Common Problems With Used Cars

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Many people are searching for great deals on used cars. Whether you’re looking for low-cost transportation or a project car that you can tinker with, the market has never been better. But before you dive into the pre-owned car market, make sure that you understand some of the more common pitfalls to avoid.

Here are some of the most common problems you should be aware of.

VIN Number Errors

The VIN number is a unique identifier for every single vehicle in the world. Today, cars all use a computerized VIN identification, so the numbers aren’t handwritten anymore. However, the numbering system itself is still pretty old-school.

Vehicle identification numbers are supposed to be 17 digits long, with the first five identifying the country of origin and the last 12 relating to the specific vehicle. However, many car dealers will change a car’s VIN to match that of another vehicle.

This is done to disguise the true mileage on the vehicle, or perhaps to hide some problem with the title. It’s up to you as a buyer to make sure that there aren’t any discrepancies with the VIN number of your desired used cars in rancho cordova.

Checking for this is fairly simple, since all you have to do is look up the VIN online with a site like Carfax.

Flood Damage

Flood damage is pretty obvious at first sight, but it can be easy to miss. A lot of water can get into a vehicle even if it’s not completely submerged, so the signs are less obvious than you think.

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One of the tell-tale signs of flood damage is rust. A car submerged in salt water will absorb a ton of salt into its metal body and paint job, which leads to rusty panels and flaking paint after the vehicle dries out.

Unfortunately, many used car dealers won’t tell you if a car has been damaged by water or salt.

Mechanical Problems

This one is pretty obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning. If you’re looking to buy a used car for cheap, this is something that you should be aware of before making your purchase.

Mechanical problems aren’t necessarily a deal breaker, but they can render your vehicle useless. Misaligned wheel bearings, a bad transmission, or a faulty ignition system are all things that you should keep in mind when purchasing a used car.