3 Things to Look For Under the Hood of a Used Car

Beyond mileage and accident history, it can be tricky to understand if a used car is a solid investment or not. Even if you aren’t a professional mechanic, there are still a few things you can inspect in a vehicle to ensure that it is running as it should. Here are three things you should check out under the hood of your potential vehicle.

Check the Oil

Focus on the fluids of the vehicle because that can indicate whether or not the car was properly cared for. Since you probably already know how to check an oil level, make sure it is at the proper level and that the color of the oil looks like honey. If it meets your standards, you can trust that the car has recently been serviced.

Look at the Battery Indicator

Some batteries have small, colored indicators on them which lets you know of the battery’s condition. A green indicator is usually a good sign, but you might want to steer away from yellow or black. These colors can mean that either part of or the whole battery is not in the best shape.

Listen for Strange Noises

If possible, have someone start the engine while you have the hood up. Without leaning too far in, listen for any unusual noises that might be coming from under the hood. Clicks, pops, and clunks could indicate that something is not right.

If you are still unsure about the condition of a used car, be sure to bring your concerns up with your used auto expert.

Image via Flickr by Mike Babcock