Before you purchase a vehicle, you or a trusted mechanic should look under the hood and inspect what’s there. What should be inspected?
For starters, take the engine oil filler cap off and then look at its underside. If you notice white or brown “gel-like” deposits, that’s a bad sign. It could indicate water or coolant contamination of the engine oil. There could be a leaking head gasket. You should also check the engine coolant reservoir for any similar deposits you’d consider “gunk.” If the engine oil filler cap is pressurized, only open it if the engine is completely cool.
Next, while the engine is “cool” (hasn’t been running), start it while the hood is open. Then listen for any odd noises. If you hear a “clack-clack” you could have a bad valve system. If you hear a squeak or squeal, there could be a bad belt or pulley that needs attention.
Thirdly, check for any signs of pest infestation. Do you notice any feces, urine, nut shells, etc.? There could be rodents, birds or other animals making a nest in the engine somewhere. Obviously, they need to go!
Finally, get inside the car and while the engine is running, turn the car off and flip the key to the on position without starting– this should illuminate all the dash warning lights. Start the engine again and see that all the warning lights go out as you’d hope. Run the different controls to see if they all work as intended.
Looking to buy a vehicle and not sure where to start? In Lehighton, PA, come to 443 Auto Sales, located at 2848 Blakeslee Boulevard. 443 Auto Sales has plenty of hoods to look under– a nice variety of vehicles to choose from! Call 570-386-0443 with any questions you might have.
