Hey guy, how you all doing?
Obviously, im new to this forum, but ive been a cavalier fan since I was 5 or 6.
I am in the process of looking to buy one as my first car, and was wondering if you folks had any suggestions for specific things to keep an eye out for.
Any recommendations, will be greatly appreciated. thanks.
Just look for what you would for any car...
No crazy lit up lights on the gauge cluster
Run the car make sure it doesnt overheat
Make sure it revs nice and smooth
Drive make sure ALL gears work
Check tires
Check all fluids
Make sure nothing is leaking around the pulleys or under car
Start it a couple times, make sure that works
Check for spare tire and jack
Make sure blinkers work, head lights, brake lights, windows, locks, etc
Ya know... the basics =)
Figured as much... Just figured i should ask to clarify to make sure i dont miss something.
Thanks GT.
One added thing: depending on how old it is, check for body rust.
_________________________
kick front drivers side tire and settle
ok now, get comfortable. I have been buying / selling cars for about 12 years. here is what I do.
go up to the car check the body. look for dents/scratches anything out of the ordinary for a car of that age and price range. see that all body seams line up and that all paint is uniformily worn. check for rust by where the windows meet the body, the area around the tire, the bottom rear portion of the doors, and the seam that runs down the car under the sides. if you see overspray anywhere on the car or if the paint just looks cheap, rub it with you finger and see if any paint comes off. I have actually had this happen. also see that all lighting and front/rear faicias line up with the sheetmetal and there is no obvoiuse sag. also look for breaks near the top of the B pillars near the window and make sure the roof isin't bent or warped in any way. these are signs if a twisted chassis.
and just so you know, magnets can't stick to duco.
check the tires not so much for the tread but look for a plug in the tread. also serch for sidewall bubbles on BOTH sides of the tire. sidwall bubbles=needs new tire. simple as that. also check the rims to see that tey aren't bent in any way or do not have a excessive amout of wheelweights on one side.
since we are down by the tires lets just slip under the car with a flashlight.
and notice we have not started the motor yet.
see that the suspension is symmetrical. this sounds stupid but I have been screwed on cars that I have baught where they were in a accident. the car was equipped with 16' rims but to save money the couchbag replaced the parts from the same car with 15' rims. and the whole time I could not figure out why I couldn't get the alignment right. look for leaks, heavy rust near suspension points or any areas that look like they have been smashed in. you can fix body damage way eaiser than chassis damge. excessive caster or camber on tires is also a givaway of bigger problems. also chekc the oul pan. if the oil pan is aluminum and the plug is hardened steel and you see no plastick washer on there, it MIGHT be siezed up in there. this is just something I have ran into in the past.
then under the hood we go. check fluids, check for leaks, pull oil dipstick a few times into a white paper towel and take the same magnet you used checking for duco and see if you get any metal pieces. you can do this for the trans to. NOW that we have checked under the hood with the engine cold NOW we turn it on. see if it busts any leaks, look for smoke, smell for feul, listen for any rattleing or sounds that don't belong. you can use a screwdriver for a stethescope(sp?). I am not going to get to deep into it becosuse of your current mechanical level, but just look for anything broken or anything that does not belong. also, before closing the hood, check the rear corners of the engine bay to see if they have been bent or recently welded. also check the rad support for the same things. also chekc the shock towers to see that they are not dented, damged, or rusted on the top OR the bottom. if the motor has a engine fan attached to the acessory belt check it for cracks and check to see that the fan clutch is working. and keep the engine running at this point. also run around the back, take a rag or something in your hand and cover the tailpipe. it should blow your hand right off(not literally). if you can hold it on and hear a whistle you have an exaust leak. if the engine is running rough and he says "hey all it needs is a tune up" don't listen to him and investagate the problem for yourself.
now that we are dirty from being on the ground and under the hood why don't we go ahead and sit in this guys car.
see the odomiter, look at it carefully and give the dashboard above the ODO a good wack. if the numbers move, your milage has been turned back. chekc to see that the power steering works, radio, dash lights, and ANYTHING that you can put your hand on workes. also trun on the a/c weather the guy tells you it works or not. look for the 'swamp thing' smell. this is the sign of a flood car. while you are checking things continue to let the motor warm up.
now that the motor is warm listend and check again for leaks and wierd sounds and things. now we go for our test drive. be critical of EVERYTHING. every vibration, avery thud, every squeak, everything. take the car up to at least 40mph, and floor it once if you can. also get on the breaks pretty hard and see if you can hear/feel anything.
that is a basic rundown that anyone of any skill level can do. I don't expect every car to be perfect, just make sure you are getting what you are paying for.
I don't expect you to do all of this step by step, but read it, and take what you can apply. I am sure I have written SOMEHTING that you did not know about in there.
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Those so naive, so hard headed, so narcissistic, that think that buy their own efforts can single handedly change the world, are always the ones that do.
forgot:
check the doors to make sure there is no play ni the hinges and that they close right.
check all weather stripping
and look inside the trunk. pull the carpet up. see if it is a diff color than the rest of the car. look for driled holes(this could be a tell tale sign of nitrouse) and if the car has the gas tank under the trunk look for a welded circle. a cheapskate way of changing the feul pump is to cut a hole out of the trunk and go strait down instead of dropping the tank.
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Those so naive, so hard headed, so narcissistic, that think that buy their own efforts can single handedly change the world, are always the ones that do.
I think nutcase should get a sticky on that one, there were quite a few things in there I never would have thought to look for.
_________________________
BoltZ DesignZ wrote:Taylor Johansen wrote:...ive been a cavalier fan since I was 5 or 6.
might i ask why???
Hell Ive been in Love with the 89 Z24 since i was three. And that was in 92...
NUTCASE . wrote: I am not going to get to deep into it becosuse of your current mechanical level,
Ive rebuilt engines, done brakes, struts, oil changes obviously lol... Grade 12, 3 years of autmotive experience in highschool under my belt.
I realize its not post secondary or anything, but no need to worry about me not knowing stuff lol... If i get something i do not know, then I figure it out.
As for why ive liked them I was 5 or 6, we had one when i was a kid.. Weve actually had one since ive been alive... I dont know... jsut something about them, especially the third generation.
I wasan't trying to insult you. I was basing that statement off of the question asked.
most of the people on here that are new and ask something like that haven't done much past change a tire.
not singling you out just saying
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Those so naive, so hard headed, so narcissistic, that think that buy their own efforts can single handedly change the world, are always the ones that do.
Fair enough... Looking back, i can understand why i looked like an idiot haha.
