8 ways to know when buying a used car that is rarely used

(Baonghean.vn) -When deciding to buy a used car, besides attractive advantages such as low price and relatively low insurance premiums, you also face risks such as damage due to frequent use.

There is a lot of “evidence” to know that the car has been used a lot without looking at the odometer, moreover, the odometer is something that people can adjust, so don't trust this parameter but look at the following 8 details and actual signs.

A good car is usually a family car, driven little, well maintained.

1. Check the steering wheel

If the car has little mileage, the steering wheel will still be new, the leather details will not be worn, the steering wheel will not have any play; many car owners cover the steering wheel but there will be inevitable wear at the 2 finger rest points and right at the horn button.

Check by starting the engine, turning the steering wheel in place or backing up/down and then turning the steering wheel all the way to determine if there is any strange sound such as a squeak or uneven noise coming from the engine. If this sound occurs, the power steering pump may be worn or lacking oil due to poor maintenance.

2. Check the door handle

Pay attention to the position of the handle on the mechanism to open the driver's door, unless it has been replaced, looking at the smoothness of this position will "read" the "experience" of the car. When renovating, the car owner can make the car's interior shiny, fragrant, new but rarely pay attention to this point. This position is very hidden, the position to look at is even more hidden, it is on the inside of the door opening lever.

3. Pay attention to the gear lever

Hold the gear lever and shake it back and forth in the “neutral” gear slot. The maximum distance between new cars is very short, the older the car, the wider the distance. Put it in gear (with the engine still off) and shake it. If it is a new car, there is very little “play” when shaking when put in gear. The older the car is and the more it is used, the greater the “play”.

4. Look at the floor mats

Open the floor mat (2 layers) to the metal layer. Use a hard wooden object to knock on this and listen. If the car is old and has been through many battles, the sound will be thin and cracked, if the car is used less, the sound will be solid and warm.

When opening, always observe the original paint. Too old or too new is questionable. Too old shows that the car has been driven a lot, if it is still new, it is possible that the car has just been "touched up" for sale.

5. Try starting

This is a necessary operation: leave the car running at low speed, do not rev the engine, put it in gear and release the clutch very slowly and methodically. If the car moves forward smoothly, without shaking, without stalling, without stalling, but gradually increases speed and runs smoothly, the car is still good.

Still doing the above operation, after observing that the tires are inflated, well-balanced, running on a flat, straight road, you take both hands off the steering wheel and see that the car runs straight and stable at a speed of over 30 km/h, then you can rest assured.

6. Test engine temperature

Start the car, run it for a few seconds then leave it there, go check other locations for about 8-10 minutes while the car is idling, come back and look at the temperature gauge. If the level is still below average, the car is perfect and has not been used much.

After this operation, open the hood, use your hands and face to feel the temperature of the machine area.

With the standard time of 8-10 minutes without starting the engine, if the car is good, the engine area is still cool. Putting your hand on the engine roof will only be slightly warm. If the car is too old, no matter how beautifully refurbished, just running the engine for 5 minutes will be very hot and uncomfortable.

7. Check if the car has been repainted

To see if the car has been repainted, look for joints such as the edge of the glass door and the body of the car. If the car has been repainted, it will have very small cracks and peeling, sometimes even smudged. However, if it has just been painted, you need a "professional" to check the gloss of the paint. Usually, repainted paint will be shinier than the original paint, while poor quality paint will fade after a while.

8. Determine if the vehicle is flooded

To determine if the car is flooded, try bending the wire. If it is flooded, it will break easily. The plug holes will turn yellow. The screws under the seat, brake pedal and accelerator will rust. Dirt will accumulate in the slots. Pull the seatbelt all the way to see if it is discolored.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)