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It wasn't long ago that the 50,000-mile mark distinguished between a fine used car and one that had been overly chewed on. Who needs to reset the odometer now? "The quality of vehicles has improved so much that a 150,000-mile Toyota Camry brings serious money," said Sam Fiorani, VP of global vehicle forecasting at Auto Forecast Solutions. His assessment is not hyperbole, either, as vehicles with six figures on the odometer sold for record prices in June 2021, according to Edmunds.
Buying a secondhand car, on the other hand, remains a nightmare, especially in these times of strong demand. Ideally, you'll know what to look for once you've found a dealer or a private seller with the automobile you want at the price you desire. We've put together a vehicle checkup kit to help you determine whether you're looking at a treat or a trap.
Yes, putting on safety glasses and gloves will make you look like an automobile technician, especially if you're wearing an attire that you don't mind getting dirty in. And, yes, this may cause the vendor to raise an eyebrow or two. None of this is important. These goods are essential. The first time fluid sprays over your face or a flake of frame rust falls into your eyelashes, you'll be grateful for those glasses.
Mechanics' gloves will keep your hands pleased when you wish to shake a chassis component or a tire. However, we also propose plain-colored disposable exam gloves or light-colored dishwashing gloves. Any color that isn't black. You need to know what color the fluid is when you dip a gloved finger into fluid reservoirs or scrape the underside of the oil filler cap. When you put on the gloves and lean on the fenders to check suspension motion – before touching anything beneath the hood – you won't leave handprints on the paint.
Napkins or paper towels: My family has converted their glove compartments into fast restaurant napkin dispensers. I was conditioned to do the same thing, so I always have something to clean up spills with. When inspecting a car with dipsticks, you'll need a swab to clean them. These are also useful for removing engine grubbiness from parts so that component numbers or specs can be seen.
You want to inspect your potential new bike outside on a sunny day on flat ground with a headlight or torch. Sometimes that's not possible, and you're creeping through the dirt at the rear of a barn in the dying light (yet another reason you're dressed to get dirty). Even on sunny days, the volume of traffic crowded into and around modern engine bays creates more hiding places than the Batcave. The basic flashlight, useful for inspecting belts for cracks and observing seepage around that oil filter hidden in the bay's bowels. Many vehicles have aero-enhancing panels under the engine, and flashlights allow you to get a good look down from the top of the engine to examine what fluids may be gathering on the upper side of the aero panel. I prefer headlamps that allow me to move about with my hands free.
Because, once again, cryptic cracks in crammed engine bays necessitate the employment of an inspection mirror in conjunction with a flashlight. Do you want to have a good look at the dark spot behind the A/C compressor? Tell everyone to take a step back while you become professional, extend your telescoping mirror, and make the diagnosis.
Voltmeter or multimeter: We like the multimeter, although either equipment will provide information on the health of the vehicle's battery and alternator. If you've never used one before, you can learn how to use one and which measurements to take in minutes.
Unfortunately, these aren't available for private use to assess the status of plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicle batteries. Those must be tested by a professional.
OBDII reader or scanner: A decent reader is a fantastic tool, but a good scanner (even if it's a phone app with a Bluetooth dongle) is much better. Readers are simpler and easier to use, whereas scanners can monitor engine activity and deliver live data while the engine is running. However, because they are invasive instruments, you must obtain permission to put one into the vehicle's ODBII port. It's unlikely that you'll cause actual or lasting harm to a vehicle using a reader or scanner, but it's possible, so don't be surprised if the seller is skeptical or refuses your request. If you are given the all-clear, be sure you know how to use your reader or scanner and comprehend the information it gives. Do not request that the merchant explain what a code is or why you are receiving it.
Look up the specific way to obtain codes for automobiles older than 1996, before the debut of ODBII ports. It usually entails a very short length of metal or wire. In my 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser, I can retrieve codes by connecting two terminals under the hood with a paper clip.
That's all. The whole thing fits in a shoe box and costs less than $100. And, to be honest, we believe you should maintain these tools in your personal vehicles because they, too, might break down and require diagnosis.
#SarcasticGamer #SarcasticReview
SOURCE: Yahoo News
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