Used car buying guides: how to check a car and model weak points
Short, practical guides: what to check, what to listen for and what to ask the seller. Each one starts with the answer.
How to check and buy
- How to check a used car before you buy itA step-by-step way to check a used car before you pay: papers and VIN, body, interior, engine from cold, test drive. Works in any country.Read the guide →
- How to tell if a car has been in a floodHow to spot a flood-damaged used car: silt, rust and damp under the carpets, a musty smell, water lines in the lights and electrics that misbehave.Read the guide →
- How to check a car’s paint and accident damageHow to spot a repainted or crashed used car: panel gaps, colour and texture, overspray, hinge bolts and a paint thickness gauge, with the numbers to expect.Read the guide →
- How to read a tyre DOT code and find out how old the tyres areFind the four-digit DOT date on the tyre sidewall: the week and the year of manufacture. How old is too old, where to look, and what cracks and wear tell you.Read the guide →
- Cold start: what to listen for and look atWhy a used car should be started cold, and how to read the sound, the smoke, the warning lights and the idle in the first minutes.Read the guide →
- Used car test drive checklistWhat to check on a test drive of a used car: steering, brakes, acceleration, gearbox, suspension, noises and the air conditioning, in about 20–30 minutes.Read the guide →
- Buying a used car in the UAE: Mulkiya, RTA, GCC spec or importHow to buy a used car in the UAE: check the Mulkiya and the VIN, fines and bank lien, GCC spec or import, heat damage, and the ownership transfer.Read the guide →
Weak points of popular models
- Toyota Camry weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Toyota Camry by generation and engine: oil use on the 2.4, VVT rattle, water pump leaks, the V6 oil line and the gearbox.Read the guide →
- Toyota Corolla weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Toyota Corolla by generation: oil use on older 1.6 and 1.8 engines, water pump leaks, the CVT, the robotised gearbox and wear.Read the guide →
- Toyota RAV4 weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Toyota RAV4 by generation and engine: oil use, VVT rattle, water pump leaks, the 2.2 diesel head gasket, the CVT, AWD and hybrid.Read the guide →
- Toyota Land Cruiser Prado weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Land Cruiser Prado 120 or 150: diesel injectors and DPF, the V6 water pump, KDSS and air suspension leaks, brakes and hard use.Read the guide →
- Nissan Patrol Y62 and Toyota Land Cruiser 200: weak points to checkWhat to check on a used Nissan Patrol Y62 or Toyota Land Cruiser 200: timing chain, water pump, suspension, dust and cooling, and signs of hard use.Read the guide →
- Hyundai Tucson weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Hyundai Tucson: engine knock and recalls on the 2.4 GDI, oil use on the 2.0, the dual-clutch gearbox, the diesel and open recalls.Read the guide →
- Hyundai Elantra and Solaris weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Hyundai Elantra, Solaris or Accent: a failing catalyst and scored cylinders on the 1.6, oil use on the 2.0, valve noise and taxi wear.Read the guide →
- Kia Sportage weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Kia Sportage: engine knock and recalls on the 2.4 GDI, oil use on the 2.0, dual-clutch judder, the ABS module recall and the A/C.Read the guide →
- Nissan Sunny weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Nissan Sunny, Versa or Almera: CVT judder and fluid, timing chain rattle and oil use, cooling, and rental or taxi wear.Read the guide →
- Mitsubishi Pajero weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Mitsubishi Pajero or Montero: the V6 timing belt, 3.2 diesel injectors, EGR and chain, the automatic, Super Select 4WD and rust.Read the guide →
- Lada Vesta weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Lada Vesta: which 1.6 engine it has, the timing belt, oil use on the 1.8, the robotised gearbox and the CVT, rust and interior rattles.Read the guide →
- Volkswagen Polo weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used VW Polo or Polo Sedan: timing chain on the 1.6 MPI and TSI, oil use and coolant leaks, the seven-speed DSG and taxi wear.Read the guide →
- Renault Duster weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Renault or Dacia Duster: the timing belt, oil use on the 2.0, the 1.5 dCi diesel, the automatic, four-wheel drive, rust and water leaks.Read the guide →
- Fiat Egea and Tipo weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Fiat Egea or Tipo: oil use on the 1.4 Fire, the 1.3 and 1.6 MultiJet diesels, the dual-clutch and automatic gearboxes, and fleet wear.Read the guide →
- Honda Civic weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Honda Civic: coolant loss from a cracked block on the 2006–2009 1.8, oil dilution on the 1.5 turbo, the A/C condenser, the CVT and recalls.Read the guide →
- Ford F-150 weak points: what to check when buying usedWhat to check on a used Ford F-150: cam phasers and spark plugs on the 5.4, EcoBoost timing chains, the 2.7 oil pan, oil use on the 5.0, the 10-speed and 4x4.Read the guide →
Check the car with a step-by-step checklist
CarCheckup walks you through the car, adds the known weak spots of its model and turns your answers and photos into a report.
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