Charley Helvy
Automotive Expert
Education
- Bachelors of Science, DeVry University, Technical Management
- Associate's Degree, Community College of the Air Force, Applied Science in Vehicle Maintenance
- Graduate, Air Force Vehicle Maintenance Training School
- Certificate of Completion, Diesel Mechanics, Oklahoma Central Technology Center
Certifications & Organizations
- Certified Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Heavy Truck Technician
- Certified Automotive Service Excellence Auto Technician
- Certified Automotive Service Excellence Truck Mounted Equipment Technician
Favorite Piece of Advice
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Forum Comments (2)
2. Identify what is important to you in a car. Is it fuel mileage, large family capacity, ability to carry stuff, tow capacity, or style? Then, do research to find makes and models that fit your interests.
3. Once you identify the car you want, do some research before talking to the seller. I highly recommend a carfax report to see if there have been any accidents. Check websites to see what similar cars' price points are to make sure this car is not too high or too low (both are suspect). When you do talk to the seller, ask about maintenance. Has the car had regular oil changes? Have they kept receipts? Is the car titled properly with no accidents?
4. Do a very good visual inspection and if you have a family member who is an auto tech ask them to come along. Any issues could be used to negotiate the price. Some things to look at: Check the condition of the tires, are they worn and need replacing? Check the interior for damaged seats, headliners, dashboard, and lights. Turn the car on and see if it has a check engine light on. When you start the car, is it easy to start? While it is idling, is it smooth or surging? Check the air conditioning while it is running and do a light check. Most people don’t look underneath the car, but rust or fluid leaks on the undercarriage can indicate that a car is in poor condition. Checking for rust is especially critical if buying a classic car.
5. Just because you find a few minor problems doesn’t mean you can’t make an offer, just ask the seller if they are willing to come down and give them the list of things you found wrong. In many cases, the seller might be willing to fix those issues themselves or come down on the price enough for you to pay for the repairs. Keep in mind the seller might have already been aware of any issues you found and has already accounted for that in their price. In that case, it becomes your decision to buy or keep looking. Good luck with the car hunt!
The overall brand resale value also has an impact. Honda has a reputation for having higher resale values at higher mileages than other manufacturers. I recommend doing some research to look at reliability statistics for the manufacturer and include that in your mileage considerations. Next, look at the engine type. Diesels are built for strength and longevity so a mileage of 50,000 + wouldn't be as concerning for a diesel engine as it would be in a gasoline car.
Bottom line: I would say be wary of cars with over 50,000 miles on them, but don’t be scared of going over 50k if some of the factors I mentioned above fall in line.
Co-authored Articles (85)
How to Use a Ratchet Strap
Secure your cargo safely and quickly with this simple guideRatchet straps are fasteners used to secure cargo during transport. When used correctly, these straps can support many different weights and cargo sizes. In orde...
How to Find a Hidden GPS Tracker on a Car: Detection & Removal
While it’s easy to picture genius detectives sneakily placing GPS trackers on the vehicles of evil masterminds, the reality is that anybody can buy a GPS bug and stick it to your car. As scary as that may seem, rest ea...
How to Turn Traction Control Off: Instructions for Any Vehicle
Stuck in the mud? Here’s how switching off your traction control system might helpTraction control (TC) is an important safety feature of your vehicle, especially when you’re driving through ice, rain, or any other c...
How to
Open a Stuck Car Door
Realizing your car door is jammed can be upsetting, but we're here to help! Whether your door is stuck from the inside or outside, we'll walk you through several solutions can you use to get it open again. We'll also exp...
How to Tie a Trucker's Hitch: Classic Knot & Sheepshank Variation
Haul a heavy load with this tried-and-true truckers knotA trucker's hitch is an effective knot for securing heavy loads. It's composed of three parts to give it maximum strength and utility: a loop, a purchase, and two h...
What Causes White Smoke from Your Muffler (or Engine Bay)?
''Diagnose and fix issues causing white smoke''Seeing a thin cloud of white smoke appear in the rearview mirror on a cold or humid day is normal—in most cases, the smoke is just water vapor. However, if a thick, persis...
How to
Test an Oil Pump
Oil pumps feed the oil through your engine to lubricate all of the components and help them move against one another without wearing excessively and breaking. However, over time, your pump may start to wear down and make...
How to
Shift a Semi Truck
Learning to drive a semi truck properly requires lots of training and experience, but if you're curious about the basics of shifting one, you can get a primer on the steps that you'll need to practice if you want to driv...
How to
Get out of a Car Without Getting Shocked by Static Electricity
Do you yelp every time you touch a car door handle? These shocks usually happen because you and the car seat have picked up opposite charges during the ride. To prevent the zap, either make contact in a way that lets the...
How to Fix a Parking Brake Light That Won’t Turn Off
Troubleshoot your stubborn parking brake light with these 5 tips You’re leisurely driving down the road when you see your parking brake light illuminating your dashboard. You swear you put your parking brake down, so h...
How to
Replace a Power Window Motor
If one of the power windows in your vehicle fails to function, it may be the result of a broken power window motor. If you have identified the motor as the culprit, replacing it is fairly straight forward: after disconne...
How to Use a Forklift Like a Pro: Driving, Parking, and Loading
Learn how to safely drive a forklift with this beginner’s guide Forklifts are more likely to tip over and harder to steer than cars, making them more difficult to drive safely. After practicing how to drive and learni...
How to
Drive a Tractor
Tractors come in all sizes with different horsepower engines. Tractors make farming easier and more efficient. You can attach a plow or blower and use your tractor to remove snow, attach a bucket and move wood, stone, or...
How to Tell If the Coil Pack on Your Car is Failing
''Identify and fix a faulty ignition coil with this DIY guide'' A vehicle’s coil pack, also known as the ignition coil, supplies the high-tension current needed to bring your car to life. Even though coil packs last as...
How to
Measure a Pulley Belt Size
Pulley belts, also known as V-belts, are rubber belts wrapped around a set of pulleys that transmit force as an engine rotates the pulleys. In order to replace or install the proper belt for your pulleys, you need to hav...
How to Install a Gas Cap like a Mechanic
Installing a gas cap is easy with our comprehensive guideInstalling a new gas cap is a very simple procedure, but the exact steps can vary depending on the type of gas cap you have. Before you can install a new cap, you ...
How to Fix an Oil Leak in Your Car
Learn how to identify and stop an engine oil leakIf your car has an oil leak, it’s essential to repair it right away—luckily, there are a few easy fixes you can do at home for cheap. The first step is to locate where...
How to
Register a Homemade Trailer
Get your DIY street legal in the US, UK, Canada, or AustraliaThe process of registering a homemade trailer varies based on local and state regulations, but basically involves submitting an application to transport author...
How to
Test Glow Plugs
Glow plugs preheat the air in the combustion chamber in diesel engines so that they start faster when they are cold. If your engine is having trouble starting or you see smoke coming from your exhaust, then one or more o...
How to
Change Your Air Filter
Your car needs air just as much as it needs fuel; air filters keep the inside of the engine free of dust and insects. Replace or clean your air filter at the recommended interval to keep air flowing freely and your car r...
