Under the hood

Leaks

Fluid levels

Oil (should be light brown)

Antifreeze (should be green)

Power steering (should be clear)

Transmission (should be red)

Belts (check for cracks)

Hoses (should be firm, not soft or hard)

Battery and connections

Electrical connections and wiring

Old oil buildup or sludge inside the valve cover--where the oil filler cap is (signs of neglect)

Under the vehicle

Leaks

Undercarriage for damage

Exhaust system

Tires for uneven wear

Loose parts hanging from body

Rear suspension for leaks

Rust on body

CV boots (corrugated rubber boots, usually black) that surround the CV joints on front-wheel drive vehicles

Body/chassis

Operation of hood, doors, door glass, all latches, and keys

Exterior body paint (look for overspread on weather strips, molding around windshield, rear glass, inside fenders, near hood or truck lid, rear panels, and door handles)

Vehicle's body for waviness, irregularities on both sides

Magnet check on panels (if doesn't stick, panel is not metal—may have been replaced)

Mismatched colors and uneven textures

Poorly fitted panels that suggest body repairs

All lights, headlamps, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, back-up lights, and license plate tag lights

Spare tire, jack, and tools

Water or water damage in trunk

Interior

Seats, door panels, headliner, rugs, and mats

Seat belts, front and rear

Door locks, power windows, and power seats

Radio, tape player, or compact disk player

Horn and steering column

Windshield wiper and automatic fluid

Dash lights, interior lights, and everything you can get your hands on

Before starting the engine

Stand behind the vehicle and look for smoke

Barely visible (just a little white is normal)

Blue smoke indicates burning oil

Black smoke indicates engine too rich (too much fuel)

Heavy, white smoke indicates a blown head gasket or cracked head

Test drive

On your test drive, find some rough pavement, go over a few bumps and listen for rattles, squeaks, and loose suspension.

Test to see if car pulls to one side or the other (sudden veering may indicate car needs front-end alignment).

(Front wheel drive only) Find an empty parking lot and turn sharply to the right and left in a tight circle and listen for knocking sounds (may need CV joints).

Brake performance: Brakes should stop smoothly and quietly (no squeaks or pulsations or pulling from one side to the other).

Brake pedal should feel firm--not spongy.

Try the air conditioner and the heater to make sure they work.

Engine performance: Engine should run smoothly and quietly. Listen for pings, rattles, knocks, grinds, vibrations, squeals, engine hesitation, or stumbles on acceleration.

Transmission performance: An automatic transmission should shift smoothly without jerking, slipping, or hesitation on upshift. With a manual transmission shift gears and listen. A grinding sound may indicate needed clutch plate or internal repairs.