Used Car Problems To Look Out For

Most dealers will allow you to take the car to a mechanic for a "used car exam". The AA is a popular choice for this.

 

One major concern is odometer tampering. Consumers lose billions of rands a year to odometer fraud. Odometer readings may be rolled back or documents can be forged. Making kilometres disappear helps increase the car's value to the seller, but can mean increased maintenance and repair costs to the buyer.

 

In addition to odometer fraud, there are other significant events in a car's past that unscrupulous sellers may try to hide. Consumers should be direct when asking sellers about a vehicle's past, and they should get a detailed vehicle history report. The person selling you a used car should provide a detailed vehicle history that answers questions to your satisfaction.

 

Here are more answers and opinions from other FAQ Farmers:

 

"You should always have a trusted mechanic look at the car, especially to check oil, transmission fluid, steering fluid, spark plugs, etc. Pretty much what you would want is to have a tune up and see, not buy a used car that is going to need a lot of mechanical work. Don't believe if a person tells you that all that is done, even if you see that paper work, it is to your advantage to have your mechanic look at it before you buy."

 

"As I know my way around vehicles fairly well, I look at all sorts of things. If it is through a dealership, ask to put the car up on a lift and inspect the undercarriage. Look for impacts to the rocker panels (dents)(paint missing). Look at the tires. Not just the tread thickness, look at the outer and inner walls for bulges indicating bad cords. Look at the exhaust system, is it rusted and if so.. how bad? Are the shocks and struts showing signs of oil leakage or heavy rust? Any leaks? Fuel, oil, tranny fluid, brake fluid? Is the undercarriage very clean or is it fairly a mess?Look at the car, walk around it. Look at the body lines, where the door meets the fender. Are the gaps all the same. Does the hood gaps look good or are they touching in places or showing missing paint from touching? Signs of bad body work. Listen to the car on startup for any ticking noises. Smell anything like exhaust? or fuel? when it warms up, do you smell antifreeze? The list goes on but you get the point. Shop smart people, don't trust anyone and twice as much, don't trust a dealership."

 

"Find out if the car has unusual or complex systems that are expensive to maintain or repair. For example, instead of changing relatively inexpensive shocks or struts some air suspension systems require complete replacement and/or much more expensive parts. Some engines, transmissions, and other major components were installed for only a short time even in popular vehicles selling in large numbers. The model years or months with those limited run engines, transmissions, etc. should be avoided because parts will be expensive or even impossible to find."

 

"One thing to check is the millage of a car, check history of the car cause millage can be tampered and so is the papers. Asking for an expert mechanic's opinion is a must too when buying a used car."