30 point Check list for used car buying.

[Aquarium_Medics]

Take a magnet with you and check the rocker panels , wheel wells, etc for body fill. A magnet won't stick if holes have been filled with body filler.

[badfish!]

Also, if you can check how much brake pad wear is remaining (it can be done without removing the wheels) check all four, if there is a difference between the front pads or rear pads (if it has rear disc brakes), it could indicate that a caliper is starting to seize (for eg.: the front left brake pads have 5/32" wear remaining and the front right pads have 8/32" wear remaining. If the pads were installed at the same time, which since they come in sets they should have been, the wear should be the same, unless something is up with the calipers). While your checking, you could also visually inspect the calipers to see if they are leaking.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by badfish!

Also, if you can check how much brake pad wear is remaining (it can be done without removing the wheels) check all four, if there is a difference between the front pads or rear pads (if it has rear disc brakes), it could indicate that a caliper is starting to seize (for eg.: the front left brake pads have 5/32" wear remaining and the front right pads have 8/32" wear remaining. If the pads were installed at the same time, which since they come in sets they should have been, the wear should be the same, unless something is up with the calipers). While your checking, you could also visually inspect the calipers to see if they are leaking.

I've only ever bought brake pads in pairs. From wear almost twice as fast.

[badfish!]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

I've only ever bought brake pads in pairs. From wear almost twice as fast.

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean?

When I said check all four, I meant the front pads and rear pads, but there should not be any difference in the front brake pads or any difference in the rear brake pads. IE, the front brake pads could have 5/32" wear remaining, but they should both have 5/32" wear remaining and the rear brake pads could have 10/32" wear remaining, but they should both have 10/32" wear remaining.

Vehicles generally use the front brakes more for stopping than the rear brakes, so the front brakes will tend to wear faster than the rear. Is that what you meant?

I hope that I clarified myself?

Also, the brake system is a sealed system, if your having to top it up, that means its leaking and you should either check it yourself or have it checked out (learned that one the hard way too... stopping is a very important ability for a vehicle to have )

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by badfish!

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean?

When I said check all four, I meant the front pads and rear pads, but there should not be any difference in the front brake pads or any difference in the rear brake pads. IE, the front brake pads could have 5/32" wear remaining, but they should both have 5/32" wear remaining and the rear brake pads could have 10/32" wear remaining, but they should both have 10/32" wear remaining.

Vehicles generally use the front brakes more for stopping than the rear brakes, so the front brakes will tend to wear faster than the rear. Is that what you meant?

I hope that I clarified myself?

Also, the brake system is a sealed system, if your having to top it up, that means its leaking and you should either check it yourself or have it checked out (learned that one the hard way too... stopping is a very important ability for a vehicle to have )

yeah thats what i meant. front pads wear faster and there wouldnt be the same amount remaining on all 4

[gregzz4]

Don't forget the most important thing ....

A loose nut behind the wheel

[Kryptic4L]

I would like to add a few. If the vehicle history report has something fishy in the report in reguards to titles. it may have been a former fleet vehicle.

Also check for a spare tire & kit.... Not fun trying to find one on some vehicles

Also check the tires are rated for the vehicle being purchased ( prolly only important on hd trucks )

If anything seems like a strange option in the vehicle, aka rubber floor linings... question it

[badfish!]

Also, do not rely on an inspection report that may have been supplied by the place you are buying a vehicle from (whether it is a dealer, or independent person) unless it is a place you trust. I've bought a vehicle that came with an inspection, and when I later had it inspected by the shop I took my vehicles into, I found out that the inspection that was provided with the vehicle was false. I ended up having to put about $4000.00 into the vehicle (which I only paid $2500.00 for). There is the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC), which governs pretty much any facility that deals with cars in Alberta, but all they could do is get the shop to cover a few of the items that were required, but because the dealer "tried to appease my demands" (by fixing 2 of the cheapest things on my laundry list of needed repairs for the vehicle to be safe to drive), AMVIC was unable to persue the issue further, and I was stuck with a vehicle that need a lot of work.