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The Haynes Used Car Buying Guide --------.-------------------- by Mike Stubblefield and John H Haynes Member of the Guild of Motoring Writers The Haynes Manual for evaluating and buying a used car ---------------------------------- (2Z1 - 10440) AFGBCHIDJE KLMNO PQRS Haynes Publishing Group Sparkford Nr Yeovil Somerset BA22 7 JJ England Haynes North America, Inc 861 Lawrence Dnve Newbury Park California 91320 USA Acknowledgements We are grateful for the help and cooperation of Neftin Mitsubishi, Thousand Oaks, California and Joey Sportato, Sales manager. Jay Storer also contributed to this project. © Haynes North America, Inc. 1995 With permission from J.H. Haynes & Co. Ltd. A book in the Haynes Automotive Repair Manual Series Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder. ISBN 1 56392 156 1 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 95-77794 While every attempt is made to ensure that the information in this manual is cor rect, no liability can be accepted by the authors or publishers for loss, damage or injury caused by any errors in, or omissions from, the information given. 95-160 Contents Introduction The concept.......................................... ............................................. ............... 5 What kind of car should you buy? ........................................................... ......... 5 Where to buy a used car..................................................... ................. ............. 26 Recalls............................................................................................................... 28 Technical service bulletins ................................................................................ 28 Warranties............................................................. .............................. .............. 29 Financing........................................................................................................... 35 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) .................................................................. 36 The Walk-around Inspection Why a walk-around ........................ ................................................................... 37 Used-car-inspection tools ................................................................................ 37 Look at the engine ..... ... ..... ............................................................................... 39 Look for leaks.................................................................................................... 46 Has the car been hit.......................................................................................... 47 Rust never sleeps.............................................................................................. 53 Walk-Around Inspection Checklist.................................................................... 57 The Test Drive Before you drive away, become familiar with the car ....................................... 59 Test driving the car ........................................................................................... 64 After the test drive............................................................................................. 70 Test Drive Checklist .......................................................................................... 71 Haynes Used Car Buying Guide Detailed Inspection Engine compartment inspection ........ .................................................................. 73 Fluid leaks............................................................................................................. 74 Hoses, belts and wiring .. ....................... ................................ ............................... 82 Engine compartment components ...... ................................................................. 85 Give the interior a second look.. ... ........... .... ............................ ............................. 89 Trunk inspection.................. ................... .............................. ................................ 95 A final underside check .................. ............................ .......... ............................. ... 96 Used Car Buying Detailed Inspection Checklist................................................... 102 The Professional Check Description of professional tests ............ .............................................................. 108 Underhood checks......................... ................. ............................ ......................... 108 Engine diagnostic checks............ ................. ......................... ............................... 110 Undercar checks .......................... ............ ............................. ............................... 114 Professional Mechanic's Used Car Checklist ...................................................... 119 A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) guide...................................................................................... 121 B Glossary of used car terms........................................ 143 C Helpful resources .................................................................. 147 D Preparing for emissions certification testing ............................................................ 152 E Preparing for a safety inspection ....................... 154 .................................................................................................... 156 Introduction The concept 2 A visual and mechanical inspection, including the underside of the vehicle while it's raised on a hoist Unlike other books, which emphasize how to select a (Chapter 5) car, where to buy it, how to negotiate with sales people, Some more mechanically astute readers may opt to do how to finance a car, etc., the Haynes Used Car Buying this inspection themselves; some will have a friend who is a Guide emphasizes how to INSPECT a car well enough to professional mechanic do it for them; and some will simply make a rational decision whether to buy it or keep looking. take the vehicle to a reputable professional and pay him for This process consists of five phases: an hour or two of his time. In any case, the Haynes Used 1 A fairly quick walk-around inspection (Chapter 2) Car Buying Guide walks you through this inspection with an 2 An engine mechanical inspection (Chapter 3) illustrated check list which explains what the professional 3 An interior inspection (Chapter 3) mechanic does - or should be doing - when he inspects a 4 A test drive (Chapter 3) used car for a customer. 5 A more thorough inspection of the entire vehicle (Chapter 4) What kind of car All five phases are copiously illustrated. Most "how-to buy-a-used-car" books are bereft of illustrations, save pic should you buy? tures of specific makes and models. In the Haynes Used Car Buying Guide, every inspection procedure is illustrated The short answer to this question, of course, is "buy so that the reader knows exactly what to look for, where to the car you want!" But we're not talking about makes and find it and what it looks like. models he~e; we're talking about types of cars - subcom If you still want to buy a vehicle after subjecting it to the pact, compact, mid-size, luxury car, sports car, sport exhaustive inspections and tests above, your next step is a coupe, sport utility vehicle, van, truck, etc. Usually, the second and more thorough inspection by a professional process of choosing the right vehicle can be reduced to mechanic. During this phase, he will perform: one question: "Does it do what I need it to do?" Here are 1 A test drive (Chapter 5) some general guidelines to think about: 5 The Haynes Used Car Buying Guide Vehicle size Subcompact The typical subcompact is a small two-door hatchback (the rear window and perhaps some part of the body below the window are hinged for easy loading and un loading). A few subcompacts are also available as small two- and four-door sedans, and there are even a few convertible models! Most subcompacts have four- hatchback is a typical subcompact Subcompacts are also available as four-door sedans such as this Toyota Tercel cylinder engines; a few use a three-cylinder. They usually have a wheelbase under 100 inches and an overall length of less than 175 inches. Subcompacts are inexpensive to buy and to oper ate, but they don't have a lot of room (especially in the back seat area), and they're usually not as zippy as big ger, more powerful models. If you need a back seat big enough for adults, forget it. The back seat in a two-door subcompact is almost impossible to get in and out of. And once you do get in, there's no place to put your legs! But if you're looking for a commuter car capable of transporting one or two people to and from work while delivering truly impressive mileage figures, this is your class! The interiors of subcompacts can be quite well appointed and comfortable 6 Introduction Compact Compacts have a little more head and shoulder room, a little more storage space and offer a little less fuel economy than sub compacts. Most compact vehi cles are four-door sedans, but are also available as station wag ons, coupes, hatchbacks and convertibles. They're typically powered by a four-cylinder en gine, although a V6 is an option on an increasing number of these vehicles. Wheelbase is usually around 100 to 105 inches; overall length is about 175 to 185 in ches. The compact Toyota Corolla is typical of most vehicles in its class The Chrysler LeBaron four-door is a popular compact sedan Nissan's Altima is a more luxurious compact 7 The Haynes Used Car Buying Guide Subaru's Legacy is available as a station wagon The Toyota Camry is available with a four cylinder or V6 engine models are equipped with a six all length is around 185 to 200 Mid-size cylinder engine, but some entry inches. Most late model mid-size Most mid-size vehicles are level vehicles have a four-cylinder cars are now as luxurious as a four-door sedans; some are two and some of the sportier models full-size car, but get better door coupes, five-door hatch may have a V8. Their wheelbase is mileage and are more entertaining backs or wagons. Most mid-size about 105 to 110 inches and over- to drive. The Dodge Diplomat is a typical 1980s mid-size car '--______________. __. _. . ________ . ___ ... ____ .. ____________ .. ______________________. .....l 8