How to detect old cars that have been repainted
One of the risks of buying a used car is that it has been repainted to hide collision damage, so how do you detect this?
After a period of use, the paint on the car may wear out or be damaged, forcing the owner to repaint the car. However, many used car shops may still guarantee that the used car is still "original" to attract customers.
To avoid being "fooled" by the seller, buyers can apply some of the following ways to detect repainted used cars:
Look closely at the paint surface.
The simplest way to evaluate a car’s paint is to check the surface, color, and gloss of the paint. If you see uneven color or gloss, patchy paint, blistering paint, etc., it means the car has been repainted.
According to the experience of experts, you can evaluate the repaint by looking at the surface at a 45-degree angle. Even though it is painted with advanced technology, if you observe carefully, the new paint layer still has tiny paint dust and paint stains on the surface. These stains will not be visible on the original paint of the car.
Use a flashlight to check the paint.
To check if the paint on an old car is original or not, you can use a flashlight to carefully examine the paint. Shine the light from different angles onto the car's surface to observe the reflection of light, thereby recognizing the difference in color and gloss of the paint.
Pay attention to the transitions between separate parts of the car. These areas are often repainted after repair.
Check the position of the edges and folds
On a stock car, the paint from the factory is usually even in all areas. If it has been hit or repainted, the new paint will be uneven in the edges and creases.
Therefore, buyers need to carefully check these locations, observing the consecutive locations. If there are paint stains or different colors, it proves that the car has been repainted.
Check the hood
As a part that protects the engine system, the hood will be affected. Therefore, the buyer needs to check the elasticity, weight, angles, locking pins... of the hood to see if it is distorted or welded.
If the hood cannot be opened or closed, the surrounding parts do not match, there are traces of paint... then it is likely that the car has been repainted.
Check the engine compartment
The engine compartment contains the engine and many other important parts of the car. If the car is repainted, the engine compartment will also change. When buying, you need to check whether the details in the engine compartment have been opened or replaced. You should observe the paint marks and the manufacturer's seal to see if they are fake or not. In addition, you should check if the corners inside the engine compartment are dented.
Leave the car in the sun
Distinctive flaws on a car are often more obvious in the sun. A car that has never been repainted will have an even paint finish over the entire surface. If you notice a change in shade, it may be that the car has been in an accident and has been repainted.
