HPNFlyGirl
En-Route
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2005
- Messages
- 2,722
- Location
- I live in a house.
- Display Name
Display name:
iBrookieMonster
I saw this article in AAA and thought I would share. I know its geared toward cars but I thought maybe it could be used with airplanes too.
Prepurchase Inspection Tips
1. A title search of the vehicle identification number (VIN) is a good first step. CarFax, a free telebased service that researches and follows the history of a car can determine if an insurance claim was ever filed and if it was registered in a state hit by last year's hurricanes.
2. Along the vehicle's body look at the seams and around the edges of the windows for a high water mark or specks of dried mud.
3. Water stains, mildew, sad or silt can be seen or smelled under carpets, floor mats, head liner cloth and behind the dashboard.
4. Carpeting and upholstery can be vigrously shampooed, but a hot day will bring back the musty smell.
5. Carpeting and upholstery should last for many years in any given car, it maybe warning sign it has been replaced. Check to see if it fits properly and shows a true color match.
6. Even the best detailer can't get all of the mud from behind the dash without damaging fragile wiring or other sensitive components.
7. You can never really get all the moisture out of an engine, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which suggests looking under the hood for signs of oxidation. Pull back rubber boots around electrical and mechanical connections to search for rusting ferrous materials, copper parts with a green patina, plus aluminum and alloys displaying pitting or a white powder.
8. Check the oil and other fluids for cloudiness indicating water contamination.
9. Inspect for mud or grit in alternator crevices, behind wiring harnesses and around the small recesses of starter motors, power sterring pumps and relays along with hints of rust or flaking metal along the undercarriage that you wouldn't expect in a later-model vehicle.
10. See if all the switches and gauges are still functioning properly.
11. Try out the heater and the air-conditioner, turn them off and on several times. Look inside the vents for evidence of mud or water. Also activate the lights, wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter and radio. Mud, silt or grit residue can be discovered in the trunk, spare tire well, and in the head lamp and tail lamp housings.
12. Look for any rust on screws in the console, glove box, interior body part panels, under the seats or any other area moisture wouldn't normally breach unless the car had been immersed in water.
Prepurchase Inspection Tips
1. A title search of the vehicle identification number (VIN) is a good first step. CarFax, a free telebased service that researches and follows the history of a car can determine if an insurance claim was ever filed and if it was registered in a state hit by last year's hurricanes.
2. Along the vehicle's body look at the seams and around the edges of the windows for a high water mark or specks of dried mud.
3. Water stains, mildew, sad or silt can be seen or smelled under carpets, floor mats, head liner cloth and behind the dashboard.
4. Carpeting and upholstery can be vigrously shampooed, but a hot day will bring back the musty smell.
5. Carpeting and upholstery should last for many years in any given car, it maybe warning sign it has been replaced. Check to see if it fits properly and shows a true color match.
6. Even the best detailer can't get all of the mud from behind the dash without damaging fragile wiring or other sensitive components.
7. You can never really get all the moisture out of an engine, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which suggests looking under the hood for signs of oxidation. Pull back rubber boots around electrical and mechanical connections to search for rusting ferrous materials, copper parts with a green patina, plus aluminum and alloys displaying pitting or a white powder.
8. Check the oil and other fluids for cloudiness indicating water contamination.
9. Inspect for mud or grit in alternator crevices, behind wiring harnesses and around the small recesses of starter motors, power sterring pumps and relays along with hints of rust or flaking metal along the undercarriage that you wouldn't expect in a later-model vehicle.
10. See if all the switches and gauges are still functioning properly.
11. Try out the heater and the air-conditioner, turn them off and on several times. Look inside the vents for evidence of mud or water. Also activate the lights, wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter and radio. Mud, silt or grit residue can be discovered in the trunk, spare tire well, and in the head lamp and tail lamp housings.
12. Look for any rust on screws in the console, glove box, interior body part panels, under the seats or any other area moisture wouldn't normally breach unless the car had been immersed in water.
