| Sitting in the driver's seat, start and stop | | | | grab your rag. With the engine running, kneel |
| the engine several times with the ignition | | | | behind the car and block the opening of the |
| key. Do you notice any difficulty starting, | | | | exhaust pipe with the rag folded over several |
| rough idling, vibration, unusual noises, or | | | | times. Hold it tightly against the opening, |
| run-on after you switch the engine off? Take | | | | blocking the exhaust gas, for about 5-6 |
| notes of anything that seems out of the | | | | seconds. Listen for hissing, burbling or |
| ordinary. As with the other inspection steps, | | | | leaking from the exhaust pipe and mufflers. |
| you're not trying to diagnose the problem. | | | | If you hear something, that might indicate |
| You're simply accumulating a list of symptoms | | | | all or part of the exhaust system needs |
| that you will share with your mechanic when | | | | replacement. More than anything else, this |
| he inspects the car. | | | | will convince the seller that you are an |
| | | | expert. That could be helpful when it comes |
| While sitting in the driver's seat with the | | | | time to negotiate. |
| engine running, take five or 10 minutes and | | | | |
| check as many of the controls and accessories | | | | This is another standard shade-tree mechanic |
| as you can. Run the heater and air | | | | technique. With the engine off, stand in |
| conditioning. Turn on the wipers and use the | | | | front of one corner of the car, and using all |
| windshield washer. Is there a rear wiper? | | | | your weight, bounce up and down. Try to get |
| Check that, too. Check the radio. On newer | | | | the car bouncing up and down. Then stop. |
| cars, try the satellite navigation system. | | | | Notice if the car quickly comes to a halt or |
| Open and close the sunroof. If anything fails | | | | if it bounces more than once. Movement after |
| to operate normally, ask the owner about it, | | | | you stop bouncing could indicate worn shocks. |
| and take notes for your mechanic. | | | | You should also listen for creaking, |
| | | | crunching, graunching and other unhappy |
| Walk around the car and take a close look for | | | | noises. Try this on all four corners of the |
| any body damage. Look for dings, dents, | | | | car. You may need a burly friend to help you! |
| scratches, rust, uneven shut lines that might | | | | |
| indicate accident damage, or wavy areas that | | | | Open the trunk. In most cars, the spare wheel |
| might indicate sloppy body work. In this | | | | is located under the floor. Lift the floor |
| photo, your guide has found a paint chip that | | | | panel and check out the spare. Is it flat? |
| is starting to rust on an otherwise very | | | | That could indicate less-than-adequate |
| clean car. As before, take notes of anything | | | | preventive maintenance. Also, notice if there |
| you find. | | | | is rust in the spare wheel well -- a spot |
| | | | that is notorious for attracting water. Ask |
| Inspect the tires. Turning the front wheels | | | | the owner if the tools such as the jack and |
| all the way to the right or left will give | | | | lug nut wrench are all there. If you see any |
| you an unobstructed view. Look carefully at | | | | body parts, do not proceed with the purchase |
| the tread. How much is left? A handy trick | | | | of the car, but doalert the authorities. |
| shown here is to measure how much tread is | | | | |
| left by placing a penny in one of the | | | | Lift up the floor mats in the driver or |
| grooves. There should be enough rubber to | | | | passenger footwells. Is it really dirty under |
| touch Lincoln's hair. Also look for uneven | | | | there? Pound a little on the floor with your |
| wear (for example, a tire that has a lot of | | | | fist. Are there any wet spots? Leaks from the |
| tread on the inside, but looks "bald" towards | | | | windshield seal can lead to rainwater |
| the outside) and any nicks. | | | | collecting in the footwells and, in severe |
| | | | cases, rusty floorboards. |
| Here's a nifty trick: Put on your gloves and | | | | |