Are you going to buy a used car? You have to keep in mind that, when buying a second-hand car, you have to perform a test and a thorough review of several elements. That, say, “verification protocol” will give you the keys to make the final decision: buy or not buy.
These checks before buying a second-hand car you can do them yourself, as long as you have the necessary mechanical skills to do it. We repeat: as long as you have them. Remember that it is always better to have the help of mechanics professionals like the ones we have in Sánchez i Morelló.
Review before buying a used car before buying it: 3 important elements
Here we show you some of the checks to be done, but there are many more. You can check them by contacting the nearest Consumers and Users Organization (OCU) or Consumers in Action (FACUA) office.
Brakes
If the car has an anti-lock (ABS) and stability control (ESP) system, do the following. When starting the car, make sure that the brake light comes on and goes off instantly. This is very significant. If this occurs, the system works correctly.
The next step is to move forward with the car and brake. If a squeak is heard, it means that the brake pads must be replaced.
Car transmission
When driving the car, try to include a sharp curve in the test path. When taking it, see if the car produces a loud sound or vibrates more than normal. This means that the transmission must be changed. The same will happen when accelerating strongly (always with caution) on a straight line.
You can also detect that the transmission is in poor condition, if when you release the clutch in third or fourth the car takes time to break. The same happens if you release the clutch slowly, without stepping on the accelerator. It may happen that you notice how the engine gets stuck or loses power. That will mean the clutch is to change.
If you detect that it is in poor condition, discuss it with the seller. The transmission kit plus the timing belt is a change that is not cheap.
Direction
When driving the car, notice that turning the steering wheel does not make any creaking sound when turning the steering wheel. If it squeaks, the problem is clear: the steering fluid is at a low level.
Also a problem may be that the tours “roll hard.” If there is any leakage or damage to the steering belt, the steering system may cause problems. This is also seen if when the car is stopped, the steering wheel vibrates too much. It may be damaged, need a change or, directly, that there is no such belt.
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