Pre-Purchase Inspection for Used Cars & Trucks
A used car, SUV or truck can be a great buy or a very expensive mistake. A pre-purchase inspection before you hand over the money tells you which.
Private sellers and dealers alike may not know about, or mention, the problems a vehicle has. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent shop gives you facts to make a decision with, and often gives you leverage to negotiate a fair price or walk away.
Used cars, SUVs and minivans
Whether it's a first car for a new driver, a minivan for a growing family or a commuter with a lot of highway miles, the same hidden issues come up again and again: overdue maintenance, slow oil or coolant leaks, worn brakes and suspension parts, transmission fluid that's been neglected, and warning lights that were cleared right before the sale. A pre-purchase inspection turns up those things while you can still negotiate or walk away.
Extra care on used diesel trucks
Used diesel pickups hold their value, which means the stakes are high. Some diesel repairs, such as injectors, head work, turbos or emissions components, can cost thousands of dollars. Signs of hard use, overheating history, fuel contamination or removed and modified emissions equipment are all things you want to know about before you buy, not after.
What we look at
- Engine condition: leaks, noises, smoke, how it starts and idles
- Stored, pending and history codes from the vehicle's computers
- Cooling system condition and signs of overheating
- Transmission operation and fluid condition
- Brakes, tires, steering and suspension
- Frame and underbody rust, and evidence of accident repair
- 4x4 system operation, where equipped
- For diesels: fuel system, turbo and boost, and emissions equipment present and working
- Electrical, A/C and accessories
How it works
- Call (816) 269-4402 to schedule. Let the seller know you'd like a pre-purchase inspection; a seller who refuses is telling you something.
- Bring the vehicle to our shop at 405 SE 10th St in Oak Grove.
- We inspect it and walk you through what we found: the good, the concerning and the deal-breakers, with rough repair costs where it helps.
We inspect gas and diesel cars, SUVs, pickups and vans.
If you’re in the Oak Grove area Elite Diesel & Auto Works should be your go to for your automotive repair needs. I dropped my truck off with an issue beyond my capabilities and picked up a truck that runs better than it did new. They have great customer service and will keep you in the loop throughout the process. I could not recommend this place more.