In buying a car, it is a very useful skill to know the language of cars. Cars can talk, but of course, in car speak. This is not to say that there is some mystic skill out there involving car whispering, but that cars can tell a story. It is just practical observation of details, and knowing what the detail means.
The Former Car Wreck
One of the easiest things to spot is if the car has been in an accident. Is through VIN tags. VIN tags are used to identify the body panels of a car, although not all cars may have the VIN tag. Two are located under the hood but above from wheels, four inside the door panels and one near the rear license plate.
The VIN tags should all have the same identification number, and if one is different, the car has been in a wreck. Any missing VIN tag also indicates an accident in the car s past.
Another way to tell if the car has been involved in an accident is by measuring the distance of the two front wheels and the two rear wheels from the body of the car. Only an impact as strong as an accident can make the left side distance measure differently from the right side measurements.
The Car in a Flood
Because of recent changes in the weather, cars involved in floods are becoming more and more common for resale. And although a car involved in a flood can still perform up to par if repaired properly, the risk is that it was not repaired properly, and can be a deal breaker.
The best way to tell if a car has been flooded is to check the area beside the gas and brake pedals. Shiny metal in that area means that the car has not been flooded telltale signs of rust will say that the car has been submerged.
You can also tell if the car has been flooded through signs of mould in the floor carpets of the car. Olds will give off a distinct smell, and sellers usually perfume a car to cover the scent.
The Scan Tool
All cars made beginning around 1996 have been made with a number of sensors and a computer component inside it. This makes it easier for any mechanic to diagnose any car problems you might have, simply by connecting the scan tool to the car s computer.
Trouble codes will flash on the scan tool seconds after connection, and if any trouble codes appear in the first place, you probably do not want to buy the car.
There are a number of signs the car will show that will tell you at least a piece of its history. Oil stains, paint jobs and the like, all these details are the effect of something, and with enough details, you can probably figure out the real story behind the car, even without asking a question from the seller.
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