How To Inspect A Used Vehicle Car or Truck

How to Inspect a Used Car or Truck

If you follow this step by step simple instruction you will have a better chance of getting a good used vehicle. Beware, some people will purchase vehicle from auto auction and repair it and some of the vehicles have not been reported as having accident damage. When you see the vehicle you want, look it over and take notes. The notes you took will remind you of the entire thing you will need to seek information about before you pay the cash. Also beware of buying from E-Bay, I once sold a car on E-Bay and the buyer sent me a certified Bank of America check but the amount was $2,000 more than I wanted. I called the buyer and he said I am sorry I sent you over payment and if you don’t mind just cash the check and send the difference back to me. I felt suspicious and went to B of A and they told me the check was forged and not real. I called the person back and he really got mad, I told him I will turn the check over to the FBI. I just saved myself $2,000, so be very careful, if you do accept a check from anyone you must insist they wait at least 30 days for the check to clear and be cleared. One story I heard was a person waited two weeks and then sent back the over payment and then one week later was told the postal money order he cashed was forged, so be very careful.

1) Do a CarFax and/or a CarCheck to look for unseen accident damage.

2) Inspect the vehicle or have it inspected by a certified mechanic with a written report.

3) Look at the vehicle for oil, water and any fluid leaks and write the area down.

$) Check all lights for operation as well as all electrical working parts, including the seats and cigarette lighter.

5) Check for broken parts and worn rubber parts.

6) Feel of the hoses for soft spots.

7) Look at the body parts where they meet for proper alignment, the parts lines must be equal on all places like the left and right fender should align and be at the same height.

8) Look at the tires for uneven wear, edge wear, feathering and knots is a suspension and alignment issue, be sure to look at the front and rear because sometimes a person will put the rear on the front to make it look better and to hide a problem..

9) Look at the radiator for rust, the coolant should be green on older cars and red on newer cars, rust is a sign of poor maintenance and will likely show up as a leak later after you drive for awhile.

10) Check the engine oil it should be clean and dark black is a sign of lack of poor maintenance, also look under the oil fill cap before and after you road tested the vehicle, look for a milk color a sign of an internal coolant leak (very costly repair).

11) Check the transmission fluid for smell, it smells burned then it likely has a transmission slippage problem, the fluid should be bright red, look for leaks as well.

12) Check the power steering it should be at the full line.

13) Check the brake fluid and see if it is low, low fluid may indicate worn brake pads or a leak, if it is low look at the inside wheel at the brake caliper for brake pad wear, if the pads are good look at the rear of the brake booster for paint peeling, a sign of a leaking brake master cylinder, another place to look is at the inside floor area for wetness of brake fluids another sign of a leaking brake master cylinder.

14) Step on the brake pedal and see if it sinks to the floor, if it does under a firm pressure then a brake master cylinder is likely the cause (a safety issue).

 15) If all check out so far then move on to start the engine and then watch and listen.

16) You be best to have another person with you when you start the engine, have him stand behind the car/truck and when you start it look for smoke, blue is oil burning even if only for a second, black smoke is too much gas another smog related concern and white if goes away in a few minutes is water and is OK but a long and steady white smoke is internal leakage of coolant.

17) Listen to the engine for a knocking sound, if it goes away and then stops knocking there is worn bearings and a possible repair will be needed sooner than later, a steady knock can be lifters, tappets and or rod or main bearing knocks a certified pro can tell you what it is.

18) If at all possible have a shop run a scan for trouble codes that may have been erased and write down all the code numbers (the internet will tell you what they mean).

19) Watch for engine light, an engine light is a warning something is wrong, an ABS is a warning the brakes have a problem and the SRS warning is a sign the air bags have a problem be watchful when you drive and when you start the engine. All warning lights will come on when you start the engine for up to 6 seconds and then go off if all is well.

18) Pay attention on how smooth the engine runs both in P and D/R gears, a rough running engine that jerks or stalls is not good and an engine warning light will likely be on.

19) Be aware of how the transmission engages when you put it into gear on automatics, the transmission should engage with a soft feel and when it shifts it should be soft as well (not jerk hard), when you drive the transmission should not vibrate when moving from a stop or up-shifting or downshifting (a concern to worry about), if the transmission shifts smooth and no vibration or jerking is felt then it is likely OK.

20) For a stick shift transmission, the transmission should go into gears without a grind (a grind is a gear concern and expensive repair). When pulling away from a stop it should be smooth and not jerk or chatter, both are a sign of a worn or defective clutch (a costly repair), there should not be any noise when driving as well.

21) Stopping is important, listen for squeaking, grinding and vibration when stopping are all signs of brake problems (have a pro check it for you to be safe).

22) CAUTION: THIS IS A TEST FOR PROFESSIONAL ONLY, because a person may get run over or you may have an accident if you try this test.  Steering is also a concern if your Technician finds a problems, he should check for wobble and or vibration at high speed 40mph plus, he should check for alignment pull or drift to one side, he would check the alignment for drift or pull, he will need to go to speeds of 25mph on a flat road and be sure there is plenty of room, he should hold his hands a few inches away from the wheel and let go, he should count to 1thousand1, 1thousand2, 1thousand3, 1thousand4, 1thousand5 and 1thousand6 if the vehicle drifts to one side or the other before that time limit then an alignment issue is there and he will know that, he should also inspect the tires before the road test for proper pressure (see door panel for proper pressure).

23) Listen for clunking noise when turning and braking, a sign of suspension and or brake concerns.

If you are going to purchase a new vehicle then I would suggest you get the book “Lemon Protection Identifying A Lemon” on Amazon.com, it is a very helpful book and small in size but filled with information. I will also publish the book “Lemon Protection How to Inspect a Used Vehicle” and “Lemon Protection Communicating With Your Mechanic” in the next few weeks and it will also be on Amazon.com. Thank you for your time and God bless you, please refer or tell a friend if you like this write up.

Also see;

1lemonpro on YouTube and see Yahoo Community for more information and on

Amazon.com see "Lemon Protection Identifying A Lemon" 

Published "Lemon Protection Identifying A Lemon"

As you know I have been a mechanic for over 30 years and currently a lemon law expert witness. I have published a new book on Amazon.com under "Lemon Protection Identifying a Lemon". This new book will help you when purchasing a new or used vehicle truck or car. If you think you have purchased a lemon new or used then knowing what to do about can help you get possible a full refund or a replacement car or at least some measure of refund. Knowing what makes a lemon and how to tell if you got one can help you. I have spoken with many people who have traded in their new or used car or truck because of having been in the shop so many time and did not know help is out there for them. Most Lemon Law Attorneys don’t charge you up front fees to take your case if you think you have a lemon, they will ask you for the past repair order history and after they go over all your paper work they will tell you Yes you have a Lemon or No you do not have a Lemon, but they will know after they read your paper work. The lemon law attorneys will also help you if you purchased a vehicle that was in an accident and it was not disclosed to you when you purchased it. If you purchase a vehicle and it was in an accident you are supposed to be told in writing about that accident. Also don’t count on the Car Fax or Car Check to always tell you if the vehicle was in a prior accident because some crooked people will have a car fixed without reporting the damage to the insurance or police department, that’s why when an accident happens you have to fill out an accident report and this is how the Car Fax and Car Check know whether or not the vehicle has been in an accident. As with all used vehicles it is always best to have an inspection before you sign the papers. This book is small in size but loaded with all the information you will need to understand the lemon law process and what and hot to help youself. Good luck and God bless you.

This is a True Story Jail Young Male and Female;

When I was 14 year old I was with my sister husband younger brother. We were in Alabama and he asks me if I wanted to go to the show with him and his girlfriend and I said yes. On the way he stopped at the moonshiners place and got some White Lightening to drink.  We were at the show and his girl did not show up and he got real drunk and I also had some of that stuff, it taste like rubbing alcohol and it made me real sick as well as drunk. He got very route and we were stopped by the police and went to jail for having the White Lighten in the car as well as being drunk. The next day in jail we were placed in what is called a Bull Pin with about 20 other men, I was the youngest other than one other boy who was a year older. Another man was brought in the cell with us and he was chained everywhere, he had just had a fight with some police officers and shot several of them. At the time when he came in I did not know he was one of my older sisters going to be husband, his name is Jamie Jones, and he was arrested for attempted murder. He sat down next to me and said son what in the hell are you doing her and I told him. He said you don’t know me do you and I said no. Jamie said I am going to marry your sister Daisy. Everyone in the bull pen moved away from him and I stayed sitting next to him at the table, we were the only two there at the table. The other young boy was listen to music and started to dance around and after several minutes some of the older men started to comment to his dancing saying he looked like a girl and he said go to hell to them and kelp dancing around. I was shocked when one of the older men hit him in the face and knocked him down. Another man got up from his seat and grabbed the young boy and they tore his close off and then started to rape him, he was crying for dear life. I got very scared and just sat there as one of the men started to rape him and the other started to put his penis in his mouth, the boy bit him and then all hell broke out. The older man smashed his teeth and then told him he would kill him if he bit him again and he had better let him do as he wanted to. The boy was bleeding from the mouth and the rear. After several minutes of the two men raping him two other men got him as well. I was so afraid I would be next, one man looked at me and said your next and Jamie Jones said if anybody puts a hand on this kid I will kill you right here and now. The man said you want him for yourself and he said no, but you or anyone else touch him I will kill you deader that a rat as long as I am here. God blessed me that day and I was released a few hours after that my sister got me out. I looked back at Jamie Jones and said I will never do anything to get put in jail again, he said son that’s the right attitude just keep it, I have not been in jail or in trouble with the law since that time.

I also have a friend who is 6”2” named Tom and he has been in the Prison and when he was released. I ask him if the Prison is like what I saw when I was in jail and he said yes but far worse. I ask him if he was raped and he said yes because no one goes to Prison and does not get it in both ends and it is usually by several men and more than one time. Tom told me it is called a train on new meat. Tom told me he fought but where there are ten men and the guards cannot do a thing for you, you get it like it or not. Tom told me the young boys are called fresh meat and the men after the rape is over one of the men will take him as his women and the boy will do what the man wants or he will get beating and still made to do what he wants. He said look at my teeth, there all false because he bit a man and they held him down and stomped his teeth out and then raped him anyway. Tom told me Jackie don’t ever go to jail it is not a place to be. You get raped and beaten so many times you cannot count the times. If you ever watch the Prison shows he said that they don’t show you what really happens to the young boys when they get there and are put with the rest of the people in the yard. He said he saw some young boys just before he left Prison in the yard. Tom said some of them will distract the guard and the when the guard are distracted the other men will hold a young boy down and take turns raping him. It is really sad to hear but Tom said no man or boy will go to Prison and not get it in both ends multiple times during their stay there.

Tom said Prison don’t make most people better but teaches them how to lie, cheat, steel and do everything wrong including murder. Tom said there are more gay men and pedophiles in any Prison because it breeds them, more than is on the street and when they get out they know how to get what they want even if it cost you your life.

I wrote this story in hope someone will read it and think twice before getting involved with gangs or trouble, Prison is not a place to be. If you know anyone who thinks going to Prison makes them a man let them know it makes them a sissy or a harden criminal.

A True Story...Invention how I got my product the Ab Radical to market

Inventors…

What steps to take in order to bring your invention from ideal to market?

By Jackie Winters                  

It seems everyone has a new invention but don’t know what steps to take in order to protect themselves and then get it to market. I will attempt to give you clear instructions on what and how to do it. I have invented a product named “Ab Radical” it is made to help a person do abdominal crunches with ease and it isolates the abdominals to give you the abs’s you never had, it will also help build the lower back and abdominal muscles. I will give you a step by step process of how I did it and in fact how I got the ideal to invent it.

One day I got my wife a machine called the abs roller, it was bulky and in my opinion was very hard to use. As I watched my wife attempt to do a crunch she could barely get off the floor. I told her let me show you how to do it and I was shocked as to how hard it was for me. I am an X-marine and can do 275 crunches as well as 200 push-ups in one workout non-stop at that time. Now that was when I was ten years younger keep in mind but I still do crunches to keep myself healthy and from getting that old look bent over, I stand straight and still look very healthy.

I called the Lord and said Lord my little princess has gotten to look like a pumpkin and please give me something I can make for her to use. That is when I was blessed with the invention the now called “Ab Radical” (sold by Edison Nation on line). It was in a flash, I saw how to make it.

I put together a prototype and called my attorney Marvin Weiss. He told me to bring it to him and show him how it worked. He quickly closed his door to his office and said Jackie I am impressed and we need a patent attorney. He called one of the best his name is Steve Shapiro.

Steve met with me and said Jackie this is really good and I can get you a US Patent on it but it will cost you, at that time it was just over 10,000. I had that saved and used it to pay him. By the way you can do a self paten at a lot less cost and can get some direction from the US Gov Patent and Trade mark office of the US Gov.

This is what I did but was not what I should have done. I will tell you what I did and then what you should do to save money.

Step one; I made a usable prototype

Step two; I applied for a US Patent and after three years was issued a US Patent.

Step three; I had some prototypes made by a factory and they were very impressive to look at and they worked as I had intended them to work.

Step four; I made packaging for it.

Step five; I had to make a cover insert for the package.

Step six; I started to show it to people.

Step seven; Do not go and tell or show anyone about it or what it does (I have lost five products because of that, yes I have learned my lesson)

This is what I should have done because after showing it to over fifty people that attempted to steal my product I near gave up.

1)    Make a prototype

2)    Get a Patent, I recommend using an attorney with good knowledge.

3)    Make 25 prototypes for showing it to manufactures.

4)    Don’t make a package but have a design to show, if a manufactures license the product from you then they will make their own packaging.

5)    Do not sign any contract without an attorney reading it first (I near lost all my rights).

6)    You will need to find a Manufacture that makes similar products to show it to.

7)    Don’t ever leave your product with any company; always take it with you when you leave.

8)    Don’t give up, it took me 10 years to find the right company to sign a contract with and I am glad I was patient.

You will meet a lot of people who will tell you how great your product is but if you don’t have a patent then it is over because they will steal it in the blink if an eye, so be protected. Don’t meet with a company without your attorney present, I had a meeting and my attorney could not be there so he told me if they offer to sign a contract with me tell them I am in the office and ask to fax it to him the contract and he will read it and get back within 20 minutes; My attorney told me if he did not call back in that 20 minutes tell them you will call them tomorrow and leave with your product.

The next morning when I meet my attorney he told me if I had of signed the contract as they wanted then it would have been over. He read the contract and explains what all those fancy words mean and they meant I would give that companies all my rights and then that was likely the last time I would hear from them. I told him I would sue them if they ripped me off. He said in a court of law the contract you signed is what the judgment would be on and not what was said because written words can be enforced but spoken words are hearsay and it is like chaff blowing in the wind.

          One day I posted and offer on line to give the product to anyone for a small part of the royalty. I got an e-mail from a person who told me to check out the company named Edison Nation on line and I did. I sent them an e-mail; I got a call back three days later and was asking to sign a contract for a royalty. I said look I don’t have any money to pay you and started too hung up and she screamed to me and said NO I want to pay you. I said what did you say, she said I want to pay you a royalty to license that produce from you. She said I will send you a contract for you and your attorney to go over and she did. She said the Edison Nation Company will do all the product making, packaging and design and all you have to do is wait until the reality start to come in. I near cried and so did my wife. The next day I was sent a contract and called my attorney Marvin Weiss, he told me Jackie I am shocked, this company wants to do all the work and pay you a reality and recommend I signed the contract. I am very happy I did and this company Edison Nation has been very good as to giving me up dates on the progress. I was just told it will be on the QVC Channel this year. If you want to see it go to Edison Nation web site and look under health and exercise.

I have also written a book with more information sold by B&N Book ordered and the publishing company is Publish America.

Good luck with your invention and God bless you,
By Jackie Winters