Know What You Are Buying Before You Buy It
Steve meets you at the seller's location and inspects the vehicle. You get a clear picture of what it needs before you hand over any money.
A $150 Inspection Can Save You Thousands
Private party car sales are final. Once you sign the title and hand over the cash, whatever is wrong with that car is your problem. Sellers are not always dishonest, but they do not always know what is wrong with their own vehicle either. A car that looks clean and drives okay on a test drive can have a head gasket leaking, a transmission slipping, or frame damage that was repaired and repainted.
Steve has inspected hundreds of vehicles for buyers over the years. He knows what to look for and where sellers and dealers tend to hide problems. He checks the things that are expensive to fix, not just the obvious stuff.
After the inspection, he gives you a verbal rundown of everything he found. If it is a good buy, he will tell you. If there are serious problems, he will tell you that too. You decide what to do with the information.
A Thorough Look at Every System
Engine and Fluids
Steve checks for leaks, looks at fluid condition, inspects belts and hoses, checks for signs of overheating history, and looks for evidence of head gasket issues. He also checks compression if there is reason to be concerned.
Transmission
He checks fluid condition and level, looks for leaks, and evaluates shift quality during the test drive. A transmission that is slipping or shuddering is a major red flag. He will catch it.
Brakes and Suspension
Pad thickness, rotor condition, caliper function, and brake fluid condition. He also checks ball joints, tie rods, control arm bushings, and shocks. Worn suspension components are common on high-mileage vehicles and expensive to fix.
Body and Frame
Steve looks for signs of accident repair: uneven panel gaps, overspray, mismatched paint, and structural welds that do not belong there. A vehicle with hidden frame damage is a safety issue regardless of how it drives.
Electrical and AC
He tests the battery and charging system, checks that all lights and electronics work, and runs the AC. Electrical gremlins on older vehicles can be time-consuming and expensive to track down.
OBD-II Scan
Steve plugs in a scanner and checks for stored fault codes, including pending codes that have not triggered the check engine light yet. He also checks whether the readiness monitors have been reset recently, which can indicate someone cleared codes to hide a problem before the sale.
Pre-Purchase Inspection FAQ
Any seller who refuses a pre-purchase inspection is telling you something. Legitimate sellers expect buyers to want an inspection. If a seller says no, walk away from the deal. That is not a vehicle you want to buy.
Yes. Steve can meet you at a dealership, a private seller's home, or anywhere else the vehicle is located within his service area. He does not need a shop to do an inspection.
About 45 minutes to an hour for a thorough inspection. Steve does not rush through it. If he finds something that needs a closer look, he takes the time to look at it properly.
If you buy the vehicle and want Steve to do the repairs, he can do that. He already knows the car at that point, which makes the repair process faster. But there is no obligation. The inspection is just an inspection.
Fallbrook, Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Oceanside, Pauma Valley, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, and Perris. If the vehicle is just outside that range, call and ask. He may be able to accommodate depending on scheduling.