V.U.IT-CHECKLIST

TOOLS TO BRING FOR INSPECTION:

Essentials: A cynical, mechanically-minded friend!

The V.U.it-CHECKLIST is extremely comprehensive. If you are not familiar with engines take someone who is competent enough to complete the checks with you.

Flashlight, magnet (checking for filler), clean rags, clipboard, pen and hi-liter to use with a copy of this V.U.it-CHECK-LIST, some cash (deposit), drivers license and copy of your insurance showing you are covered driving the sellers car (you want to be in the driver’s seat on the test drive!!!)

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR INSPECTION. (Don’t start the engine yet)

OWNERSHIP VERIFICATION: (Do all of the following agree and seem right?)

Name on title:  
Name on registration:  
Model/Year on title:  
VIN on title/registration:  
VIN on dash/engine bay:  
VIN on door (on some models):  
Mileage on advert:  
Mileage on title:  
Mileage on odometer:  
Asking price:  
Book price:  

IS THE CAR READY TO SELL:
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Title ready for transfer? Any liens/finance?
___ _____ Do body numbers match those on title?
___ _____ Title in sellers name?
___ _____ Do body numbers match registration?
___ _____ Current Emissions certificate/MOT, < 30 days old (US)?
___ _____ Current registration? Current Plates?
___ _____ Current Safety certificate if req’d, <30days?

EXTERIOR WALK-AROUND:
OK Not-OK
___ _____ Check door edges and underside for rust/tears
___ _____ Check doors/hinges for stress/tears
___ _____ Doors/hoods open/close freely? Rubs?
___ _____ Is anything obviously broken?
___ _____ Are grill/lights cracked, dented or broken?
___ _____ Car sits level? (view from all sides)
___ _____ Are bumpers dinged? Rusty? Loose? Level?
___ _____ Paint OK? Panels same shade? Cracks?
___ _____ Any of the trim or hubcaps rusty or missing?
___ _____ New paint? Why? Any body ripples?
___ _____ Find bottom of boot (trunk)/side wells. Rust? Holes?
___ _____ Rust/repair on body? Fenders? Sills?
___ _____ Raise/lower the top. Condition? Does it leak?
___ _____ Any Bondo? Fiberglas? (magnet) Why?
___ _____ Rubber parts and seals condition? Cracked?
___ _____ Any fender dings or misalignment?Why?
___ _____ Gas tank & fill hose OK? Rusty? Patched?
___ _____ Door/hood dings? Misalignment? Why?
___ _____ Jack OK? Spare tire good? Jack points good?
___ _____ Tires: Tread? Bulges? Cracks? All the same model/brand?
___ _____ Rims: Bent? Rusted? Cracks? All the same?

UNDERSIDE:
OK Not-OK

___ _____ Anything dented? Bent? Welded? Why?
___ _____ Any underbody/floor pan/trunk rust?
___ _____ Any rocker panel or wheel well rust?
___ _____ Are main frame members rusted? Dogs?
___ _____ Disks grooved? Brake pads? Any leaks?
___ _____ Turn, push/pull driveshaft by hand
___ _____ Any movement or slop? U-joints OK?
___ _____ Constant velocity joints and boots OK?
___ _____ Camber? Caster? Tire wear even?
___ _____ Suspension loose? Pull on side/top of wheels
___ _____ All shocks & struts damp OK? Any leaks?
___ _____ Exhaust pipe/cats/muffler solid & original?
___ _____ Tail pipe: Grey=OK, sooty/oily/greasy=Not-OK
___ _____ Anything hanging down, taped or wired up?
___ _____ Any non-stock suspension mods?

UNDER BONNET (HOOD):
OK Not-OK

___ _____ Anything broken? Patched? Leaking?
___ _____ Is engine clean? Any rust? Stock?
___ _____ Has it overheated? Paint blistered?
___ _____ Check fluid levels. Look for leaks
___ _____ Check fluid condition with flashlight
___ _____ Any play in main crankshaft pulley?
___ _____ Any play in any of the other pulleys?
___ _____ V-Belts cracked? frayed? missing?
___ _____ Radiator corroded? Hoses cracked?
___ _____ Check coolant; run finger inside radiator neck to check for oil.
___ _____ Heater hoses stiff? Cracked? Patched?
___ _____ Vacuum hoses stiff? Patched? Capped? Missing?
___ _____ Is emissions equip original & working?
___ _____ Are catalytic converters original & working?
___ _____ Distributor, cap, rotor, and points OK?
___ _____ Wiring harness appearance? Any new electrical tape?
___ _____ Open fuse box. Any missing? Any wiring hacks?
___ _____ Any non-stock engine modifications?
___ _____ Remove grounding cable, check for shorts
___ _____ System polarity: + or – ground?
___ _____ System voltage: ___________ volts
___ _____ Battery age/voltage ______/_____ volts

INTERIOR/ELECTRICAL:
OK Not-OK

___ _____ Is anything broken? Torn? Patched?
___ _____ Carpets OK? Underlayment condition?
___ _____ Rust, rot or water under the carpets?
___ _____ Any wiring hacks under the dash?
___ _____ Seats dirty or torn? Look under cover
___ _____ Do both seats adjust? Seat heaters?
___ _____ Dash cracked? Headliner torn/dirty?
___ _____ Windshield cracked? Chips? Scratched?
___ _____ Windows all open & close? Any cracks?
___ _____ Mirrors all present and adjustable?
___ _____ Steering play? Does shaft move at all? Why?
___ _____ Brake pedal feels right? Smooth? Firm?
___ _____ Clutch pedal feels right? Smooth?
___ _____ All gauges/controls work? Stereo? Tape?
___ _____ Headlights high/low work? Lenses OK?
___ _____ Tail and side lights all work? Lenses OK?
___ _____ Brake lights all work? Any broken lenses?
___ _____ Turn signals all work? Any broken lenses?
___ _____ Windshield wipers & washer work?
___ _____ Heater, defroster, AC, and fans work?
___ _____ Safety equipment (seat belts, horn work?)

ENGINE START-UP, RUNNING, AND TEST DRIVE.

IGNITION ON, BUT DON’T START ENGINE:
OK Not-OK

___ _____ Temp light should come on! Connected?
___ _____ Oil warning light should come on! Connected?
___ _____ Charge warning light should come on!

START THE ENGINE YOURSELF:
OK Not-OK

___ _____ Temp warning light goes out?
___ _____ Oil warning light goes out?
___ _____ Charge warning light goes out?
___ _____ Do all idiot lights go on/out right?
___ _____ Are all the instruments working?
___ _____ Does it start easily when cold?
___ _____ Does it run smoothly when cold?
___ _____ Depress clutch several times. Noises?
___ _____ Oil Pressure: idle_______ 4000 RPM_______
___ _____ Volts/Amps: idle_______ 4000 RPM_______
___ _____ Any odd engine noises when cold?
___ _____ Exhaust condition/noises? Pressure even?
___ _____ Cap pipe with clipboard. Any exhaust leaks?
___ _____ Any deposits on clipboard? Does it smoke?
___ _____ Turn car off. Does it restart? Restart again.
___ _____ Now pull forward. Check for leaks on ground.
___ _____ Do you have any gas?
___ _____Does gauge really work?

A general guide to reading exhaust smoke:

Black smoke = unburned fuel: Valves bad or out of adjustment? Carb out of adjustment?
Blue smoke = burning oil: Accelerating: Piston rings bad? Decelerating: Valve seats/guides bad?
White smoke = burning coolant! Bad head gasket? Warped or cracked Head or Block?

TEST DRIVE (Allow 30-40 minutes)
OK Not-OK

___ _____ Test the foot and hand brakes first!
___ _____ Relax, drive a bit to get used to it.
___ _____ How does car ride? Soft or hard?
___ _____ Revs smoothly to red line? flatspots?
___ _____ Any unusual engine noises/vibrations?
___ _____ Any drive train noises or vibrations?
___ _____ Any noticeable slop in drive train?
___ _____ Reverse works? Rev.lights go on/off?
___ _____ Trans shifts smoothly to all gears?
___ _____ Overdrive engages/disengages properly
___ _____ Turbo engages/disengages properly?
___ _____ Any clunks, whines, rumbles, rattles?
___ _____ Clutch smooth? Slippage on hill test?
___ _____ Hand brake works? Test against engine
___ _____ Is the low engine speed operation OK?
___ _____ Brakes strongly to stop from 50mph?
___ _____ Do brakes still work? Stops straight?
___ _____ Make 2 tight 360′ turns each way. Any noises?
___ _____ Accelerates smoothly from dead stop?
___ _____ Are there any hesitations/flat spots?
___ _____ Does the power seem right? Hill test.
___ _____ Is it running too hot or cold? Why?
___ _____ Drive beside a long wall. Any unusual sounds?
___ _____ Is it too noisy in general at highway speeds?
___ _____ Any noises or vibrations when accelerating?
___ _____ Any noises or vibrations when coasting?
___ _____ Any noises or vibrations when decelerating?
___ _____ Any noises or vibrations when braking?
___ _____ Steering action loose or tight? Parallel park.
___ _____ Handles OK on bumps, curves and sharp corners?
___ _____ Slams OK? Bad understeer, oversteer, lean?
___ _____ Tracks straight with hands off steering wheel?
___ _____ Brakes straight with hands off steering wheel?
___ _____ Brakes still work? Pulls? Pulse? Drag? Noises?
___ _____ Having fun yet? Comfortable? Does it fit?
___ _____ Do the heater, defroster and AC work right?
___ _____ Are all the instruments & lights still working?
___ _____ Now let it idle a while. Is temp stable/OK?
___ _____ Any exhaust, gas or coolant odors? Pull forward.
___ _____ Turn it off. Go back to check ground for leaks.

Have friend get out and watch the car driving:
OK Not-OK

___ _____ Tracks straight? (Frame bent?)
___ _____ Smokes?
___ _____ Wheels wobble? Any noises?
___ _____ Leans? General impression?

POST DRIVE:
OK Not-OK

___ _____ Open hood. See or hear anything unusual?
___ _____ Does engine seem too hot?
___ _____ Check for fluid leaks after shutdown. (Oil, Coolant,Hydraulics, Trans, Fuel, Differential)
___ _____ Check oil cap and dipstick for signs of water. (Oil off-color,
brown/grey/white or bubbly)
___ _____ Compression test: (disconnect coil, remove ALL plugs)

1. Dry: 1____ 2____ 3____ 4____ 5____ 6____ 7____ 8___
2. Oiled: 1____ 2____ 3____ 4____ 5____ 6____ 7____ 8___

___ _____ Plug condition? (OK? Burnt? Oily? Sooty?)
1____ 2____ 3____ 4____ 5____ 6____ 7____ 8___

___ _____ Does it restart when warm? Why not?

COMMENTS: