There are many things you will want to inspect before start the vehicle. This page is the beginning of a series of pages dedicated to helping spot potential problems. |
|
Once you have picked out the vehicle you
want to look at, you should first gather a few things to
bring with. These items are a flashlight, rag or cloth,
tire pressure gauge, a jug of windshield washer
fluid, and a mirror (Figure 1-1). The flashlight will be
used to look into the darker areas of the vehicle such as
the engine compartment and trunk. The rag or paper
towel will come in handy when checking the fluids on the
vehicle. A tire pressure gauge is used to measure the
amount of air that is in each tire. The washer fluid might
be needed to test a vehicle's system if it is empty. It's
much cheaper to buy a bottle of washer fluid to test the
system rather than have to buy a new washer pump.
Finally, the mirror will be extremely useful to check
under the car to look at the exhaust system as well as
hard to view places in the engine compartment.
|
Before you start the vehicle, there are a few
things you should check out, the first of which is to note
the general condition of the vehicle. Does it appear that
the previous owners have taken care of it? Look on the
ground where the vehicle is parked. Are there any visible oil stains?
Figure 1-1 |
Figure 1-2
|
Under The Hood
Now it's time to 'pop' the hood. The latch is typically located to the left of the steering wheel near the driver's
side foot area. Once the hood is securely propped, there are a few items to inspect. The first of which is the
engine oil. The oil dipstick will be located off the engine block and often is painted yellow or labeled 'Engine Oil.'
Refer to Figures 1-3 & 1-4. If you can't find it, ask the seller where the dipstick is located. If the car is low, ask
the seller to fill it to the top line. There are some engine conditions which a vehicle might smoke until the oil
level is down to a certain point. When inspecting, pay attention to both the level and color of the oil. If it looks
milky, this typically indicates water is mixing with the oil, and depending on how long this condition has existed,
the engine might not last much longer. When checking, first pull the dipstick out once, wipe it clean, then reinsert
it and pull it out again. Read the results.
Figure 1-3 The yellow handle is the engine oil dip stick. |
Figure 1-4 In this example, it is labeled 'Engine Oil.'
|
Figure 1-5
Here is what the dipstick will look like. Notice the operating range. |
Figure 1-6
This car is between the lines, however is due for an oil change. |
Power Steering
Next, check the power steering fluid level. Refer to Figures 1-7 through 1-10. Again, if you can't
find it, ask the seller. The dipstick should have 2 levels. One for 'Cold' and one for 'Hot.' Be sure to compare
your readings to the 'Cold' fluid level, which is sometimes represented by a 'C.' Now is also a good time to get
a general view of the engine compartment. Check for any loose wires or leaky fluid which may be collecting
around the top of the motor.
Figure 1-7 On many vehicles, the Power Steering reservoir is clearly labeled. |
Figure 1-8 Here is an example of a Power Steering pump.
|
Figure 1-9 Be sure to compare your readings to the 'C' while motor is not running. |
Figure 1-10 In this example, it is labeled 'Cold.'
|
Engine Belts
The last thing to check under the hood for now is the belt wear. Most cars are equipped with a
serpentine belt which operates all the engine components, while others have V- belts. Regardless of which
the car has, be sure to look at it to see if it is beginning to dry rot or crack (Figure 1-11). Typically if it
breaks, you will lose the charging system of your car and it will stall out and not start back up until a new belt
is installed.
Figure 1-11
This belt is in excellent condition.
|
Figure 1-12
This belt is due for replacement.
|
|
©2003-2008 Mistar Enterprises, LLC. |
