AUTOGRAPHS

Whats the first thing to look for on a used Stick shift?

Do u like check to see if the transmissions messed up do you ask how much clutch is left?

Doss-

To answer your question directly, the first thing I ask for is the paperwork on the last clutch repair. If they don’t have that, then I negotiate the price of the car down about $600.00. If they don’t budge, then walk away.

It normally means there is additional issues with the vehicle.

Be very sautious on trucks and sports coupes. These are vehicles are normally driven pretty hard.

Also, if the person will let you do this, take the vehicle to a nearby shop and pay to have a complete diagnostic and safety inspection done on the vehicle.

Again, if the person will not cater to this request, then walk away. If the person cannot produce a vehicle history for their car, this can too be an indication the vehicle has not been taken care of.

Now, if you had purchased the vehicle from me, I will not have much paperwork to give you, being that I run my own maintenance on my vehicles. Mechanics tend to do this. I am one of those folks. Though, What you will find, is the maintenance record on my owners manual is normally totally filled out, then you will find an envelope filled with receipts from Kragens, Pepboys, Chief, Auto Zone, or Napa for Oil Filters, Oil, Air Filters, Fuel Filters, PCV Valves, Spark Plugs, Plug Wires, Anti-Freeze, Distilled Water, Batteries, Brake Parts, Wheel Bearing Seals, Grease, Transmission Fluid, Power Steering Fluid, Brake Fluid, Window Washer Fluid, Car Soap, Wax, No-Touch Tire Black, Tires, Wiper Blades and any other general maintenance item I deemed necessary in the car’s life of service.

As for the big ticket items, you will find receipts from my trips to the Dealerships. This is the only other place that touches any of my vehicles. I refuse to take them to private shops to have any type of major work done to them.

Now if you should purchase this vehicle, then here are some tips you should follow.

First thing, regardless of what the previous owner tells you, is to have all of the fluids completely drained, flushed and replaced. I have done this on all of the used cars I have ever purchased. This includes a fresh oil and filter change.

Also get the vehicle completely tuned up, spark plugs, any filters, change the plug wires if equipped, along with the distributor cap and rotor, (again if equipped).

Here is where some folks would argue a point. If it were me and I was going to add a little bit of cheap insurance to a car that I knew was going to have to be my daily driver for a few years, I would also change the following items too.

Radiator Hoses
Heater Hoses
Thermostat
Radiator Cap
Drive Belts, (Serpentine Belts)
Battery
Battery Cables, (If Needed)
Valve Cover Gasket
Engine Oil Cap
A/C System Service
Power Steering System Service

Now some of these items may seem a little far fetched, but I can tell you from experience, it has always been the $4.00 part that has blown the whole road trip.

Also, if the vehicle is equipped with a timing belt. You need to find out when the last time, (if ever), it was changed.

The rule of thumb with timing belts is every 60,000 miles they should be changed regardless of condition.

Why?

This part is a very critical part on your engine. This part transfers crankshaft power to your cam-shaft. If this part breaks, and the cam-shaft comes to a halt in the wrong place at the wrong time, you can kiss your engine goodbye.

People are going to say, “Yeah, but only if its an interferance type motor.” But you have a 50% chance this is the case. Are you willing to gamble a $250.00 Timing Belt replacement over a 50% chance that you will be facing a $3500.00 bill to have the engine replaced in your car that you paid $2500.00 to get? Then took the time to replace everything I mentioned, but decided to skip the Timing Belt?

I don’t mention this to be a snob, I mention this because I was stuipd enough to do this myself. I would prefer that folks learn from my errors. Only in my case it was a $20.00 Timing Chain Tensioner for a 1984 Mazda B-2000 Pick-Up Truck.

All I can say is that I was pretty upset with my self when I jumped onto the highway under full power, I heard a bang, then all of the dash lights came on, “Huston, we have a problem!”

Anyhow, I hope I was able to give you some good insight and helped you out. Good Luck!

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