Vehicle technical check

Whether you are purchasing a used car and want to know it’s actual technical status or are planning on going to the regular inspection, a thorough check by a car service is beneficial to avoid future issues. A specialist will check the car from all aspects and perform the necessary checks to make sure your purchase will not mean exessive costs to you or that your car will pass the inspection without problems.

Below you will find additional info on what Carstop services will check. Some of these checks you can also use as tips to do a preliminary check on the car yourself.

 

Visual check

We start off by doing a visual check on the car – we check if anything is out of the ordinary and make a note of it on the service sheet.

  1. Is there any rust or paint damage. Rust, scratches and dents in the paint job do not affect the performance of the car, but can cause issues in the future. Especially in Estonia, once rust is present on the car, it can mean a quick deterioration of the body and potentially very costly repairs.
  2. Next we check the tires for wear. The tires should be worn evenly. If they show signs of uneven wear, there could be issues with alignment (worn steering/suspension components, frame damage etc). In case of uneven wear, the car will need maintenance of the undercarriage and possibly a new set of tires. 
  3. We will also lift the car and check the exhaust system and undercarriage for rust or damage. Rust in itself is quite normal in Estonia. However, serious rust present in the exhaust system might mean costly repairs in the future. Damage or dents under the car might be indicative of a past accident and can devaluate a car’s price.
  4. We’ll also check under the car and in the engine bay for any visible leaks either in the shock absorbers or in the engine. If any leaks are present, it will mean the car needs repairs.
  5. Next we’ll check the hoses and belts for any cracks or damage and fluid holding tanks for the fluid levels. A car that’s coolant tank or oil tank is empty could be in trouble and will need a more thorough check. Issues with coolant or oil could mean extensive repairs to the engine.
  6. With a mechanical aid we will check for the health of the bushings and tie rod ends under the car.
  7. Checking the transmission oil if possible. It is a common misconception that transmissions are forever and do not need oil changes. While they do not need oil changes as often as the car itself, they do need oil changes. This is especially the case with automatic transmissions – if oil changes are not done regularly, it can cause the transmission to break.

 

Driving test

We will take the car out for a drive at different speeds to check for the health of the undercarriage (bushings, shock absorbers), brakes and the transmission. Even a short drive will enable many common issues to be discovered.

 

Checking the on board computer for fault codes

Most cars have an on board computer that we can plug into and check for any exisiting fault codes. When possible, we will also check the car’s digital maintenance history and if there have been any previous issues with the inspection.

 

When you are considering buying an used car, take some time and bring it for a check at a Carstop service. We will do a thorough check of the car and let you know if there are any issues with it. This will potentially save a lot of money on costly repairs.

When planning to go to an inspection, we will check everything ahead of time and schedule repairs to make sure you will pass the inspection on the first try.