Latest News

Posts Categorised: DIY Stuff

Purchasing a used vehicle can save thousands of dollars, but before making such an important financial commitment, it’s best to have vehicles you’re considering inspected by a non-biased and reliable mechanic. There are a lot of things you can do to eliminate the lemons before having it looked at by a professional. Review this helpful checklist for purchasing a used vehicle to save yourself a lot of time, money, and the possibility of buying a faulty vehicle.

Paint and Exterior

If you read our Caring for Your Vehicle During Arizona’s Hot Summer Months article, you’ll recall the first point we bring up is keeping your car in the garage or covered parking. The sun will quickly wear down paints and plastics, particularly in Arizona, so take a good look at the exterior and any surfaces that might be exposed to the sun for long periods of time, such as the dashboard and interior weather stripping.

We always recommend looking at the tires as well. Be sure and ask if the tires were rotated regularly and take a close look for wear and tear. A way to tell if your tires are still safe is by placing a penny head first into a few tread grooves across the tire. If the top of Lincoln’s head is visible, it’s time to replace them.

Interior

With the recent devastating hurricanes in Texas and Florida, tons of damaged vehicles will be flooding the market (no pun intended), so keep an eye out for vehicles with water damage. A few signs to look for include: a price that seems too good to be true (usually is), a moldy stench, rusted and corroded seat wheel tracks and any other metal surfaces near the lower interior of the vehicle, and upholstery/fabrics newer than the vehicle. It can be difficult to spot these signs as those trying to sell the vehicle have put a lot of time and money making the vehicle look like it wasn’t flooded, so it’s always best to have a professional mechanic take a look before spending thousands of dollars through a private party.

Show Me the CarFax

CARFAX is a useful tool that provides vehicle history reports for vehicle(s) you’re considering purchasing. Started in 1986 in hopes of eliminating odometer fraud, CARFAX will tell you the information not everyone is willing to share.

Service Records

Ask the owner to show you any service records they might have, including receipts from oil changes and other regular maintenance records. Having these documents will give you a good idea on how the vehicle was treated. If the owner doesn’t have them, ask if they can contact any mechanics who worked on the vehicle for that information.

Paperwork

When purchasing a used car in Arizona, you will need to obtain certain documents from the seller. Those documents include a bill of sale and notarized vehicle title. You must then get a vehicle inspection and obtain an emissions compliance form as proof. Once you have the required paperwork, you can register your vehicle with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Be sure and review the Paperwork When Buying a Car in Arizona and Buying and Selling FAQs in Arizona articles on the MVD website to ensure you don’t miss any necessary paperwork.

We hope you’ve found our checklist for purchasing a used vehicle useful the next time you’re in the market for a used vehicle. If you’d like to set up a time for us to look over any cars, trucks, vans, or SUVs, call us at (480) 834-9274 or fill out the form on our Contact Us page.

Caring for your vehicle during Arizona’s hot summer months is crucial to getting the best performance and ensuring your car, truck, or SUV lasts as long as possible. Another benefit to staying on top of your vehicle’s health is guaranteeing you’ll get top dollar when you decide to sell or trade it in.

There are many things you can do in between routine visits at Sunland Auto Service. Review the tips below to get the most out of your vehicle:

#1 – Keep your car in the garage or covered parking

As obvious as our first tip on the list is, keeping you car parked in the garage or under cover will help protect the vehicle’s weatherproofing materials, paint, dash, and more. It’s also helpful to crack the windows if possible to help lower the interior temperature of the car.

#2 – Wash your car often

Keeping your car clean not only looks better, it helps the finish last longer. Our extreme summer temperatures can quickly chip the paint and cause it to fade, so wash your car often to avoid any unneeded wear and tear on your vehicle.

#3 – Lighten your load

It’s easy to lug around a piles of clothes, a hockey bag, and a bucket of baseballs until you get around to cleaning out your car, but the extra weight only causes your engine, brakes, and suspension to work harder. Another added benefit to dropping the extra weight is increased miles per gallon. Score!

#4 – Get your AC checked regularly

The last thing a valley resident wants or needs is their vehicle’s air conditioning performing at less than 100%, so get it checked out often to avoid expensive repairs. It’s typically cheaper to get your AC serviced in the off-peak months, so add a reminder to you calendar during the cooler months to get your AC inspected.

#5 – Take it easy

Quickly accelerating and braking causes unneeded wear on your vehicle, so when the light turns green or you’re approaching a red light, don’t jump on the gas and brakes… ease into and out of the stop to get the most out of your vehicle.

Sunland Auto Service is here to help answer any questions you have about caring for your vehicle between visits, so please feel free to ask any specific questions you have during your next visit or give us a call at (480) 834-9274. Do you have any caring for your vehicle during Arizona’s hot summer months tips? Share by commenting below!

Our Newsletter

Please sign up for Sunland Auto Service's email list. Included is quarterly newsletter, maintenance tips & tricks, great resources and other saving information for you and your car.

{ We  take your privacy serious and will not share your information with anyone, and will not spam you with lots of mail. }

© 2017 Sunland Auto Service - All Rights Reserved.
3530 E Broadway Rd - Mesa , Arizona 85204

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY