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    How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car; For the Non-mechanical Person
    How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car; For the Non-mechanical Person
    How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car; For the Non-mechanical Person
    Ebook203 pages1 hour

    How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car; For the Non-mechanical Person

    By Brad Crouch

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    About this ebook

    Mechanical Genius Squeezes Lemons

    Brad Crouch is widely recognized as a world class auto mechanic. He wrote How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car – for the Non-mechanical Person.

    This extraordinary book takes all of the guess-work out of buying a used car. Regardless of the make or model, it is the essential guide for negotiating the best deal. It is also the book that demonstrates the correct way to keep a car running in top mechanical condition.

    How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car provides the reader with the invaluable guidance of an experienced professional.

    Brad Crouch manages to simplify everything that appears to be complicated. The inexpensive price of this book is a very small investment. It will reduce costly car repairs and put an end to purchasing lemons.

    This is THE book that gives the consumer the confidence to buy and the power to maintain an automobile.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrad Crouch
    Release dateNov 10, 2010
    ISBN9781452427690
    How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car; For the Non-mechanical Person
    Author

    Brad Crouch

    Brad began his auto repair career in Englewood, New Jersey in 1963 at a Mercedes-Benz dealership.After five years, he moved to Los Angeles, California, the city where he was born and raised, and became employed by the only factory owned Mercedes-Benz dealership on the West Coast, in Hollywood, California.After eight years as an employee, he went into business for himself, providing a house-call maintenance and repair service that specialized in repairing and maintaining Mercedes-Benz automobiles.He provided maintenance and repairs for people who were unable or unwilling, to take the time to put up with the ordeal of auto maintenance in the dealerships and independent repair shops . . . on site!After conducting this business for 18 years, Brad retired from the auto repair industry, and is currently retired and living with his wonderful wife, in Chatsworth, California.

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      Book preview

      How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car; For the Non-mechanical Person - Brad Crouch

      How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car;

      For the Non-mechanical Person

      Copyright 2009 by Brad Crouch

      Smashwords Edition

      Last update: 06-25-12

      Cover by Joleene Naylor. Cover cartoon car created by Carl Corky Hannabach.

      License Notes:

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/29730, and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Although the author has exhaustively researched all available sources to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this book, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions or any inconsistency herein. Any slights of people or organizations are unintentional.

      Readers should ultimately consult a qualified auto mechanic before committing funds for the purchase of an automobile.

      Purchasers of this e-book may print out all or any portion of this book they wish, if they have a way to print. If not, a printable version of the buyer's and the mechanic's pre-purchase checklists included in this book, may be downloaded for free, at the website listed at the end of the checklist.

      Preface

      Author's Note:

      After years of seeing people buying used cars and getting stung, I decided to help buyers out by writing a book with guidelines on what to look for when buying a used car and thus lessen the chance of getting stuck with a lemon. As a result the book How to Buy and Maintain a Used Car came into fruition.

      The inspiration for writing this book came when a client of mine asked me to inspect a car he was thinking of buying. After a thorough inspection, I furnished my client with an itemized list of the things I found unacceptable. The client then negotiated his deal and bought the car.

      About two weeks later he brought the car to me with a terrible exhaust leak. After close inspection, I found a large crack in the header pipe, just below the exhaust manifold. The crack was an old one that someone patched with muffler sealer. A temporary repair that was apparently made in order to sell the car without the seller investing any more of his money.

      I was infuriated! And embarrassed. So I decided to create a pre-purchase checklist that would enable me to conduct a very thorough inspection, in a logical, time saving sequence. It could even serve to check over car models that were new to me and in need of rejuvenating.

      As I was deciding on the correct order in which to begin, it suddenly came to me that by adding informational chapters to the checklist, creating an entire buying guide in the process, anybody could easily benefit by using it themselves.

      So here it is. I've done the best I can to make this as complete and simple as possible, and still wind up with a book that can be read and understood in a very short time.

      The second edition of this book was inspired by the global economic downturn that seems to be worsening as of this writing. It looks to me like many people who normally buy a new car every year (or every other year), will now be holding onto their cars for as long as they can, if they are paid for. Or perhaps they will be looking for less expensive used cars with no payments.

      Please pay particular attention to the new chapter on tire safety (Chapter 13). This chapter can actually save lives, if it is read, understood, and followed.

      I will take this opportunity to wish all readers much success. I am sure you will have it because this book will turn you into experts.

      I advise the purchasers of this e-book to adjust their reading machine display to the landscape mode while reading. Not only does this allow for easier reading, but it also allows the illustrations and checklists to be seen more proportionally.

      I dedicate this book to Flor, my beautiful wife of thirty two years, who is still the apple of my eye. I am grateful for all her help while I was writing this book and for her patience during the creation process.

      Brad Crouch

      Introduction

      The purpose of this guide and checklist is to help people who are not mechanically oriented, to buy and maintain a used car. Or to diagnose and maintain their present car.

      Not everybody owns a set of mechanic's tools. You will only need a flashlight, a bath towel and a box of Kleenex to buy your next used car!

      At the end of the buyers checklist you will find the Mechanic's Checklist. This is for a mechanic who has the tools and equipment to check out the items that you are unsure about or may not have been able to check yourself.

      The more you can check yourself, the less the mechanic will have to check and the end result will be a lower bill. But don't worry too much about the mechanic's bill. This is very good insurance and worth every penny. However, there are many things that need to pass your inspection before the car is seen by a mechanic.

      The Mechanic's Checklist is optional, of course. You may feel that the car is in such great shape that a second opinion is unnecessary, and you may be right. But what will happen if you're wrong?

      It is recommended that you first find the car you want, check it as thoroughly as you can and then, if you still want it, take it to a mechanic to make sure you're not buying a problem car. A visit to an alignment shop is critical!

      There are, sad to say, a number of unscrupulous people in this world who wouldn't lose one minutes sleep over finding another sucker to rip off. This guide and checklist is designed to turn you into an expert, in less than a few hours!

      This book is also for sellers. Now they will know that the used car buyer of today is more particular and sophisticated. Now they will know what they will have to repair in order to sell their cars to these modern buyers. Everything! Or reduce their asking prices to compensate for the repairs needed.

      It is recommended that you begin by reading the guide first. This book has been put into two parts, the guide and the checklist, so that time is not lost unnecessarily by having to read the whole book while inspecting the car. If you read the guide first, you will be prepared to use the checklist, without confusion.

      And if you read the guide first, it will be simple to quickly review an explanation, if you need it. Just look at the Table of Contents to see which subject you need to review. Then put a cursor on the subject you want, and press Enter. You will immediately be taken to that subject in the book.

      Every item listed on the checklist is not necessarily listed in the guide. This simply means that no explanation is necessary.

      Navigation: Clicking on a heading in the Table of Contents will take you to the desired text on the subject. Clicking on an underlined chapter title or section title will take you back to the Table of Contents.

      Please leave your emotions at home and conduct yourself methodically, and objectively. You'll be better off and end up with a better car.

      Good Hunting!

      (Tire kicker)

      Table of Contents

      Title and Copyright page

      License Notes

      Preface

      Author's Note

      Introduction

      Table of Contents

      Chapter 1 - Finding the Right Car

      Body Styles and Auto Classifications

      Chapter 2 - What to Check First

      Quick Check

      Registration

      Chapter 3 - Exterior Body

      Glass & Windows

      Tires & Wheels

      Locks

      Exterior Lights

      Chapter 4 - Trunk Interior

      Weather Stripping

      Upholstery

      Tools

      Jack

      Spare Tire #1

      Spare Parts #1

      Chapter 5 - Undercarriage

      Exhaust System

      Shock Absorbers & Struts

      Leaks

      Chapter 6 - Passenger Compartment

      Seats and Upholstery

      Carpeting

      Headrests

      Seat Belts

      Door Seals

      Courtesy Lights

      Dashboard Lights

      Indicator Lights #1

      Check Engine Light

      Chapter 7 - Driver's Controls

      Pedals

      Steering Wheel #1

      Gearshift

      Gearshift Indicator

      Windshield Washers and Wipers

      Horns

      Turn Signals

      Hazard Warning Lights

      Headlights

      Fog Lights

      Window Controls

      Parking Brake #1

      Radio, Cassette and CD Player #1

      Chapter 8 - Engine Compartment

      Master Brake Cylinder #1

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