
Used cars need to checked by a knowledgeable mechanic to identify any pre-existing problems. They should also be given a thorough test drive to check for any driveability issues that are noticeable cdl driving school. These two tips will uncover many of the problems with a used car.
For example, if looking at a used Subaru Impreza for sale, and you notice that it feels as if the brakes are stuck on when making sharp turns, the vehicle may have suffered damage to the all wheel drive system. In this vehicle with a manual transmission, there is a viscous coupling in the center differential that can bind.
For the automatic transmission, there is a transfer clutch pack in the rear of the unit that can become damaged and not release completely. This condition is often called torque bind in Subaru vehicles. The condition is repairable, but can be expensive, so it can make a good point for negotiating the price with the owner.
Also, the used vehicle's maintenance records should be inspected. Some owners do a better job of keeping track of these records than do other people. Sometimes you can find this information on the manufacturer's web site if the service work was done at a dealership. In this case the maintenance information may also appear on common vehicle history reports. For example, Subaru and Honda have web sites where vehicle owners can record their own maintenance work.
Performance vehicles such as the Subaru Impreza WRX STI may have been abused by previous owners. This vehicle has a turbocharged engine producing a fair amount of torque at relatively low engine speeds. If the engine speed is brought up and then the clutch released quickly, damage can occur to the drive train components.
Since this vehicle has all wheel drive, popping out the clutch like this introduces large amounts of torque to the drivetrain. In common rear wheel drive vehicles, wheel spin limits these forces. The most likely type of damage to occur is chipped differential gear teeth. These gear teeth are hardened steel.
The hardening process does make the gears stronger, but it also makes them somewhat brittle. There have been reports from people who have had warranty claims denied for this type of damage because it is relatively obvious that abuse was the cause.