Mechanical Inspections

Monday June 1, 2009

A mechanical inspection for your car is part of most mechanics' servicing schedule. However, for people that perform DIY servicing or those about to purchase a car, a good mechanical inspection is often overlooked. After looking at cars all day, your mechanic will be able to pick things in your car that you wouldn't notice until it was too late. For low cost of a minor service or even a just an inspection, it is just plain foolish not to get it done.

For most people that already own a vehicle, an auto mechanic inspecting your vehicle can be done along with every minor service. If you like to perform some servicing yourself, you should learn how to check things such as the steering and axles, suspension, pay attention to strange noises and inspect for leaks or engine irregularities. This is just a basic suggestion list, and in no way replicates the number of things a trained professional can pinpoint after a quick look.

If you are about to buy a used car, a vehicle inspection becomes even more critical. There is nothing worse than spending good money on a car that needs thousands of dollars worth of work, and in the private market, there is always the risk of unknown problems and little chance of getting any financial compensation. Of course, the nature of cars means that some breakdowns are unavoidable and sometimes unexpected, but a good vehicle inspection will certainly improve your chances of finding a quality vehicle.

We suggest using a licensed professional to perform your vehicle inspection, and always get the all clear from the owner and the mechanic before getting a vehicle inspection. If you haven't already, make sure you get a cover note for insurance every time you decide to test drive a vehicle. Accidents can happen at any time.

To give you an idea of what happens in a vehicle inspection before you buy a car, we have created this checklist from some of the professional advice you can expect from our listed mechanical experts.

Before The Inspection

• Take a friend who is vehicle-wise with you if possible. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.
• Organise a cover note if you plan to drive the car. Most insurers will accommodate you with this request.
• Do some research on the make or model. Does the car have any known recalls on parts or areas known to cause problems? Some vehicles have weaknesses built in from the manufacturer, and some online research will normally uncover them.

First Inspection

There is a good chance you will be excited looking at what may be your new wheels. However, try to step back and view the vehicle objectively, and never commit to buying a vehicle on the first inspection. Even if the owner has the elusive ';other buyers', take your time and try to view a few vehicles. Nobody wants to miss out on a bargain, but there are plenty of cars out there, and it is better to have a sure thing than to think you are getting a great deal only to discover later that it is a lemon.

• Exterior - In most cases, rust and dents in body panels are your biggest concern with the exterior. Inspect the vehicle in good light and really take your time going over every panel. Any rust or dents should be accounted for in the price, by standing at different angle, you should be able to spot dent from deviations in the paint.
• Mismatched or Misaligned Panels - Any colour mismatches or body panels that are not aligned, have gaps or are not flush is a strong indicator of a past accident. It is worth questioning the owner and looking at the car with a lot of scrutiny if this is the case.
• Other Expenses - Ask yourself, ';what would I have to spend to have this exterior looking like new'. It will depend on the car's age, the asking price, and a number of factors, and for some buyers, they are not looking for a perfect vehicle. However, it should help point out expenses you may miss, such as cracked mirrors or headlights, worn tyres or other associated damage.
• Suspension - Check for oil leaks under the wheel wells and give the vehicle a rough bounce test. The vehicle should not be too soft or hard, and it should not make excessive noises (although a bit of a creak or groan is probably nothing to worry about).
• Engine - You can check for oil leaks and obvious irregularities yourself, but a professional inspection will also perform things such as a compression test. This can help identify leaking hoses or gaskets. Check the radiator hose at the bottom of the radiator too as it is often missed.
• Fluids - The car's fluids are its lifeblood and will sometimes be indicative of the overall health of the vehicle and the amount of maintenance performed. While it is no guarantee either way, if you inspect the vehicle and the radiator, power steering or oil is low, you should be asking questions of yourself about how properly the vehicle has been service. Inspect the oil for a white residue, which can indicate water in the oil and things such as flecks of steel.
• Interior - The interior is an easier area to inspect, and you are really just looking for obvious signs of wear and tear, such as cracks in dash or rips in the seats. Make sure you take off the seat covers if applicable. Test that all the seats can raise/lower slide back and forwards. The carpets and headlining should also be inspected, and now is a good time to test all electronics such as lights, radio, alarms and all power windows. If any of these are not functioning, make sure it is built in to the price.
• Odometer - While you are sitting in the driver's seat, it goes without saying that you should check the odometer. Make sure it matches the ad roughly, and beware of a car that is too good to be true. In most cases, 10,000km on a 10 year old car is highly unlikely.

Test Drive

Once you have completed a thorough inspection, you should take the car for a test drive. If you have followed our advice, you will already have your cover note organised. Buying privately, there is no set rules for a test drive. However, there are a few commonsense pointers you can follow so that both parties have a fair experience.

Try to test drive in the daytime and in a quiet area so you can compensate for driving a car that you are not accustomed too. In many cases, the owner of the car will want to come with you or at least expect you to leave some collateral. There are no hard and fast rules here, so try to be clear about what you want and respect the owner's wishes.

You want to test out the car, so don't be afraid to test acceleration when appropriate (maintaining speed limits and street safety), braking and other functions. In the same token, respect the owner's vehicle and certainly don't do things like revving to redline or generally driving the car harder than is reasonable.

We suggest testing that the car brakes and steers in a straight line, as pulling to either side could be anything from a prior accident to a simple case of a wheel alignment. Ask your mechanic for help here.

You should also try to run through each gear (for manual vehicles), and with each gear, build up the revs and then let the engine do the braking when it is safe and appropriate. Again, drive the car respectably. If the vehicle pops out of gear on its own, you could be up for anything from some gearbox washers to a gearbox itself. Manual drivers should also be feeling the clutch and judging whether it is too hard, soft or is slipping.

Perform a slow turn at full lock in each direction and listen out for rattling or strange noises. This could be a worn CV joint and should be accounted for in the price. It's a good idea to drive with the window down and listen for any rattling noises in the engine, but again, a trained mechanic is often the best bet here as they will have a better idea about any strange noises. Some engine noises can be normal.

You should drive the car for 10 minutes or so, and at least until the car is warm. In most cases, the temperature gauge should sit around the middle. Extremely high or low readings generally indicate engine problems of some description. Obviously, for most test drives, taking the car for an excessively long period of time is unacceptable, and in the same token, don't let yourself be forced into taking it for a quick lap around the block. Respect the owner's wishes, but if you are not happy, you should go elsewhere.

After The Test Drive

Once you get back from your test drive, it is worthwhile parking the car on a concrete or similar surface and checking the engine once more. Waiting five minutes or so should indicate any serious leaks or other related engine problems. Many older cars will harbour minor leaks, but eventually, these will need to be fixed, so it comes down to your personal judgement of what is acceptable.

Talk to the owner, walk away from the vehicle and give yourself time to reflect, and you will increase your chances of finding a good quality vehicle you are happy with. Use professional advice where necessary, and use a directory like mechanics.com.au to find vehicle inspection mechanics.

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