8 signs that an old car is about to become scrap metal, you should not buy it
(Baonghean.vn) - Used cars sold at extremely low prices may be cars that were once seriously damaged and have been "remade" into bargains... Here are some seemingly minor problems with your car that you should consider to avoid buying a pile of scrap metal.
1. Unusual knocking noise in the engine
 |
Car engines are full of rotating and reciprocating parts that must move within certain dimensions or tolerances. However, unusual knocking sounds indicate that the engine may suddenly "die".
2. Electrical wiring has signs of wear and tear.
 |
New generation cars have a much better electrical system protection design than older models. However, wiring problems cannot escape aging, rats can bite, causing exposed wires, broken circuits. Cars with damaged wiring can catch fire at any time.
3. Hybrid battery is damaged
Some newer cars are gasoline-electric hybrids. Over time, the battery may become weak or unstable. Don’t rely on the car still running on gasoline to ignore this problem. Because gasoline engines are not designed to last the rest of the car’s life.
4. PCM - the "brain" of the car is opened
 |
The PCM (Power Control Module) is the brain of the car. It controls all the activities of the car including the engine control system (ECU) and the transmission control units (TCU). If this part has ever been opened, be careful.
If a vehicle's PCM suddenly fails, it means that the component has exceeded its design threshold, which can cause widespread damage to other systems such as the battery charger, fuel pump, sensors or components linked to the control modules on the dashboard.
5. Car frame is warped due to accident
If your car has been in an accident that causes the chassis to bend, straightening cannot restore the balance as before. When moving at high speed, the car's balance system will not be guaranteed, or even the bent part may become more bent and may cause a dangerous accident on the road.
6. Engine needs overhaul
 |
A telltale sign of this condition may be a noisier engine than usual, but you don't always have ideal conditions to feel and compare.
Even if everything seems fine and the car hasn't been in an accident or flooded, you can still fall victim to the previous owner's negligence.
One important visual sign is to open the engine oil filler cap and look inside the cap for signs of contamination. If the cap is covered with coffee grounds/soot or a black sludge, this is a sign that the engine has burned oil and may need an engine overhaul.
7. The car emits thick smoke when accelerating at high speed in idle mode.
 |
When a car exhaust pipe emits unusual amounts of smoke, the car is definitely in trouble. Usually, cars that have undergone major engine repairs several times before experiencing heavy smoke are seen, indicating that the car has a troubled past and is best avoided.
8. Car was water hammered
 |
Flooded cars may be in good condition, but will have rust in many places and electrical systems are often faulty.
The experienced eye can observe through the bolts holding the engine block; check the details roughly such as checking the floor for rust, the screws holding the seat support legs have been removed (to dry the interior).
In addition to things that can be checked with the naked eye such as interior quality or body quality, many other details must be checked during the test run or must be lifted up at the service workshop. At that time, unusual signs or noises will give you the information you need to know.
.jpg "Công an Nghệ An bắt đối tượng lừa đảo 'mua bán xe ô tô cũ giá rẻ'")
