How to Buy a Used Car and
Not Get Taken

8. The Professional Mechanic's Inspection

Important Note: At the end of this chapter you -will find a list of test items for the Professional Mechanic Inspection. We suggest, that you give a copy to the mechanic as a guide.

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 compression 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 battery-condition tests that will give you an idea of how long the car's battery will last. With the right equipment, the mechanic can decide if the battery will hold a charge.