I want to tell you from my experience. I did all of the things R&W said, but still got a car with a bad head-gasket. The dealer had drained enough coolant so that the reservoir and upper hoses were empty, and then refilled the reservoir with clean coolant. Since it was cold on our test-drive the thermostat didn't open. Dealers have some crazy tricks and a truly cunning used car dealer can think of a way to hide almost any problem.
Thanks for the input. The thermostat should open if you test drove it long enough even if it was cold out. I'll be checking the coolant before AND after a test drive. Thanks again
@@bradleywhais7779 it’d be easy for them to argue that they weren’t aware of any issues. It’d be hard to prove in court that they did something to conceal damage and it’d be even harder to prove that they had prior knowledge.
Also search the social media of the seller especially if it is an exotic or high performance car. Search enthusiast forums for the seller or car you can often see posts of them asking about problems or modifications or abusing the vehicle.
Great video.....and I know you can't cover everything; but BRAKES you have to check the brakes. Brake jobs can costs anywhere between $500 and $1,000. A simple visual inspection of the rotor to see if there are any deep grooves cut into the surface is a must!
ChrisFix suggests you open the oil cap on an idling engine, but I'd say first make sure the timing chain isn't anywhere near it unless you want oil spraying everywhere. Don't ask me how I learned that.
Some cars toss oil off the cam lobes too. But you don't need it off for long or even all the way off. Excessive blow-by will rattle a loose cap or make it hover.
7:51 Nice info. You can also check to see if the markings on the glass panels match. Usually insurance companies replace glass with the cheapest possible replacement and don't try to match manufacturers. So if there's matching glass all around, most likely there were no major accidents.
Also remember to do an undercarriage inspection as well... make sure u don’t have bad rails or tie downs they get torn sometimes when the vehicle gets towed... they are very important structural components
You're the first guy I've seen that checks the oil filler cap (or just inside the valve cover) for build-up. That's the first thing I do when inspecting a car, it shows if regular oil changes have been made. Even a high mileage car will have a clean cap if the oil has been changed regularly and often. And if the valve cover is aluminum the color on the aluminum shows how often the oil has been changed. Light amber- every 3,000 miles. A little darker amber to light brown- every 5,000 miles. Very dark or black- hardly ever. A dip stick won't show this since new oil shows clean every time on the dip stick. IMPORTANT: There is one thing you did miss that's an easy one though. You mentioned oil and coolant mixing from a blown head gasket BUT there's one more thing with a blown head gasket (or cracked block) that's easy to check. Is the radiator or its overflow tank blowing bubbles? That would show a leak from the cylinder to the coolant (instead of oil to water or visa-versa) and is one of the main reasons people try to sell their cars quickly. A short test drive might not show a problem with that one but a longer one would cause loss of coolant and/or overheating. A coolant system full of bubbles doesn't cool very well. Since a leak from the cylinder to the coolant or oil is the most common head gasket leak it's important to check for those bubbles in the coolant. Unfortunately a leak from the cylinder to the oil usually won't show up unless there's a lot of blow-by but if it's that bad the engine will not run well. By the way most radiator shops will do a free (or low cost) CO2 tests on the radiator that shows if combustion gasses are entering the coolant.
Yes Mike you are correct people should read your passage its worth the time to read , also take some one like a mechanic with you as they will hopefully keep an eye on the engine blow by and heavy breathing etc etc just thought i would put my tuppance halfpenny in as well cheers folks happy motoring
I am confused which cap is which? You talk about a valve cap, but this guy talks about radiator cap and something else. Which one is where you will see the engine oil..that is what you were talking about right?
@@GoaWay... wel Goa heres the story , if you remove the top filler where the engine oil goes ,lets say your topping the oil up thic cover cap is where the oil wil be coming out like steam or vapour if the engine has hi milage and when the engine is hot like say 90 degrees C , we call it heavy breathing , all engines breath , but a well worn out engine will breath more and heavier , also pull the dip stick and you may see the heavy breathing as well , if ur not a mehanic you may not notice this , get a friend who is a mechanic to be with you when purchasing a used car ,especially one that has a bit of high milage , what car are you thinking of buying as il give you a few choices , all the best for now Goa
@@johnnoonan5802 thank you for the Information, it is a lot to take in. I am most definitely not a mechanic. 😆 Not at all. Although I know some people who fix on cars, I can't rely on them to come look at cars with me. If I did that I would be waiting till next Christmas. But these are the three cars I am looking at: 2008 mazda 3, 2009 Honda civic, and 2009 toyota camry...maybe even a 2011chevy equinox. 😊 I'm not sure about the reliability of the Chevy equinox though.
@@GoaWay... hi there goa the cicic or the camry its totally up to you anything with a toyota or honda badge will be fine , so heres the story now ,, look at the pedals on the floor see how much wear is on them , look at the carpets and general trim in the cabin look at the drivers seat and check the condition of the seat ,, look at the engine bay also look at the engine visually also take the oil filler cap off when the engine is warmed up say after you have had a test drive , is it manual or automatic transmission ,also service history paperwork all signed up as it tells a story also , tell me how you are getting on viewing cars its good fun ,also say your budget is tight and look for a bargain
Scotty doesn't know all like he thinks. I'm not knocking him but he needs to stop pushing Toyota, Honda and Ford like there the best thing since sliced bread. This guy is as good or better and is easier on the head.
Scotty doesn’t hate all cars, as far as I know Scotty speaks nothing but straight facts as far as overall quality and longevity. I don’t even own a Toyota and I agree it’s the best car company for the most bang for your buck
I wanted to say thank you for all your information you share to help all of us. I used your information in many of your videos in order to choose a used car. Just got a 2010 Infiniti G37 AWD xS (Sport version with all the bells and whistles and Bose audio sound system, etc and the awesome super duper suspension system) for 14K... It only had 47 K miles. THanks so much for all the help on explaining the engines.
Love this channel. Additional tip: For AWD cars tires have to be the same all around, same brand, same thread wear (within 2/32 across tires)... Otherwise run the risk of differential and transmission damage.
Don't really have to be the same brand. Tread patterns should be similar and obviously sizes should be identical. They should be replaced in sets of 4 ao rotation becomes more important. Yet another reason not to buy AWD unless you REALLY need it.
I will still go with the same everything, what does a "similar" thread pattern even mean? The point is that all 4 tires need to perform the same - same rotation, same rolling resistance, same response to temperature changes,. No matter how "similar" you think two tread patterns look you have no certain way of knowing that they perform the same in all conditions. I'm not taking a risk with the transmission and the differential but that's just my personal approach.
I agree that AWD needs all 4 tires the same. This also applies to tire pressure. Yet, I didn't have to do any tire rotation in 6 years driving on my AWD. This is because the wear was even for me on all 4 tires. When I come to full stop I give full throttle and car accelerates evenly with equal wear to all 4 tires or virtually no wear. Once car picked up
Edward A wow! I never knew this about AWD cars. I was thinking of going for an AWD model. But when I bought the car. I was too distracted about how good it was taken cared of even for it’s age and use that I forgot to ask if it was an AWD. In the end I found out it wasn’t an AWD model. But a FWD model. I learned that it gains better fuel consumption over the cost of no AWD. I also did learn that they are more complex than regular FWD cars because of the way the differential is built. If something breaks down there. Supposedly it’s also MORE expensive to fix. Etc. it was probably much better to get a FWD since I mostly use it for daily commutes, and need the gas mileage over say a little bit of “all “ wheel driving. So in the end I feel less buyer’s remorse LOL. That was an amazing tip though Edward. I didn’t know that at all and it’s helpful you mentioned it even 1 year later after reading your comment.
Hey there.. Just thought I would interject a point about the anti-theft VIN labels. We are discontinuing these labels as a cost reduction in the Auto Plant where I work. So you may not have the ability to compare numbers on doors and body panels for some late model vehicles.Use the fender and door hinge bolts as a guide. Peace!
Also, when you go on your drive test(?), make sure u have the radio off. And if the owner is with u and is talking a lot or talking loudly, that's a red flag.
Adding to tires, be careful if running your hands on the tread, exposed wires to fingers hurt but does indicate a bad tire. Turn car on and then turn steering wheel to the left, inspect left front tire, then turn steering wheel to the right, inspect front right tire A lump or broken belt on tire can be felt as a wobble when accelerating from a stop, and wobble goes away at higher speeds. Make sure all tires are the same size as the tire sticker on the door, unless it has custom wheels. If the wheels has a lock on it, make sure you get the key from the owner or used car place. If they don't have it, have them take them off. There is a lot more stuff, but yours goes through basics and very good info Wrenchets!
My cars seller didn't care what I tested on the car, we both clearly knew it was a shitbucket. But the price was right $400 and I fell in love with the car.
Very well done. Important information that I definitely appreciate your passing along to me. The first thing I’m going to do is check out my own car! Thanks!!’
"I think I'm going to buy my own car" The info you give is great and I do love the sarcasm. I will watch your videos and never expect it. I work in the automotive field and you have very practical advice.
Don't let the owner turn up the radio volume when doing the drive test. Gently turn it down/off again to hear everything! Also, make sure you go into a bumpy/uneven road to hear any abnormal noises!
These are great videos. Really surprised your Patreon page didn't get more traction, (pun intended), you've already saved me about 500 bucks. Keep doing what you're doing. Loved these videos.
Awesome, thorough video just what I was looking for, thanks. One of my go to checks is making sure the vehicle has\will PASSED emissions either by getting the document from seller or looking it up on Carfax. Many sellers sell cars that don't pass emissions and they are not honest about it. A vehicle that doesn't pass emissions could be thousands in repairs depending on what it is.
Outstanding guide to buying a used car. I bought a used car and it was a lemon. It was in a severe accident, but was pointed out by a mechanic long after. Under the driver's side door, he showed me where the frame had originally broke in half on that side and was welded back together. The transmission went out and the engine threw a rod.
Very thorough I love how you tell us everything we need to know but of course there’s all these other want to be mechanics out there that need to tell us that you’re just a little bit wrong about something‘s and that you forgot this and you forgot, that screw them I’m listening to you.
When he showed me a lemon in the beginning to make a point I double-checked to make sure I had subscribed already. It was so. Great video, tips, and charming/silly personality! :)
I much prefer a car have worn tires. The evenness and type of the wear can tell you a lot about the condition of the suspension and steering and you can usually negotiate the price down based on needing new tires anyway.
Thanks for your detailed and helpful tips. Checking for rust especially on the underside, including the bottom of the doors would be good to do. Using a magnet to check for Bondo under the paint would be advisable. Looking for dampness and water ingress into the cabin and trunk would be important too.
When you were checking the tires, it reminded me of just how long I, as a young BROKE-A$$ kid, used to keep tires on my cars. I'd leave those tires on so long that the treads were replaced by the (now visible) steel belts, and if you ran your hands around my tires, you would quickly jump back as tour hands would have been bloody and shredded...
Right. I drove more than 50 miles from home one day & happened to have my wheel turned funny. I saw a bunch of wires sticking out my tire! I was like crap!
Hey, you sound like my college roommate. (and that was a long time ago). He taught me a few things about cars too. Nice video. Glad I subscribed, and quite a nice change from Scotty's videos, though I enjoy his videos too.
On a Ford Taurus you find oil in the coolant then you have a lower intake manifold gasket. USUALLY isn't the head gasket in that case, but I never saw the water get into the oil. Good video.
Great tips . I buy car's at the auction and you don't have much time to check a car out . So I stay outside and follow the car before it goes in the building check some of these things out while it sitting before it goes in the building . Got a 08 caliber 99k making nose it was the alltorator . I like the last part of your video now I will start checking these things out .
Thank you saved today ...! They said they changed the last month all the fluid were dark .. im a female so they were surprised when I pulled out paper towel to check the fluids .. and they clearly lied to me.. I got the let me have my mechanic check the vehicle .. we want it to be “ready” for your loo but I called 3 hours before I came should have been ready then .. thanks again 🙏🏽
dont run your hands down tires without turning the wheels or getting down and looking. if there is metal exposed on the inside you can really mess up your hands
It's really not just the cost of keeping those things running, it's more the inconvenience of having them in the shop so often and not knowing when you're going to be stranded again.
Onc I checked the oil on a truck I was thinking about buying and found it was completely empty (at least below the bottom of the dipstick). Not only did the seller seem unconcerned but she wanted me to take it for a test drive anyway!
Buying any car is a crap shoot, new or used. I look for used cars for sale from the original owners who have a file folder full of records and receipts for everything they've invested in the car since new. Last car I bought (1988 Mazda) came with the original window sticker, dealer license plate holder inserts, and every receipt for any repairs/maintenance since new, which I passed on to the guy who bought it from me. It's always nice to have written records of the car since new.
wow! you did very good my friend. The video was very well explained. very good tips. Thank you i will become a follower on your next video. Happy 4th of July 2021!
No mechanic doesn’t inspect like you did.Even,they don’t know what to do.I am looking to buy uesd car after my toyota camer has been stolen and damaged totally.I know what to do now! I will inspect by my self in addition to lazy mechanic. Thanks a lot!
I use two of my senses. First is the "smell of death" from a poorly maintained vehicle and secondly is a visual inspection of the underside for any leaks and obvious damage.
That's a great informative very detailed video you have. Most of it I knew but a few of it I didn't, thank you. It's also good to have a vacuum gauge to check fuel pressures.
First thing I look for when buying a used car is rust. Underneath the floor or under the rocker panels... It's not a problem if you live in California, but if you live somewhere where there's always salt on the road during winter, a rusty floor pretty much garantees a no go... Even if all the rest of the car is in mint condition, it doesn't matter, because the money you'll spend on repairing a rusty floor is never gonna make it for the rest... Ever.
I don't know. I think Chris' video on shopping for a used car was quite a bit more detailed than this one. I subscribe to both guys, so I don't have a bias one way or the other.
check the temperature gauge and make sure the car doesn't run hot in the tailpipe and make sure the car doesn't smoke or lease all from the tailpipe or give off a real strong exhaust fume also check for any leaks coming from the all motor rack and pinion radiator power steering fline
not every one is going to be able to decipher it. the 4 digit dot code is first two the week and last two the year so if it is 0418 it is the last week of 2018.
Farhan Mohammed I suppose that's true but there are sometimes a confusing date codes. And their are some that don't even have a interest in these things. And most people love to drive and in doing so won't have a need to know because most tires won't get old enough to weather check. Most tire problems is like he said. This is coming from a tire tech. There have been rare occasions where there is tire separation but rare.
You need to look from below, the most interesting problems are mostly hidden below, oil leaks, rust, post-collision damage, torn rubber boots, cut out catalytic converters etc.
He forgot to mention that a smoking engine and rust could be a issue by some older cars. Specially the sills and floor are things for a (rust) inspection. Also in your test ride you have to check the brakes and clutch for if they don't feel spongy. And the car has not to go left or right if you brake hard or if you don't stick to the steering wheel. That would be something like a suspension or bend disc problem.
True - to check for smoke you have to drive behind it and visually check (at red lights or stop signs when the car accelerates) also smell 👃 modern cars that are good mechanically arent suppose to emitt smells when driving. Also revving the engine while it’s stopped sometimes doesn’t produce smoke - even if the car has a smoke problem
3:33 you forgot to mention you can check the date on the tire sidewalk and see when the tire was made.. that could solve a lot of headaches too.. tire might look good, but wouldn’t be good if it was the original tire or an old replacement
Nestor Lugo maybe you can take the guy to court, because he probably told you the vehicle was fine before you bought it, and obviously he knew the problem on the car. He lied to your.
I have used Lemon Squad a few times. Back a couple of years ago, they did the inspection and the report either the same day or maybe the next morning. Now they take the order one day, the next day is the inspection, then the next day you are waiting and waiting and waiting. Meanwhile the car you are hoping to buy is still on the market. Now I am at the end of the day at day 3 and still do not have a report. DO NOT USE LEMON SQUAD!
Thanks for showing the IM incomplete status, people should always question that, everybody wants to push there crap onto someone else. How’s the avocado farm coming along?
I want to tell you from my experience. I did all of the things R&W said, but still got a car with a bad head-gasket. The dealer had drained enough coolant so that the reservoir and upper hoses were empty, and then refilled the reservoir with clean coolant. Since it was cold on our test-drive the thermostat didn't open. Dealers have some crazy tricks and a truly cunning used car dealer can think of a way to hide almost any problem.
Thanks for the input. The thermostat should open if you test drove it long enough even if it was cold out. I'll be checking the coolant before AND after a test drive. Thanks again
Would that not be a case of actual fraud though? They knew about the problem if they hid it. They did not disclose the problem.
@@bradleywhais7779 it’d be easy for them to argue that they weren’t aware of any issues. It’d be hard to prove in court that they did something to conceal damage and it’d be even harder to prove that they had prior knowledge.
Finally a real world education after all those years in school. Thanks.
Damn, yeah man, someone should really teach you how to buy a used car as a teen. Definitely will be helpful cause not many kids can buy a new car
@@nolanandert4258 exactly
Also, make sure the cup holder can hold an extra large cup.
Priorities
My cup holder is to far forward
LMMFAO
Better Call Saul
Ikr
Most important thing before you see the car - go to the internet and check the discussion groups pertaining the model your car you want to buy.
Good advice that everyone should follow!
jd5179 Good advice. Every model has it's weak points and knowing what they are for the particular car(s) you're considering can help a lot.
Also search the social media of the seller especially if it is an exotic or high performance car. Search enthusiast forums for the seller or car you can often see posts of them asking about problems or modifications or abusing the vehicle.
Yep, Opel Omega V6 high mileage -> stay away.. Regular 2 litre 8valve is fine though..
Yes!!
Great video.....and I know you can't cover everything; but BRAKES you have to check the brakes. Brake jobs can costs anywhere between $500 and $1,000. A simple visual inspection of the rotor to see if there are any deep grooves cut into the surface is a must!
Learn how to do your own brake jobs literally saves you alot of money in the long run
106 craigslist scamers didn't like this video lol
This video would've saved me from all of the bad car decisions I've made so far. Thnx for sparing me any more!
Car dealers buy a car for $2500, change oil and replace tires with cheapest they can find, charge the battery clean it and list it for $6995.
ChrisFix suggests you open the oil cap on an idling engine, but I'd say first make sure the timing chain isn't anywhere near it unless you want oil spraying everywhere.
Don't ask me how I learned that.
I can also relate 😂😂
Some cars toss oil off the cam lobes too. But you don't need it off for long or even all the way off. Excessive blow-by will rattle a loose cap or make it hover.
Nick I don’t think anyone needs an explanation.
@The Mask Don't ask him.
7:51 Nice info. You can also check to see if the markings on the glass panels match. Usually insurance companies replace glass with the cheapest possible replacement and don't try to match manufacturers. So if there's matching glass all around, most likely there were no major accidents.
J Shepard how do you check for the markings?
Also remember to do an undercarriage inspection as well... make sure u don’t have bad rails or tie downs they get torn sometimes when the vehicle gets towed... they are very important structural components
You're the first guy I've seen that checks the oil filler cap (or just inside the valve cover) for build-up. That's the first thing I do when inspecting a car, it shows if regular oil changes have been made. Even a high mileage car will have a clean cap if the oil has been changed regularly and often. And if the valve cover is aluminum the color on the aluminum shows how often the oil has been changed. Light amber- every 3,000 miles. A little darker amber to light brown- every 5,000 miles. Very dark or black- hardly ever. A dip stick won't show this since new oil shows clean every time on the dip stick. IMPORTANT: There is one thing you did miss that's an easy one though. You mentioned oil and coolant mixing from a blown head gasket BUT there's one more thing with a blown head gasket (or cracked block) that's easy to check. Is the radiator or its overflow tank blowing bubbles? That would show a leak from the cylinder to the coolant (instead of oil to water or visa-versa) and is one of the main reasons people try to sell their cars quickly. A short test drive might not show a problem with that one but a longer one would cause loss of coolant and/or overheating. A coolant system full of bubbles doesn't cool very well. Since a leak from the cylinder to the coolant or oil is the most common head gasket leak it's important to check for those bubbles in the coolant. Unfortunately a leak from the cylinder to the oil usually won't show up unless there's a lot of blow-by but if it's that bad the engine will not run well. By the way most radiator shops will do a free (or low cost) CO2 tests on the radiator that shows if combustion gasses are entering the coolant.
Yes Mike you are correct people should read your passage its worth the time to read , also take some one like a mechanic with you as they will hopefully keep an eye on the engine blow by and heavy breathing etc etc just thought i would put my tuppance halfpenny in as well cheers folks happy motoring
I am confused which cap is which? You talk about a valve cap, but this guy talks about radiator cap and something else. Which one is where you will see the engine oil..that is what you were talking about right?
@@GoaWay... wel Goa heres the story , if you remove the top filler where the engine oil goes ,lets say your topping the oil up thic cover cap is where the oil wil be coming out like steam or vapour if the engine has hi milage and when the engine is hot like say 90 degrees C , we call it heavy breathing , all engines breath , but a well worn out engine will breath more and heavier , also pull the dip stick and you may see the heavy breathing as well , if ur not a mehanic you may not notice this , get a friend who is a mechanic to be with you when purchasing a used car ,especially one that has a bit of high milage , what car are you thinking of buying as il give you a few choices , all the best for now Goa
@@johnnoonan5802 thank you for the Information, it is a lot to take in. I am most definitely not a mechanic. 😆 Not at all. Although I know some people who fix on cars, I can't rely on them to come look at cars with me. If I did that I would be waiting till next Christmas. But these are the three cars I am looking at: 2008 mazda 3, 2009 Honda civic, and 2009 toyota camry...maybe even a 2011chevy equinox. 😊 I'm not sure about the reliability of the Chevy equinox though.
@@GoaWay... hi there goa the cicic or the camry its totally up to you anything with a toyota or honda badge will be fine , so heres the story now ,, look at the pedals on the floor see how much wear is on them , look at the carpets and general trim in the cabin look at the drivers seat and check the condition of the seat ,, look at the engine bay also look at the engine visually also take the oil filler cap off when the engine is warmed up say after you have had a test drive , is it manual or automatic transmission ,also service history paperwork all signed up as it tells a story also , tell me how you are getting on viewing cars its good fun ,also say your budget is tight and look for a bargain
Your a poor mans Scotty Kilmer, at least you dont hate all cars that arent Toyota. Keep up the good work
Scotty doesn't know all like he thinks. I'm not knocking him but he needs to stop pushing Toyota, Honda and Ford like there the best thing since sliced bread. This guy is as good or better and is easier on the head.
Scotty doesn’t hate all cars, as far as I know Scotty speaks nothing but straight facts as far as overall quality and longevity. I don’t even own a Toyota and I agree it’s the best car company for the most bang for your buck
This demonstration was hands down brilliant,thank you sir.
Great video. I learned some pointers. In priority order, according to the usual cost: 1) trans 2) body 3) upholstery 4) engine 5) front end
I wanted to say thank you for all your information you share to help all of us. I used your information in many of your videos in order to choose a used car. Just got a 2010 Infiniti G37 AWD xS (Sport version with all the bells and whistles and Bose audio sound system, etc and the awesome super duper suspension system) for 14K... It only had 47 K miles. THanks so much for all the help on explaining the engines.
Love this channel. Additional tip: For AWD cars tires have to be the same all around, same brand, same thread wear (within 2/32 across tires)... Otherwise run the risk of differential and transmission damage.
Don't really have to be the same brand. Tread patterns should be similar and obviously sizes should be identical. They should be replaced in sets of 4 ao rotation becomes more important. Yet another reason not to buy AWD unless you REALLY need it.
I will still go with the same everything, what does a "similar" thread pattern even mean? The point is that all 4 tires need to perform the same - same rotation, same rolling resistance, same response to temperature changes,. No matter how "similar" you think two tread patterns look you have no certain way of knowing that they perform the same in all conditions. I'm not taking a risk with the transmission and the differential but that's just my personal approach.
I agree that AWD needs all 4 tires the same. This also applies to tire pressure. Yet, I didn't have to do any tire rotation in 6 years driving on my AWD.
This is because the wear was even for me on all 4 tires. When I come to full stop I give full throttle and car accelerates evenly with equal wear to all 4 tires or virtually no wear. Once car picked up
Brand doesn't matter but everything else is right
Edward A wow! I never knew this about AWD cars. I was thinking of going for an AWD model. But when I bought the car. I was too distracted about how good it was taken cared of even for it’s age and use that I forgot to ask if it was an AWD. In the end I found out it wasn’t an AWD model. But a FWD model. I learned that it gains better fuel consumption over the cost of no AWD. I also did learn that they are more complex than regular FWD cars because of the way the differential is built. If something breaks down there. Supposedly it’s also MORE expensive to fix. Etc. it was probably much better to get a FWD since I mostly use it for daily commutes, and need the gas mileage over say a little bit of “all “ wheel driving. So in the end I feel less buyer’s remorse LOL. That was an amazing tip though Edward. I didn’t know that at all and it’s helpful you mentioned it even 1 year later after reading your comment.
Hey there.. Just thought I would interject a point about the anti-theft VIN labels. We are discontinuing these labels as a cost reduction in the Auto Plant where I work.
So you may not have the ability to compare numbers on doors and body panels for some late model vehicles.Use the fender and door hinge bolts as a guide. Peace!
Also, when you go on your drive test(?), make sure u have the radio off. And if the owner is with u and is talking a lot or talking loudly, that's a red flag.
true
I know this is an old comment but also windows open to smell for unusual smells or the smell of smoke!
Good Job man! Everyone should watch even if not for buying! Thank you, sir!
Very Good, very timely, I’m buying a car! Thanks......
Great video for an average person like myself. I'm not a mechanic, and don't trust any. Thanks a lot. I learned a few things.
Excellent explanations and for someone like me who is not familiarize with what is wrong with cars. Learned a lot.
Adding to tires, be careful if running your hands on the tread, exposed wires to fingers hurt but does indicate a bad tire.
Turn car on and then turn steering wheel to the left, inspect left front tire, then turn steering wheel to the right, inspect front right tire
A lump or broken belt on tire can be felt as a wobble when accelerating from a stop, and wobble goes away at higher speeds.
Make sure all tires are the same size as the tire sticker on the door, unless it has custom wheels.
If the wheels has a lock on it, make sure you get the key from the owner or used car place. If they don't have it, have them take them off.
There is a lot more stuff, but yours goes through basics and very good info Wrenchets!
Notice he was wearing gloves, possibly kevlar.
Your videos are so good I feel like I owe you money.
Lol, i am going to aggrivate so many car-dealers now 😂👍🏻 Thanks for the awesome vid.
Me and you both. :)
Me 3 brotha
My cars seller didn't care what I tested on the car, we both clearly knew it was a shitbucket. But the price was right $400 and I fell in love with the car.
Very well done. Important information that I definitely appreciate your passing along to me. The first thing I’m going to do is check out my own car! Thanks!!’
"I think I'm going to buy my own car" The info you give is great and I do love the sarcasm. I will watch your videos and never expect it. I work in the automotive field and you have very practical advice.
Don't let the owner turn up the radio volume when doing the drive test. Gently turn it down/off again to hear everything! Also, make sure you go into a bumpy/uneven road to hear any abnormal noises!
Good tip
These are great videos. Really surprised your Patreon page didn't get more traction, (pun intended), you've already saved me about 500 bucks. Keep doing what you're doing. Loved these videos.
I'm so glad you bought an ecotec, now you could teach me all the maintenance there is!!!
Thank you for this kind of videos. It makes a difference when you need to buy a car!!
Awesome, thorough video just what I was looking for, thanks. One of my go to checks is making sure the vehicle has\will PASSED emissions either by getting the document from seller or looking it up on Carfax. Many sellers sell cars that don't pass emissions and they are not honest about it. A vehicle that doesn't pass emissions could be thousands in repairs depending on what it is.
Outstanding guide to buying a used car. I bought a used car and it was a lemon. It was in a severe accident, but was pointed out by a mechanic long after. Under the driver's side door, he showed me where the frame had originally broke in half on that side and was welded back together. The transmission went out and the engine threw a rod.
Ben L wow thats so wrong sorry to hear that
Thanks, that was many years ago.
Very thorough I love how you tell us everything we need to know but of course there’s all these other want to be mechanics out there that need to tell us that you’re just a little bit wrong about something‘s and that you forgot this and you forgot, that screw them I’m listening to you.
When he showed me a lemon in the beginning to make a point I double-checked to make sure I had subscribed already. It was so. Great video, tips, and charming/silly personality! :)
Really good pointers to look for before buying or doing a self diagnosis on your own car’s mechanical condition. Awesome stuff👍🏾
You should also check the AC if it's not blowing cold air or cold enough that could indicate a problem with the cooling system.
Good video, a telescopic mirror (inexpensive) would allow a buyer to see the underside of the belts to check for cracks.
I much prefer a car have worn tires. The evenness and type of the wear can tell you a lot about the condition of the suspension and steering and you can usually negotiate the price down based on needing new tires anyway.
I wish I had this video last week but oh well, great vid!
Crepe Maister ironic because my friend went to check out a car like an hour ago
Crepe Maister why what happened lol
Wow! You are awesome!! I didn't have a clue regarding most of these things to check. Now I know! Thank you SOOOOO MUCH!
very informative - thanks - my takeaway from this is everything should be relatively clean or free from sludge or build-up
Thank you , this is a great video that can save regular people some serious cash.
That was great because it was short and to the point!
Thanks for your detailed and helpful tips. Checking for rust especially on the underside, including the bottom of the doors would be good to do. Using a magnet to check for Bondo under the paint would be advisable. Looking for dampness and water ingress into the cabin and trunk would be important too.
Very informative! Thanks a ton! One of the best videos out there for someone looking for a used ride. Best of luck everyone!
Excellent tips! Many of your inspection points are new to me, but seem really good.
When you were checking the tires, it reminded me of just how long I, as a young BROKE-A$$ kid, used to keep tires on my cars. I'd leave those tires on so long that the treads were replaced by the (now visible) steel belts, and if you ran your hands around my tires, you would quickly jump back as tour hands would have been bloody and shredded...
I learned at a young age never to run my hand in the inside of a tire without knowing if they are exposed belt wire. Ouch!
Right. I drove more than 50 miles from home one day & happened to have my wheel turned funny. I saw a bunch of wires sticking out my tire! I was like crap!
Superb. Thorough and to the point. I want him to be my mechanic!
Excellent video! Covers all the important check points. Many thanks for making it.
Back again, and I still appreciate you. Thanks, helpful post.
Hey, you sound like my college roommate. (and that was a long time ago). He taught me a few things about cars too.
Nice video. Glad I subscribed, and quite a nice change from Scotty's videos, though I enjoy his videos too.
On a Ford Taurus you find oil in the coolant then you have a lower intake manifold gasket. USUALLY isn't the head gasket in that case, but I never saw the water get into the oil. Good video.
Great tips . I buy car's at the auction and you don't have much time to check a car out . So I stay outside and follow the car before it goes in the building check some of these things out while it sitting before it goes in the building . Got a 08 caliber 99k making nose it was the alltorator . I like the last part of your video now I will start checking these things out .
Thank you saved today ...! They said they changed the last month all the fluid were dark .. im a female so they were surprised when I pulled out paper towel to check the fluids .. and they clearly lied to me.. I got the let me have my mechanic check the vehicle .. we want it to be “ready” for your loo but I called 3 hours before I came should have been ready then .. thanks again 🙏🏽
MORE Audi a6 project car video PLEASE :D .I enjoy these videos also!
dont run your hands down tires without turning the wheels or getting down and looking. if there is metal exposed on the inside you can really mess up your hands
He had gloves on tho
SP FromNY914 the wire would rip right through those latex gloves and mess up your hands
Great tip. Exposed cords on cars or truck tires.👍
I'm getting a car in the fall. Thank you!
I always do the cold start thing.. Always !! Also.. I like to know where it is parked all the time so I can look for drips.
Explain
If its a mercedes avoid it too
Definitely agree! I'd avoid all German cars.
Isaac Castro let's be honest you don't buy a German car for reliability it's for the brand
You buy it to go broke lol.
It's really not just the cost of keeping those things running, it's more the inconvenience of having them in the shop so often and not knowing when you're going to be stranded again.
Never again
Mercedes suck
Onc I checked the oil on a truck I was thinking about buying and found it was completely empty (at least below the bottom of the dipstick). Not only did the seller seem unconcerned but she wanted me to take it for a test drive anyway!
Buying any car is a crap shoot, new or used. I look for used cars for sale from the original owners who have a file folder full of records and receipts for everything they've invested in the car since new. Last car I bought (1988 Mazda) came with the original window sticker, dealer license plate holder inserts, and every receipt for any repairs/maintenance since new, which I passed on to the guy who bought it from me. It's always nice to have written records of the car since new.
This is awesome. So useful. I feel so ready to check out some used car today.
wow! you did very good my friend. The video was very well explained. very good tips. Thank you i will become a follower on your next video. Happy 4th of July 2021!
No mechanic doesn’t inspect like you did.Even,they don’t know what to do.I am looking to buy uesd car after my toyota camer has been stolen and damaged totally.I know what to do now! I will inspect by my self in addition to lazy mechanic. Thanks a lot!
I use two of my senses. First is the "smell of death" from a poorly maintained vehicle and secondly is a visual inspection of the underside for any leaks and obvious damage.
This is an olddie but goody. Great advice.
Great advice! A tight engines oil will mostly be clean!
That's a great informative very detailed video you have. Most of it I knew but a few of it I didn't, thank you. It's also good to have a vacuum gauge to check fuel pressures.
First thing I look for when buying a used car is rust. Underneath the floor or under the rocker panels... It's not a problem if you live in California, but if you live somewhere where there's always salt on the road during winter, a rusty floor pretty much garantees a no go... Even if all the rest of the car is in mint condition, it doesn't matter, because the money you'll spend on repairing a rusty floor is never gonna make it for the rest... Ever.
Man this guy is so much more legit than chris fix
whats wrong with chris fix
Both channels have great content but RnW more about car repairs, ChisFix is more now about his drift stang
and he doesn't speak like a weirdo
I don't know. I think Chris' video on shopping for a used car was quite a bit more detailed than this one. I subscribe to both guys, so I don't have a bias one way or the other.
Never mind - I just saw R&W's four-part series on buying a used car!
Wow!! ... thanks I really appreciate you for making this video... once again THANKS.
My big question is, how much rust is too much?
And I’d love to see you do an undercoating job.
Any rust is too much. It's like cancer. If you find it, get rid of it before it spreads.
check the temperature gauge and make sure the car doesn't run hot in the tailpipe and make sure the car doesn't smoke or lease all from the tailpipe or give off a real strong exhaust fume also check for any leaks coming from the all motor rack and pinion radiator power steering fline
brilliant ! one channel to stop at for technical stuff. very detailed. thanks buddy. Nischal from Bangalore, India.
Could also use your tach to make sure the torque convertor locks up. Sometimes you are able to feel it and sometimes not.
One of the most useful videos on youtube!
I would add Tire Date Code to this list
not every one is going to be able to decipher it.
the 4 digit dot code is first two the week and last two the year so if it is 0418 it is the last week of 2018.
Farhan Mohammed I suppose that's true but there are sometimes a confusing date codes. And their are some that don't even have a interest in these things. And most people love to drive and in doing so won't have a need to know because most tires won't get old enough to weather check.
Most tire problems is like he said.
This is coming from a tire tech.
There have been rare occasions where there is tire separation but rare.
0418 is the fourth week of the year meaning last week of January 2018.
Always buy new tires.
Nive tip thank you.
You need to look from below, the most interesting problems are mostly hidden below, oil leaks, rust, post-collision damage, torn rubber boots, cut out catalytic converters etc.
He forgot to mention that a smoking engine and rust could be a issue by some older cars. Specially the sills and floor are things for a (rust) inspection. Also in your test ride you have to check the brakes and clutch for if they don't feel spongy. And the car has not to go left or right if you brake hard or if you don't stick to the steering wheel. That would be something like a suspension or bend disc problem.
That's why if you can find a car with a fiberglass tubed body, by it. It's very rare
Ilias Lamari my friends Sentra when he Hall's ass then brakes his steering wheel moves left to right lol
True - to check for smoke you have to drive behind it and visually check (at red lights or stop signs when the car accelerates) also smell 👃 modern cars that are good mechanically arent suppose to emitt smells when driving. Also revving the engine while it’s stopped sometimes doesn’t produce smoke - even if the car has a smoke problem
Awesome Detailed video!!!
🚗🛠️
Most comprehensive video I've seen.
Really enjoy listening to your video's to and from work. Very informative and well done. Looking forward to more.
3:33 you forgot to mention you can check the date on the tire sidewalk and see when the tire was made.. that could solve a lot of headaches too.. tire might look good, but wouldn’t be good if it was the original tire or an old replacement
You are the man! I've learned a lot from watching your vids
Really good and useful information. Thank you so much for your efforts.
Bought a 96 pathfinder and it was good the oil looked fine by the time I got home there was coolant in the oil
Nestor Lugo maybe you can take the guy to court, because he probably told you the vehicle was fine before you bought it, and obviously he knew the problem on the car. He lied to your.
+Francisco Martinez good luck proving that in court
Caveat emptor. Did you get a pre-purchase check from your own trusted mechanic before you bought the thing?
This is why when you sell you write "condition: as is, where is" as a seller, and this is why as a buyer you take it for a good solid test drive
Francisco Martinez
You can't take people to court on a used car unless a warranty is issued on paper.
Thank you.. seriously. Fantastic videos
Great video!....so if you buy a used car, no milkshakes!.....loll......Good rule of thumb!
Awesome video, I feel a little better prepared to check out some cars. Thanks!!
I have used Lemon Squad a few times. Back a couple of years ago, they did the inspection and the report either the same day or maybe the next morning. Now they take the order one day, the next day is the inspection, then the next day you are waiting and waiting and waiting. Meanwhile the car you are hoping to buy is still on the market. Now I am at the end of the day at day 3 and still do not have a report. DO NOT USE LEMON SQUAD!
That was so incredibly helpful. Thank you
As usual, Great video, thanks bro
Someone get this guy a milkshake.
Nice a 2009 Chevy Aveo 5 I had one of those too also purchased it used too on Craigslist only had it for 2 years mine was the base model in yellow.
Great info and video.. keep them coming.. wish i saw this before I bought my son a used car this past weekend.. :)..
Thanks for showing the IM incomplete status, people should always question that, everybody wants to push there crap onto someone else.
How’s the avocado farm coming along?
Awesome video, keep it coming !!!
I logged in with gmail just to give you a LIKE. awsm vid