Are you looking at Used Cars in Madison by owner? I will give a few things to look for, keep in mind it is a used car and there will inevitably be a few flaws. Most people do not really know how to look at a used car and tell whether it will be a dependable car or not, they just make most of their decision by how it looks.

When you are walking around the car; notice the tail pipe, this will tell you a lot about the engine's condition, if it is an oily black, the engine is using oil. If the tail pipe has a more powdery black around the end of it, the fuel system is running rich. You are looking for one that is clean, maybe a little moisture or chalky white, this is a sign of an engine that is running properly. Most people never look at this they just go by the appearance and wind up with a pretty car sitting in the drive way that they can't drive.



A few smaller things to look at, when considering used cars for sale by owner or a car lot, are the battery cables; are they corroded? This could be a sign of a bad battery. When a battery is ran down and then quickly charged many times it will leak a little acid, causing the cables to corrode. Doing a quick charge before you get there to look at the car is a good way to make it seem like everything is OK, so keep this in mind, as you may have to Buy Here Pay Here Madison TN a battery before long. The battery cables being corroded can also be a sign that the charging system is weak, and may have to have a new alternator. I have had batteries that were in great shape and still corroded the terminals but most times I was replacing the battery and or the alternator within a short period of time.

Here is one that has happened a lot: a car with a lot of miles, but the carpet looks like new. There is a good chance the car was in a flood and someone bought it, cleaned it up, and put new carpet in and is now just looking for a sucker to buy it. If you see this, pay close attention to areas that appear to have rust or dirt that normally are not that way. The dash vents; is it normal dust or does it look like dirt and water have been in it? Under the hood; does it look normal, or are there unusual dirty areas? The metal under the car rusts quickly when it is in water, is it a normal or excessive amount of rust? When a car has been in a flood they can be cleaned up and you may never have a problem with it, but most likely you will start having electrical problems. Things like the window motors stop working, alternator or starter goes out, fuse panel shorts out, and many other things are possible. The biggest and most costly problem when a car has been in a flood is the computer goes out.

Also something to look for is fresh paint. If a car looks like it has been newly painted, or portions have been, there is a good chance that the car has been wrecked. That may or may not be a major issue. If it was minor, it shouldn't be a big deal. If it was a major wreck, it could cause serious issues that could affect driving safety. Was the frame bent? Are the tires worn on the edges? If so it could be a sign of a bent frame or the front end may just be out of alignment. Look at the space between the doors and the fenders, uneven spacing can also be a sign of body damage.

Most people who have used cars for sale by owner are decent people and tell you all that they know about the car if you ask, but it is the few who don't care how bad a broken car will impact your life that you have to watch for. Just remember you are buying a car; not a lawn ornament, the appearance should be your 2nd priority, 1st you want something that will get you to where you want to go. It does not matter how good a car looks if it is not mechanically sound; you have bought nothing more than a picture to put in your driveway.