* Tires- Check for weathering (cracks or sidewall wear) and tread depth. Overly worn out tires will cost you money out of pocket right away and are a huge safety risk.
* Belts- Open up the hood & look for obvious cracks and wear on any belts including the engine belt, serpentine belt, v belt.
* Fluid levels & Condition- Check the engine oil after the car has had a moment to sit, make sure there is enough oil & it has good viscosity, no grit, carbon or dirt. Engine oil is best if it is on the lighter colored side. Transmission coolant should not smell or look “burned”. Radiator fluid should be properly filled & mixed.
* Cosmetic & Body condition- Check the condition of the body & the paint. Make sure all the lights, blinkers & windows work properly. Check the trunk & gas door releases. Make sure you know where these items are.
* Maintenance Records- Even a backyard mechanic can keep receipts from the auto parts store for oil & battery. Ask to see them. As a plus, some warranties are transferable with a vehicle.
* Air Conditioning System- Are there visible leaks? Is there noise when you run the air conditioner? Is it blowing cold?
* Brakes & Suspension- Visibly look at the rotors. Does the car pull to the left or to the right? Pulling is a bad sign. Does the car stop easily? It should. The brake pedal should be firm not spongy.

With so many systems on a car or truck obviously a professional inspection is a great idea. But if you are on your own looking for a used car print the above information and I hope it helps you to make a better used car decision, and helps to save you money in the long run.

Andrew Dale King has been taking things apart and putting them back together long enough to know that if you fix it right the first time it saves a lot of money, effort, and time. A second generation union heavy equipment mechanic he currently operates a mobile mechanic service based in the Henderson & Las Vegas area when he is not working on his wife’s Mustang or fixing the things his children have broken, or his dog chews. His website is http://www.kingautohenderson.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_D_King

Related posts

• How Vehicle Software Updates Can Improve Performance & Safety
• How to Correctly Build a Rat Rod – A Brief Overview
• Do It Yourself Auto Repairs – Why Many Fail To Achieve Success

Any used car that that breaks down a lot can become more of a liability to you and your financial future. With an old junker you can spend more on repairs every month than you would on a car payment for a brand new vehicle. If you are reading this you are probably already interested in an extended auto warranty of some kind so let’s look at some things you should look for in your search.

There are some companies that offer 0% financing. Keep in mind that even 5% financing may seem small, but with costly repairs this can add up fast, so if you can get a 0% warranty consider yourself lucky. One thing I always look for is that road side assistance and towing is included. Your used car or truck will probably not break down right at a mechanic’s shop or your own driveway. Chances are you will be driving somewhere and tow trucks can cost a pretty penny.

Sometimes you can get lock-out assistance as well, and you never know when that will come in handy. Another thing to look for is free car rental with any repairs. Sometimes your automobile will have to be in the shop for a few days and 3 days worth of car rental can cost a lot of money. A good extended warranty company will pay for all of this as well.

Also make sure that the company has a good claims record. All the best coverage in the world will mean nothing if they will not follow through on it and you end up having to pay for all the repairs yourself. Want to get the best deal and coverage? Check out where I got the best extended car warranty and saved about 60%. You can also find great deals and advice on specific brands of cars like the Infiniti extended warranty.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Richards

Related posts

• How to Buy Car Parts Online and Save Money
• Start It Jump Starter With Portable Power
• Mitsubishi Eclipse Gauges

Owing a used car requires a significant investment, both in time and in general maintenance costs. With the headache involved in keeping your used car running, it’s essential not to overlook the importance of getting your oil changed regularly. While this may seem like a relatively minor maintenance procedure, it is actually a big part of preventing serious damage to a used car.

Changing the oil in your used car on a regular basis is very important for maintaining your used car’s engine. Oil helps the engine to run by keeping all of the moving parts properly lubricated. After running for several thousand miles, the oil tends to become contaminated by carbon, debris and other substances that can hinder the effectiveness of the oil. If the oil isn’t able to properly provide lubrication for the engine, serious damage to the engine can occur.

Since replacing the engine in any car, even a used car, can be extremely expensive, it’s easy to see that the relatively low cost of an oil change is a small price to pay for preventing expensive engine repairs. Most oil change services at a professional garage are under $50, even for the premium services. Most of the cost depends on the type and grade of oil that your used car requires, so make sure to choose the best option depending on your used car’s performance.

Your used car’s engine components are the most important part to keep your car running, and can also be the most expensive to fix. The preventive maintenance of an oil change can help avoid high engine repair costs, and will also allow your car to achieve maximum horsepower. Be sure to keep track of when your used car needs an oil change, since this is essential for your used car to properly function.

Related posts

• Things to Inspect When You Purchase a Used Vehicle
• Windshield and a Replacement When it Shatters
• Most Frequent Auto Repairs

With the average price of garage labour in the UK soaring to £75 per hour and fuel prices continuing to sky rocket now is the time to cut your other motoring costs. In particular using second hand or ‘used’ car parts rather than going to your main dealer can save you hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

The use of used parts is becoming more widely accepted, there are indeed some insurance repair specialists who regularly use ‘as new’ second hand parts to get accident damaged vehicles back on the road. There is a general misconception in the UK that second hand means poor quality; this is not always the case. More and more vehicles are being written off by insurance companies and entering dismantlers’ yards, or scrap yards as they’re more commonly known, with what some would class as minor accident damage with the majority of parts and components being reusable.

Combine the current economic situation (with people saving money wherever possible) with around 1000 cars being written off every day, with the majority of these being no more than 5 years old, the quality used parts industry is booming.

So where do I get quality used parts from?

All the major motoring publications, Autotrader, Exchange & Mart etc, carry pages and pages of used parts suppliers. If you don’t fancy the idea of visiting a dismantlers yard yourself (although you will find that the days of barbed wire fences, guard dogs and cars stored up to the wheel arches in mud are well and truly gone) the majority of companies will be able to deliver the goods directly to you.

The internet is an invaluable tool to not only locate parts suppliers, but to do your homework and research the companies before you purchase anything. Check to see if the dismantler is a member of any Trade Organisations, make sure they have the relevant environmental certification etc. Try online auction sites but beware of private individuals pretending to be bona fide used car part suppliers. Most importantly, as with all mail order purchases, pay by credit card if possible, the assistance you can get from your card issuer in reclaiming money if things do go wrong is essential. It is also worth noting that many debit cards now carry a similar level of backup when purchasing goods but it is recommended that you check with your card issuer before paying for the goods.

Probably the quickest and most cost effective way of searching for your parts however is to use a Parts Location Service. These companies act in a similar way to price comparison websites where they source, from the suppliers on their systems, the best possible quotes for you. When you receive these quotes you then decide who to buy from, contact them directly and pay them. Most location services will offer you support and backup in he unlikely event of a problem occurring but as before make sure you research the company beforehand and read all its terms and conditions.

Once you’ve found the parts you need at an affordable price its back to the garage for that £75 per hour labour charge.

Related posts

• Start It Jump Starter With Portable Power
• Porsche 911 Parts – Specifications
• Tips For Finding an Honest Car Mechanic