Pre-owned car inspections – basic information and inspection of the engine compartment
In countries where car usage is well developed, the market will usually provide professional inspection services.A trusted professional inspection agency is used to carry out in-depth evaluation of a motor vehicle’s condition, checking such items as whether the odometer has been tampered with.This is the best example of information transparency in the used-car market.After all, only by being open and transparent about all relevant information can a fair and equitable deal be made.
Below is a description of some commonly encountered problems with used cars:
Just as every citizen should have a personal ID, upon leaving the factory a car will be branded by its manufacturer with two key items of identification – the Chassis Number (VIN, Vehicle Identification Number) and the Engine Number.For used-car transactions, to check if the chassis has been rebuilt or the power-train replaced, verify the two identification numbers against the original factory certificate.Then check that the registration provided by the official vehicle registry matches the car’s license plate.Only then should a car be considered properly verified.
The VIN is the alphanumeric sequence located in the interior to the lower left of the windscreen.American and European makes all use the 10th character from the left to represent the year of manufacture: A-0, B-1, C-2, D-3, E-4, F-5, G-6, H-7, J-8, K-9, L-9, M-91, N-92, P-93, R-94, S-95, T-96, V-97, W-98, X-99, and Y-2000.Starting from 2001, 1 is used to represent 2001 and 9 used for 2009.For example, “F” means the car was built in 1985, “K” in 1989, and “W” in 1998.As foreign cars move to the next year’s models in September, while Taiwan uses January to separate car makes, there is frequently a three-month discrepancy in terms of car make when buying imported cars.This often affects the resale value of used cars.
For used cars, apart from the year of the make the most frequently used assessment standard is mileage, and this is critical to a used car’s price.The most basic approach for checking this is to look at the cumulative mileage shown on the dashboard.Among used cars of the same make a car with higher mileage will usually be priced lower.In Taiwan’s driving environment, the average accumulation is around 20,000KM a year.Though a lower mileage reading would seem to suggest a car is in better condition, cars that are often caught in peak-hour traffic may actually end up with more engine wear and carbon fouling.This means the car’s condition may sometimes be worse than vehicles with greater mileage normally driven in lighter traffic environments.Therefore, apart from getting to know the previous owner’s driving habits, we advise one find out about the car’s normal driving environment as well.
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Additionally how trustworthy the reading for a car’s mileage is has always been a sensitive issue in the used-car market.In professional marketplaces with standard contracts and contract-fulfillment guarantees, the mileage is usually accurate.A reliable overall assessment, however, can only be achieved by looking at the car’s overall condition and the former owner’s usage.If you wish to sell a car, provide the complete service record before sale.Adding relevant information such as your own driving habits and usage will help the potential buyer make an objective assessment.
Inspecting the engine compartment is as important as having an annual health check-up.This is because most of the “internal organs” that govern the correct running of the car are concentrated in the engine compartment, including the power-train, the computer that controls the electrical system, the active safety devices, and the refill points for the various oil/water systems that keep basic parts running smoothly.When the manufacturer delivers a car it will always provide a user manual that clearly describes all of this equipment.
With advances in computer technology and digital electric system, the complexity of components and wiring in the engine compartment have increased as well.The basic fluid check items are usually highlighted with eye-catching colors by manufacturers so the car owner can check things for themselves at any time.Whether the motor oil was regularly replaced, whether the lubricants and cooling water were kept at adequate levels – ignoring these seemingly trivial matters may lead to engine breakdowns or shorten an engine’s lifespan.Even professional car workshops usually begin checking a car’s condition from these locations because many major or minor problems can be detected here.When buying a used car it is therefore important to look under the hood.
The engine is what makes a car go and its condition is a decisive factor in used-car transactions.
Simple checks include making sure that the engine is easy to start, runs smoothly when idling, and smoothly revs up and down; another is checking for blue or black smoke from the exhaust pipe when accelerating.Any problems with the above may indicate engine issues that you need to be wary of.
The operation of an engine is rather like that of our heart, with its arteries, veins, ventricles, and atria.Modern engines, additionally, come with an engine-management system.The more advanced the engine is, the more advanced the computer-management system must be so it can manage the engine’s operation.A problem with the engine can be immediately detected and reported so the owner and professional technicians can determine what the solution is.
There are of course different engine layouts and types, reflecting differences in basic design philosophy.As a car owner, however, whether you are a buyer or seller you should try to learn more about the heart of a car.When there is a problem with the heart, it may affect more than just the car’s operation.If it involves a transaction, the price and your consumer rights are affected as well.
If you have any questions about inspections for used-car transactions, please do not hesitate to contact our Vehicle Inspection Services department.
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