3 Common Fluid-Leaks To Examine When Buying Salvage Cars

It is always wise to be aware of the different problems with leakage that your vehicle may have in the long run to ensure that you avoid or fix these problems immediately. Parts of a car which can leak fluid include brakes, transmission, oil filters, coolant, windshield power steering. If you too own a new car or have recently bought a salvage car for sale, and would need help in terms of detecting and fixing these common fluid leaks, this post is for you. Read on to learn about the three most common fluid leaks and ways to avoid them.

1. Brake Fluid Leakage

There are many parts in a car that can lead to brake fluid leakage. These include the calipers, brake system, brake lines, or wheel cylinders. You should always look for these parts when doing common inspections of your car for leaking brake fluid. Red flags include a yellow, clear or light brown puddle underneath your brakes because this is a sign of brake fluid leakage. Additionally, check the consistency and texture of the fluid leakage. If it is thick and with a strong acidic smell, it is probably brake fluid leak.

2. Antifreeze or Coolant Leakage

Many parts of your car can leak coolant or antifreeze. These include the water pump, coolant reservoir, radiator, or heater hoses. You must fix a coolant leakage immediately to prevent more serious problems from developing long-term. You must be aware of the indicators of leaking coolant or antifreeze fluid. These include puddle leaks which are neon green, pink, or bright orange in color. Similarly, blue and sweet smelling pools of liquid also point towards antifreeze and coolant leaks.

3. Transmission Fluid Leakage

In addition to brake fluid leaks and coolant leaks, your vehicle may also be subject to transmission leak. Transmission fluid leaks may be caused in fluid lines, the transmission pan gasket, or seals. When examining your car for transmission fluid leaks, be mindful of puddle leaks in the middle or front of your car, especially if the color of the liquid is brown or dark red in color. Newer car models use transmission fluids which have a light brown color so be mindful of this if you are inspecting a new car.

Wrap Up

While this article has discussed some of the more common fluid leaks found in cars, it is certainly not an exhaustive list. For example, your oil filter or power steering column can also leak fluid. You need to watch for these leaks as well when doing regular car inspections. If you manage and fix the three above mentioned leaks, you will keep your car in mint condition for years, no matter whether it’s a new car or a recently bought salvage car for sale.

4 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying an Auction Car for Sale

Online auto auctions are becoming more common in America and much more popular with Americans. This has lead to the dramatic and quick proliferation of websites that allow people to access these dealer auctions online. If you too are planning to buy an auction car for sale, you must come to online auctions fully informed and prepared. Also, read this article to learn about the four common mistakes which new bidders make so that you can avoid them.

1. Not fixing a clear budget

If you want to find the best deal at an auction, you must have a strict and clear budget in order to do this successfully. Setting a budget accomplishes two things. First, it ensures that you are prepared for any and all expenses which may emerge after you buy the car. These expenses include those associated with making delivery and repair arrangements. Secondly, it keeps your bidding prices within range which you can actually afford.

2. Skipping salvage car auctions

It is wrong to assume that salvage cars for sale are worthless. The fact, however, is that New Jersey salvage car auctions offer salvage cars that are in great condition and are perfectly driveable. Some of these cars only require a few repairs to make them driveable. And the best part is that most salvage cars for sale are available at pennies to dollar.

3. Not doing your homework

When you have finally found that perfect car which you want to bid on, use the VIN to request a vehicle history report through a third-party website. If you do this, you will have more valuable and relevant information which will help you make better decisions when bidding. For example, you will know if you are bidding upon a car which is ‘value for money’ or a lemon. You will also learn valuable things about the car, like if and when it was involved in an accident..you will also learn why the car has been listed in the action. If you do this type of research, you will have access to insider information which will help you buy the right car for you at the right price, thereby saving you thousands in fixing hidden problems which no listing will mention

4. Not accounting the auction fees and taxes

The auction fees and taxes which you have to pay for the car you end up buying vary dramatically for different auctions. You must obtain a copy of the “auction fee schedule” for this reason. You will be better able to determine the extent to which the fees are involved for cars in various price ranges. Additionally, most states require the auctioneer to collect the vehicle tax when it is purchased. One exception if is you are buying a car as an out-of-state resident. In this case, the tax will be paid in the state which you live when you obtain the tag for the car.

Make sure you clarify all your doubts before you place the final bid. The good thing is that most online auctions have support option that allows users to get advice and answers to any questions they may have.