As promised on Wednesday, we are going to give you some more tips on how to spot a lemon before you spend your hard-earned money on a car. But like we also said on Wednesday, investing in new or pre-certified cars is the ideal way to avoid getting a lemon. Just keep that in mind as you read these tips.
4. Get inside the vehicle. The wear and tear on the inside should give you an indication about how well the car was taken care of before it hit the used car dealer’s lot. Worn pedals, cigarette burns in the seat and a sagging headliner are all clues that the previous owner didn’t really care for the car.
5. Look under the hood. If you’re like me, you have no idea what to look for when you’re looking under the hood. But I’ve learned. Look for rust, corrosion and other signs of a car that has seen better days. Also, check the oil, coolant and transmission fluid to see if it looks healthy while you’re at it.
6. Check the steering. With the engine on, turn the steering wheel to see if it is tight. If there is too much slack or “play” when turning the wheel, the steering system could be worn or on the verge of needing repairs. When driving straight, the car should not veer either way, too.
7. Notice the smoke from the tailpipe. After the car has warmed up, make sure there is no discolored smoke coming out of the tailpipe. Black smoke usually means something minor like a dirty air filter or oxygen sensor. Blue smoke means the car is burning oil, which could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to fix. White smoke also means engine problems that should deter you from buying the car.
You can forget about checking all of this when you invest in a car at your local Toyota certified dealer. Their pre-certified cars are ready to go without any problems…and they come with a warranty that will fix almost anything that goes wrong.
