This is often true. I bought a 170k mile 2006 prius last year and the owner already had it running. It ran decent, but not perfect. The next day when I picked up and paid for the car, the seller had it running again. The next morning, I was greeted with a surprise on cold start. It took 2 start attempts before it reluctantly started and ran very rough for a couple minutes, before it mostly smoothed out. During that first 2 minutes, it sounded like a jackhammer and had obvious misfires. The engine oil was fresh, but I suspected the oil changes had been neglected for a long time. The dipstick had heavy varnish on it. After a motor flush that got A LOT of gunk out of the engine and some fresh spark plugs, it ran way better. After 8 more short-interval oil changes with marvel mystery oil, it is healthy again. On the first few MMO-laced oil changes, the oil turned black in a matter of days. Now, at 184k miles, it runs as it should, even on cold start. I thought for sure I'd be swapping an engine in this car. I'll bet the previous owner thought the same. I got lucky with just a tune-up and clean-up fixing it. The joke's on him, as it's now worth 2x what I paid for it.

@@scarletboa Mmo in every used car I buy! I add it to the gas at every fill up , and in the 1st few oil changes, & along with new plugs, those engines run great!

Assuming you meet the seller at their home. If you're doing the transaction in a shopping center parking lot, that's obviously not going to work out.

@@russellhltn1396 when I bought my prius, I met the dude in a shopping center, both when I first drove it and when I met him again the next day to pay for it and pick it up. When selling a cheap car, I schedule the meet-up in a public place with video surveillance for safety/security reasons. I understand why the seller of my prius did the same, except it also allowed him to hide the engine problems.

@@russellhltn1396 good point

Actual facts. Currently looking for a beater commuter car for ~$5-6k as I sold mine last year and made off with more money than I thought was possible. Unfortunately I'll be commuting ~2k miles/month coming up in a few months. Most reliable car I know that can really rack up the miles is a well maintained prius. Really any toyota or honda will do but prius's get 40 mpg all day every day (obviously some exceptions but those are rare) without even trying which is nice when you're "saving" $300/month on fuel. If you don't get that efficiency, there's a problem. 3 days ago, saw a 2006 one listed for 3K at 188k miles and immediately jumped on it without even verifying anything, bad move on my part with the catalytic converter theft problem, but it wasn't far. Expected issues but hopefully under a ~2k fix. Literally showed up 40mins after the ad was posted. The car body looked good and had the catalytic converter still present. Very few scratches and dings, looked great. Needs new tires, but I can deal with that at that price. Title checked out, then VIN so I got excited. Started looking over the car and welp... Of course the thing needed at least $6k in repairs. Of course. If it was in "good" condition the thing would be listed for $10k given the current market. Oil consumptions problems (why else do you travel with half empty bottles of oil, not to mention the very likely cylinder grooves at the mileage the thing has), weak battery (not throwing errors quite yet), very worn rotors and brakes (probably original which is somewhat impressive at the mileage), worn and leaking suspension (everything probably needed to replaced), ac doesn't work... The list goes on. I guess I can say the transmission on the thing looked and felt fine. Kudos to toyota on that one. Being a seller with a "runs and drives" car and you're on top of the world. As a buyer, better buy a new car, cough up double what these cars are worth or keep waiting and hope you get lucky. I see a long wait ahead. Probably right until an official recession hits. Only then will the "deals" start popping up.

This dude talks like the market 2 years ago. My man theres a car shortage, even used cars are way overpriced.

Loooooooool. So true.

I’ve been wearing my thumbs to nubs scrolling through cars looking for something close to priced right.

Most dont

Are you implying it's not possible to repair damage to factory specifications?

​@@CadillacDriverIf it's been repaired to factory specifications then there's no issue essentially

@@nicholaswildethethird you missed my point. The OP essentially said that no matter how well a repair is done, it's impossible to get it back to factory specs and you will be able to tell it's been repaired. This is not true.

@@CadillacDriverUnless you’re planning on spending stupid money or have the skill and time to get it back original as possible. OP’s advice is good for the average joe to look out for. That’s the point you’re missing.

@@infiniteblaz3416 what the hell? I'm not missing any "point" - YOU are. Another absolute plank who reads one thing, but sees something completely different. READ my posts again. Read them slowly and carefully until you understand what I'm saying.

That’s a lie. My dealership wouldn’t even inpsect the vehicles during trade in. The dealership is “Infiniti of coconut creek. “

No u don't lmao

@@shinski8114😂no dealer will let you take their car of the lot for an inspection

@@AfricaGeo really so why is dip,pop leing bro

​@@AfricaGeodrove my car to an independent mechanic shop during the test drive. The dealer went with me - he had agreed to it before I showed up to check out the car. I wasn't going to give him my business if he didn't agree to the inspection!

And also airbag and ABS light. People have bought crashed cars where they didn't replace the airbag and just disconnected the light. Some of those people died in car crashes later...

@@redbaron6805 ABS light was a red flag!

Yep one of the cars I bought years ago turned out to have no bulb for the check engine light. Super shady.

@@JoeUrbanYYC The good news is, scan tools are getting super cheap. Which means, they can disconnect the Check Engine light all day long, all the codes will still show up if you check the car with a scan tool.

@@redbaron6805 oh yes, that was 12 years ago, I am much better prepared when I go shopping again this fall.

And then cash off with your videos 😉

Me when I find a sub-$1000 shitbox 🗿

I fully support this method

ALWAYS offer more than the asking price to be sure you're the "winner".

Sounds about right lol

Good one.

So true. If the car is running already, then turn it off. Sit a few minutes and pretend to talk about the interior, then turn it on

​@@diallo1347 this is bad advice a " few minutes " is not enough time for the engine to cool off completely and witnessing a cold start is paramount feel the engine climb underneath feel the exhaust check the cats etc ..or walk away ..

What if they’re burned out? Lol. Mine burned out but my car is 47 years old. Fuse popped

@@DannyTOG well exactly! That’s why you should check for that sort of thing it could just be burned out but you want to make sure that it is working or at least to be aware if it’s not.

He has another video on that, but a gauge check is critical.

Can digital odometer be rolled back to show lower miles?.Is that a common scam??

​​​@@wakeywakey8603yes. The truck I bought had an oil change sticker on. By mileage on that sticker...the oil change was "in the future ". Somehow the truck lost 5000 miles.

I just discovered that the car I bought 2 years ago had a motor mount bolt that was missing. I bought a new bolt and installed it right away.

Wizard! I’m not into cars,but Jeeps But somehow you keep me interested. I really just like your car wizard show. I have boats also. Just wanted to tell you , and your family, The wizard family is amazing! Be honest just lost of words.

It's much easier to test for bad motor mounts by putting the car in drive and reverse repeatedly. No need to touch the gas pedal.

@@johnbrown1381, how does this work? Works only with a hydraulic auto transmission, right?

​@@johnbrown1381what if it's a manual

Not necessarily. I’ve replaced one head light because the seal went on it and started to collect water…

Not to mention headlights can be sanded and reclearcoated to look new.. or a 3 m restoration kit $30 parts store or temporarily clean by running a buffer over it

@@markbell5701my friend did that to my Terra at his body shop. Wet sand them, wipe off, spray clearcoat

Badly worn.

what if you meet in a public place and the owner had to drive the car to get it there

My 1973 Datsun pic up if raining forget starting i changed my plugs to a different depth didn't hit piston fired up.

You’re not the only buyer to check the car

Yup, just what I was thinking when watching the video.

There're super yum I wish there was an online place to order from

Same with 5th gen camaros in Oshawa, good place to look for one to buy. Usually the people who built the car will take good care of it.

What city are you in?

@@MI-mx3rh He was replying to the original commenter

@@larryc506 Windsor. Ground Effects did all the decaling on the special edition SRT's and Ram's etc. Ram plant is just across the river in Detroit (Warren) MI. Minivan plant is a block from Ground Effects and Brampton Assy in near Toronto about 3.5 hrs away. Charger/ Challeger/300

Looked at a truck a while back, almost bought it, they could not find the title, I drove away

@@TheSleepingonit That was the smart move.

I've been looking at bikes for quite some time on Facebook Marketplace and some of them be saying they don't have the title. I be wondering why folks be having these bikes and no title, I just instantly think they're stolen. They also always claim that you can just go to the DMV and get it, then the question comes to mind for me "Why didn't the seller just go and get the title themselves before trying to sell the bike?" Wouldn't that make more sense?

@@bman409 It may or may not be stolen, but the title is a crucial bit of paperwork. If someone can't keep track of that, I'd wonder what else is wrong. In any case, there would be legal and procedural hoops to jump through, which are a headache.

@@eyerollthereforeiam1709 Right, but what I'm trying to get at is that I shouldn't have to be going through all that when the seller could've just did it themselves. It saves the headache for both parties. Anyone with common sense is gonna ask about the title. No, title.. I'ma just assume you're hiding something. Another thing that they do on Marketplace that I've noticed is that they never take pictures of the interior. So when I message them and ask about the interior, they always tell me the same thing "Oh I don't have any at the moment, but I will when I get off work or have time" like really? You had time to put up the ad with 6+ pictures of the body and even wrote a paragraph about the car but can't provide interior pictures?! So after I ask about the pictures, they come back to me about it. I don't even respond again cause that shows me that they're not trying to sell that car for real.

Bad head gasket

@@jogmas12 , and/or cracked head or block.

…would the dip stick show foam???

Coolant in the oil could also be a bad intake gasket. But even if the gasket and fluids are replaced, there's a pretty good chance that all the bearings in the bottom end are gone. Just walk away. Also, look for varnish on the oil dip-stick. If there's varnish there, the car has missed too many oil changes. Walk away.

So this one is actually not as much of a red flag as you might think IF it’s in the middle of winter. My 2007 Chevy impala oil cap looks like milk in the middle of winter but during the summer its dry.

Same here, it might be better to pay a few bucks to take a mechanic with you to help.dont tell the sell he's a mechanic 😂,

@@frznrrfan.frznrrfan102 agreed, that would make things slightly uncomfortable 😬🤣

Absolutely! Best plan ever… keeps one from looking like a jerk.

​@@frznrrfan.frznrrfan102The Mechanics here in Nigeria are often buddies with the guys at the dealership, so for the most part you're in for a long haul 😂😂😂😂 There's no getting out of that one.

Same here. I've gotten really lucky with several vehicle purchases off FB market. Man, ive been buying like an idiot, and ive just had good luck 😬

I'd also stay away from any old car that has an 'underbody coating' or appears to have been painted black. They're usually hiding rust.

Mike Brewer said of all body damage; the shape spare tyre well, if internal, is a valuable element because that area does not repair easily.

Your comment that a very clean "power barn" is a sign of hidden problems may not indicate that seller is hiding problems. I personally try to keep the engine bays of my vehicles NEAR "showroom clean", by "hand detailing" (NOT power washing) on a monthly basis. My vehicle is only driven during good weather (I am retired, don't drive much) so keeping the vehicle detailed adds to my driving enjoyment and is relatively easy to do. I am driving LESS but enjoying it MORE!

I’m curious what happened? If you never received a title, could you ever get a license plate or even resell it?

I'm curious too, please tell us what happened.

@@aussie2uGA depends on the state, but in CA as long as you have a signed Bill of Sale you can obtain a title as long as the previous owners records match the DMV.

@@hobear637 California buyers should double check that with DMV. If that was ever true, I don't think it is anymore. Now you can't even get a duplicate California title without a notarized application.

Sorry to hear that, but we learn from our mistakes and Mr Wizard. Thank God for him

I found this out the hard way but the frame was bent and the car was going down the Rd practically side ways. Would absolutely destroy the back tires In just a couple months

Very good point, I'll check the tires 1st before I get in the car because if the tires are bad, why go farther. RUN AWAY FROM THE CAR

Dont buy a car with warm engine

I bought a car with new tires in October 2020 , 600 miles later the rf tire was totally worn out , I checked the rest of the tires and they were manufactured in July 2010. WHERE did they find 10 year old tires ? I had to have the front end rebuilt and purchase 4 new tires. About 300 miles later the transmission went out ( total 900 miles ). I had to have the transmission rebuilt. I called the person and told him what I thought about him.

what kind of car is suspension work expensive? a quick google of a 2013 toyota camry strut is $50 for factory kyb, tie rod $40 for upgraded moog brand. if you cant afford $200 struts how do you afford gas?

Or engine sludge buildup.

Great point. Great Great point. I bought a car somebody put a head gasket sealer in. The car was NOT designed for the sealer, didn't even need a head gasket seal, it ultimately destroyed the cooling system. I had to fill and drive the car with water until about 100 liters of water had gone into the car and leaked out of the car. It then started to run. Perfectly like a normal car. I just flushed thr cooling system yesterday and immediately lost all heat. So the heater core is probably clogged

yes

Check everything on a used car PERIOD

How can you lower miles on modern cars?

@@wolfeadventures Easier than on the old ones .... just computer needed

@@wolfeadventures Seen people advertising scan tool services on FB marketplace for that purpose.

@@wyrazowfkp Sometimes not even a computer is needed. Certain cars only store the miles in the cluster and not in the computer/BCM of the car itself, so simply swapping the cluster in 5mins can add thousands in value for a scammer.

My dad taught me this when I was 12

It’s the continual “dumbing down” of society. We are supposed to buy the car from the dealer, our food from a grocer, hear our news from a presenter, etc. We are supposed to embrace “easy & convenient”, not to think smarter. That level of ignorance is going to bite us all one day.

@@aussie2uGA it's for their total control over the people. While people distrust their own neighbors.

As a seller, I would show you the door. Don't make life complicated.

Correct! Well said.

Banker here. I was looking for this comment.

@@clifft7832 If it's an expensive car people need to make sure

I once found a pristine Buick Lesabre owned by a widow but the title was in the name of her dead husband. I could have had her forge his name but was afraid it would come back to haunt me. To do the sale legally would have cost her more than the car was worth in legal costs. I backed away.

I change the oil on my cars religiously

I lost my car because I didn't change the oil :(

Or “Chocolate Milk”, which indicates contamination with coolant.

WTF is a "smog" test? Is that like a tailpipe emissions test?

@@mitsuturbo that’s the common and surprisingly legal term for an emission test. All over the State you find “smog test centers “ where motorists go to emission test their 1975 and newer vehicles. If you pass you get a “smog test certificate “ that enables you to renew your registration. Most cars older than 5 years, need to to be tested every two years.

Good call and I always do. My Taurus wagon had 8 recalls and thankfully all were completed and cleared. Most would never think of that site. Smart

Bc California is a Democrat shithole..........lol

100% agree, i test drove a cruze and half through the drive the stabilatrac light came on.

Sometimes the stabiltrac light and other problems that come up quickly on the Cruze are due to a bad ground wire on the battery the crimp cracks and causes problems usually a simple fix

​@@richardogle7772 keyword is usually

A dealership car can be taken to a independent mechanic. Pay the $100, get it up on the rack, and go through the thing. It’s worth the hassle.

@@motojaymn4131 that's just what cruzes do

What's a pawg? Something in your predictive text that you search for often?!

@@bodysuitguy 😂😂

@@bodysuitguy Perfect Ass White Girl(s). Parking pawls are yesterday's technology.

If I recall, there's a plastic piece in the shifter panel. And to shift it out of park is to take a screwdriver and take the trim bezel off, and inside there's a cable and if you move that along with the shifter it'll go out of park. My dad has a 300 and I bet it's the plastic piece inside the shifter panel. They make metal aftermarket ones bc it was so common on them.

@@bodysuitguy oh my gosh, that comment brought me so much joi.

Yes and it just needs a $20 dollar tune up to run perfect you know.

Does liquid not always drop from exhaust pipe on a petrol engine.

@@martymartin2894I would assume it does that when it’s running rich, which means the fuel/air mix is too high in fuel.

True but car people can send this video to people that are about to look at a car

Just because you're a car person doesn't mean you're a smart car person, everyone can learn something..

@@frznrrfan.frznrrfan102 that’s very true

I'm not a car person but I'm trying to learn as much as I can on KZfaq so I don't get scammed by sellers and mechanics. I'm really grateful for videos like this.

If all the monitors don’t list as ready the codes have been cleared recently.

Nah that's just a load of idling time.

​@@russell-gt1dyThat's what I was gonna say.

Auto club also good if either buyer or seller is a member. Lines are MUCH shorter. I sold a car to my neighbor that way, and when they told him to pay the sales tax, we walked to his bank, luckily nearby.

Nothing wrong with them as the body man knows what's doing.

I bought several, minor stuff and have a solid Piece of transportation, have one now low miles, Needs a headlight and fender…

@@rickreese5794 I got this '06 Element for a steal with under 100k miles. Needed a few odds and ends but I got it sorted and it's been a winner. Coast to coast camper.

Brought a salvage ford. Only damage was the grandma put in reverse and floored it (instead of the brake). Tail light, bumper cover, 2 rear shocks, and a slightly off-center tail gate on the hatch back.

There's one sitting in my driveway. I always like to ask the seller of pictures of damage prior to repairs. Nothing wrong with salvage titles, these days shopping around Copart there's a lot with minor damage that are salvage due to no available parts.

@Crazy Ohioan Cars, Guns, and Gaming it could also cover up timing chain noise.

I had cases where I specifically asked the seller not to start it before I got there, so I could hear it start, but I got there and it was already warmed up! They got angry that I wouldn’t look at it anymore. :P

@@retributionaura Yeah I just saw a guy who first wanted to bring the car out to me to look at like he was saving me a trip to his place! Then when I go over there at a scheduled time, he says "oh I just came from the shopping center quick." Engine was totally hot.

You are evil! Maybe asbestos of a thousand brakes pads accumulate on your nightstand

Mercedes transmissions of these years never have a dipstick. That was a Mercedes decision

Number one priority 👌

What companies would you recommend to do such work?

i.e. nearly every year ford focus since 09. Every headliner is stained from the sunroof drains clogging due to being only about 1.5mm wide. It takes just a few grains of sand to clog them in a day or two then rain fills the entire roof of the car then spills inside the entire interior of the roof then rest of the vehicle. Literally flooding the entire vehicle. EVERY single focus I've been in had brown head liners and mold in every crevice of the body If your focus has this issue. You must clean out the 2 drain ports weekly.

"you will have to fix it before you sell it" last guy didn't, why do i

The paper checklist idea is a good one. The clipboard is funny, but I bet a lot of sales don't happen just because of that.

It means that they don't want to put up with that kind of scrutiny. I wouldn't either. You just can't always call the shots because you are a nervous buyer.

@@clifft7832 It's my money. I don't want to give it away to someone who might be trying to scam me. By the way, I have this great bridge from Brookyn for sale at a sweet price...

@@clifft7832 Why _wouldn't_ you want to put up with that kind of scrutiny? What's wrong with the car?

Very good idea

I know people with cars that have had the entire front end replaced with clean titles that nobody will ever know about. So clean titles dont mean shit.

Great advice. I just bought used from a dealership. Digging through the glove box, I found the previous owner’s registration with address. Snapped a pic with phone. Looked him up on the web. Actually able to talk to him and question about vehicle history. Sealed the deal for me.

Holy shit

I bought a used car at the dealership and eventually the engine locked up and I lost the car. Dealers sale used cars with problems but they’re good at hiding it.