2004 Toyota Corolla CE

Hitch

Above all, we must ensure that the car was not injured. Unscrupulous sellers may try to conceal this information. Check if the paint itself is uniform (same color) on the car. Look under the hood or open the doors to see if the car would not have been entitled to a “lifting”.

Rust

The rust may hide under the most beautiful paintings. Keep an eye on the blistering of the paint. This indicates that there is rust. Do not hesitate to inspect the underside of the car to check the condition of the floor. There is also the old trick of the magnet if the magnet does not adhere to the body is that you deal with a cheap repair that might hide more serious problems.

Stop

Driving a car is not everything. But we must be able to stop. Try the car in a busy little street and test the brakes. Try to make sudden stops and see how the brakes react. Does the pedal is sinking into the floor or on the contrary, it remains stuck to its original position? In both cases the other flee!

No need to be an electrician

Make checks in basic electricity. Are all the lights turn on? Does the radio turn on when you turn on the headlights? Yes? Obviously, there is an electrical problem.

Ensure that your investment does not start up in smoke!

If smoke comes out the exhaust, this is normal. But if a cloud of blue or white smoke appears when you accelerate suddenly, it is more than suspect, and this suggests serious problems with the engine.

Car or boat?

A good run (at least 10 kilometers) on a small road could help in the analysis of the road. On a right, the vehicle in a straight line, it’s good. If it is brought to pitch like a boat, this is not good. If the car moves more than you want in a curve, there may be problems with the suspension.

Get external expertise

In auto mechanics, unless you have some knowledge in the field, you cannot fix the problems yourself. After making the basic checks and if the vehicle looks interesting, the ideal is to have the car inspected by a professional (your usual garage may well take on this task).