I am looking at a 2009 Dodge RAM 1500 Laramie Crew Cab RWD it has 130000 miles on it. I want it inspected are there any particular issues to look for during the test drive.
Hello, Emmett Quarles! Pay attention to whining noises on acceleration and deceleration (engine braking) - it could be caused by differential wear. Apart from that everything as usual. You need to make sure that it's smooth, quiet, and goes straight.
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Hello,
I am considering purchasing a 2016 Cadillac Escalade 4wd with 32k miles. When viewing the AutoCheck report at the dealership it did not mention an accident. However I personally pulled the Carfax and it shows an accident around 7.3k miles with rear damage and also that the car was towed. Is towing a car after an accident always a serious concern for frame damage or is it possible the car frame is still fine?
Hello, Jay! Towing after an accident doesn't necessarily mean that the frame was damaged. Usually, wheels just got locked by damaged bumper and car can't move anymore. But it's definitely the sign that damage was more serious than just dents and scratches.
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What do you think about a 2014 Hyundai Veloster? Reliability and mechanically speaking?
Hello, Wynsome Jones! These cars are often equipped with a dual-clutch automated manual transmission which isn't very reliable compared to normal hydraulic automatic transmission (especially in city stop and go traffic). But usually, they hold up pretty well up to 100k miles, so low mileage Veloster could be good a car for a few years.
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I am considering purchasing a 2007 Volvo XC 90, 6 cyl, with 145k miles on it. Outwardly it's a beautiful car. I'm going to view and drive it tomorrow, 5/14 but am wanting an inspection before committing. To be sure I'm not wasting my time initially, what drawbacks to this type of vehicle should I be aware of when I go to see it and take a test drive. Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hello, Iris! The main weak point of these XC90s is transmission. You need to make sure that it's smooth and not slipping. And drive it for at least 20 min - many transmission issues are only noticeable when the transmission is hot. And it makes sense to look under the car to check for any major oil leaks - engine compartment on these cars are very tight and fixing some oil leaks may cost a lot.
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I am considering the purchase of a 2019 Ford Transit 350 from Hennessy Buick in Morrow GA. The vehicle has 26k miles and was owned by a rental company. What specific issues would you investigate if I have you inspect this vehicle. Thanks, Don C. Lake Oswego, OR
Hello, Donald Conklin! This van (as any other vehicle with Ford Duratec V6 3.5 or 3.7l engine) has a serious drawback - a water pump driven by the timing chain. If it's leaking it may ruin the entire engine and it's very hard to replace. So we always check for any signs of coolant in the oil system and analyze noises from the water pump.
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I am considering purchasing a 2002 Pontiac Montana. Outside of the intake manifold gaskets are there any other issues I should be aware of?
Hello, James Douglass! It's an 18-year-old car so you should be aware of everything: rust, previous accidents, engine and transmission wear, electronic and electric issues. Everything could go wrong if a car is old and has high mileage.
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What are the issues with 2006 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer
Hello, Elbert E Edwards! It doesn't have any specific major issues. Expedition is a good SUV and could last really long time if you take care of it.
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When inspecting a vehicle, do you check the timing belt? A used vehicle we’re interested in doesn’t have a record of it being changed.
Hello, Meg McClung! No, we don't do that because it's impossible to check the timing belt just by looking at it. If it's not in the critical condition you can't tell if it has, for example, only 10 thousand or 60 thousand miles. So it's always a good idea to preventively replace a timing belt on a car you've just bought (especially with interference engine where valves could hit pistons) if you are not sure when it was replaced previously.
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I have my eyes on an Inifiniti QX50 2019, held by a GA dealer. It's a buyback car and I live in Illinois. The issue that caused buyback appears to be minor. Would you be able to thoroughly check the car for both any issues as well as dealer's potential deceptive practices (I am hearing some dealers replace original tires)?
Hello, Dmitry! Yes, we can check this car.
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I'm looking to purchase two vehicles. If I have them in the same location what would the estimated pricing for that. One for me and the other for my daughter in college.
Hello, Elbert E Edwards! If cars are at the same location it would be $120 for the first one and $96 for the second one.
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