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Used Car Prepurchase Inspection Warning

Should you depend on a prepurchase inspection by a car dealership as a guarantee that a used car is "Good to Go" after buying? Here’s what happened to one used car customer who had problems shortly after buying a used car.
Major Reason for Intermittent Problems with Used Cars

Prepurchase Inspections

When it comes to buying a used car, you have to accept---as the old saying goes----“Take it with a grain a salt” regarding the veracity of what a prepurchase inspection really means coming out of a used car dealership.

In other words, for most used car shoppers a prepurchase inspection sounds like a guarantee that a used car is “Good to Go.” Welllllllllllllll, what may actually be closer to the truth is that that the car will "go," but maybe not so much with respect to the “good” part.

Related article: Scam Alert: What Dealerships Don’t Want You to Know About Used Car Inspections

That was the message in a recent Car Wizard YouTube channel episode where the host showcases a 2007 Acura one customer recently bought used that turned out to have intermittent problems---despite the fact it was said to have had a prepurchase inspection.

Related article: Toyota Dealership Shows What Really Happens When Previously Owned Cars Are Inspected and Certified

Follow along with the host as he discusses the source of the intermittent problem, how it happened, and why it passed its prepurchase inspection by the seller.

The Value of This Video

The value of this video is that it serves as a good example of:

• Why you should not depend on a dealership’s prepurchase inspection and why you should hire your own mechanic for an inspection

• How a bad repair or service to a vehicle can lead to a new problem

• How to apply a little logical detective work to trace the source of a problem

• How breaks or stresses to the wiring anywhere in a car’s system often causes difficult to diagnose intermittent problems in your car

Total mess! Last shop really screwed up on this '07 Acura MDX. What does the CAR WIZARD find?

And finally…

For additional related articles about used car problems, here are a few for your consideration:

• Consumer Reports Used Car Title Warning

• Consumer Reports Warns Used Car Buyers About Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Scams

• Check That Used Car for Flood Damage with These Quick and Easy Tips

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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