake pads and rotors (or brake drums if the car has the drum system). Worn rotors sometimes have to be replaced before new brake pads are installed. The rotors alone can cost more than $200.
Engine Test
Your mechanic can perform a number of engine tests including a com¬pression check. The purpose of this test is to tell you how well the engine is able to hold the air and gas mixture that is ignited by the spark plugs when that mixture is compressed by the engine's pistons. A simple rule of thumb is that all the cylinders should have approximately the same compression-test readings. If they vary by more than 10 percent, the cylinder may have a leak, which means that the engine is losing power and wasting fuel.
Charging System
The mechanic should perform a charging-system test to make sure that the battery is being charged properly. There are also specific bat¬tery-condition tests that will give you an idea of how long the car's bat¬tery will last. With the right equipment, the mechanic can decide if the battery will hold a charge.
Coolinq Systeim
The mechanic should examine all hoses and clamps and inspect them for leaks. Older hoses increase the possibility of rupture, and that is definitely something you'd like to avoid. By using a special pump, the mechanic can pressurize the system and check it for leaks.
Emission level test
Unless the car is very old, it will have some type of emissions-control system. With the right equipment, a mechanic can tell you if the system is working properly and whether or not the car will pass your state's emission test-if it has one. Excessive emissions are also a good indication of the condition of the catalytic converter.
Other checks
Once the car is up on the lift, all visible brake lines, fuel lines, fuel pumps, etc., should be inspected. With the wheels off the ground, the wheel bearings can be checked for wear or excessive play. Most mechanics can just pull on a tire and determine if there is a bearing problem.Also, be sure the mechanic checks:
The Benefit to you
The key to the cost-effective use of a mechanic is to make your own evaluations first and eliminate from consideration those cars with obvious problems and in need of expensive repairs. When you finally settle on a car you like, before you "fall in love," arrange for the professional inspection.
- Exhaust system
- Suspension
- Alignment
- Rear axle
- Tires
- Shocks
- Underbody rust
- Leaks
- Accident damage
- Odometer accuracy
What Do You Do with the Mechanic's Report?
The information that you get from the report should help you in any one of four ways:
- It can confirm that you've got your hands on a good car and agood buy.
- It can make you that the car is unsafe, unfit, or in needs and should be rejected from youraware of expensive repairs consideration.
- The information can help you in your negotiation. Depending on what is found, you might be able to use this information to help justify a lower price or, at the very least, to get the owner to agree to make the repairs as a condition of the sale.A complete professional evaluation will almost certainly tell you whether or not the car will pass state inspections. If it won't, you can reasonably require the seller to make the necessary repairs to bring it up to inspection standards or, at the very least, to adjust the asking price accordingly.
In any event, because experts have ,both the knowledge and equipment to make effective evaluations, it's well worth your time and money to enlist their services.
