Our pre-purchase inspections are just that... pre-purchase inspections (PPI's). We look over a vehicle prior to purchase and give a written report on the vehicle's condition (usually for the buyer, however, some sellers have had us perform this service as a testament to their being upfront and honest about a vehicle's condition at sale).

Leave it to our crazy creative clients to invent other ways to utilize this service...here are some of the ways they've saved money...

• Getting a used vehicle inspected prior to purchasing...
• From private sellers to the dealer's lot (or even when your company buys another company/fleet).
• Big trucks to little cars, and everything in between.
• Avoid buying a "paint job" (when a vehicle "looks" pretty, but mechanically, is your worst nightmare).
• Make a "real value" offer on a vehicle (or know when to completely walk away).
• Negotiate needed repairs before committing to a purchase price.
• Buy with confidence.
  
  >> A real example <<

• A client was ready to purchase his first "big truck"...a dump truck advertised as having a brand new dump body and freshly rebuilt engine. He could have easily forgone any pre-purchase inspection... with a new body and engine, what could be wrong? The dump body was indeed brand new, but the engine rebuild was done so poorly & "on the cheap" that coolant was washing down the cylinder walls. This problem was caught during our pre-purchase inspection. The only solution would be to completely rebuild the engine again (correctly). The client liked the truck otherwise and after informing the dealer, easily negotiated a $10,000 reduction in price. The engine ultimately cost $6215. to rebuild, saving him $3785! The client continues to use the truck to this day.
  
  
  
• Have a vehicle "mechanically appraised" before making major (or any) repairs.
• Our clients know when to fix and when to bail on a vehicle. We keep them apprised of a vehicle's overall condition thru our maintenance program. But you may need to know: "If I replace the engine for $10,000., will the transmission break down next week?" Sometimes, it's better to walk away from making a major (or any) repair.
• Learn when putting more money into a vehicle is a bad fiscal move.
• Get peace of mind knowing your vehicle is structurally sound or knowing that you didn't throw good money after bad.
  
  >> A real example <<
  
  
• A (non-profit) client received a donated sport utility vehicle to be used in transporting medical staff and supplies during bad storms. The vehicle came with a "small" brake fluid leak. Upon careful inspection, it was determined that this brake fluid leak was the "final straw" for the previous owner who had been fed up with the need to continually repair the vehicle. After we documented the MASSIVE amounts of rust under the vehicle, we determined any repairs needed would be astronomically expensive... (rust is not a mechanic's friend). The client refrained from making repairs and when a kind benefactor heard the story, donated another vehicle in MUCH better condition.

• • •

So... what do you look for, anyway???

Every vehicle has a story. When buying a used vehicle, you want one with a plain, "very boring" story. Our carefully detailed inspection is designed to detect clues and determine (among other things) if major failures have occurred, if a vehicle has ever been in an accident, if routine repairs were made correctly or if a vehicle was routinely used improperly (which greatly shortens it's lifespan).

Whoa!  What is "used improperly"?!??   A small ½ ton pickup truck hauling a 10,000 lb ("Bobcat") trailer.  A 26,000 lb GVW dump truck hauling 40,000 lbs of quarry stone.  A 33,000 lb GVW truck permanently loaded with 18,000 lbs on the front axle.

>> A real example <<

A client was ready to purchase a used vehicle for a very good price. It was a very pretty vehicle and looked like it just stepped off the showroom floor. The client was excited at the prospect of owning such a pretty vehicle and almost decided against having the PPI performed. Because we could do the PPI on very short notice, they went ahead. As we began our pre-purchase inspection, we began to sense that the story being told about the vehicle didn't match up with the condition. After looking closely, we noted several issues that, put together, told us:

• This vehicle had been stolen.
• While stolen, it had been flipped several times and subsequently totaled by the insurance company.
• After being totaled, the owner had fixed it himself with used parts and very low-cost labor.
• The title was transferred out of state to "lose" the fact that it had been totaled.
• The vehicle would never be made "right". The frame was damaged and many components were physically "present", but disabled (to avoid repairing them correctly.)
• As a "private" seller (as opposed to a dealer), the buyer would have no recourse to get his money back once he handed over the cash.
  

The seller, who was present at the inspection, was in disbelief that anyone "found out" the vehicle had been through all this.   As a result, the seller offered the car at half his original price. Wisely, the client declined and went on to find a much better vehicle.

Do you look at general condition?

Of course. But general condition is just one thing. As vehicles get "smarter" and more complex, we are able to inspect more than just "belts and hoses". Many clues abound in the computer software running today's vehicles. As an example... just because it's harder to kick back today's odometers doesn't mean a vehicle always displays it's "true" runtime.  By communicating with the onboard computer of a truck, we can tell when a truck has been idled for excessive amounts of time... so the odometer may show 62,000 miles but the fuel consumption and engine hours show a "true" runtime of 165,000 miles! (Think of a tool dealer's truck or a plant truck that doesn't leave the company's property : it idles all day long but may physically go only a few short miles each day...)

On many vehicles we can see if all the recalls have been performed.

To a great degree, we can tell you if routine maintenance has been performed and if it has been done correctly.

Conversely, we can tell you when a vehicle has been "hacked up" by an amateur mechanic or if repairs were made poorly/incorrectly.

We can often see when a lot of money was thrown at a vehicle to cure a problem, without success. 

We can tell you what commonly replaced items are original (starter, alternator, etc), and if they are due for failure (based on industry averages) and what items may have already been replaced.

We can tell you the condition of many items and grade them for their age.  (Eg: "cooling system looks clear --- no rust or solder bloom, coolant clean looking, proper coolant installed, protected to -30°, DCA at correct level...excellent for 180,000 miles.")  

Additionally, for those clients purchasing EXPENSIVE used equipment, or buying a special-purpose vehicle that was "built" around the powertrain, we can offer the services of oil/fluid analysis by a professional laboratory.  We can take sample of any fluid (engine oil, transmission fluid, fuel, coolant, gear oil, etc) and have it spectrochemically analyzed for wear metals, contaminants and additives as well as physical properties (the condition of the fluid itself).

So, what do I find out?

We'll tell you everything we can about the vehicle, mechanically. Some vehicles are easier to inspect than others, but we'll leave no stone unturned. We'll tell you what we see, how it affects the vehicle mechanically and if the issue is:

• "nice to know " (no action necessary)
• "needs action soon"
• "requires repair now"

Will you tell me how much the vehicle is worth?

Vehicle values fluctuate from region to region, from model to model and option codes...so unfortunately, we cannot guide you with the vehicle's pricing. We can tell you approximately how much the repairs will cost to help guide you in your decision.

Will you tell me if it will work for my business?

If you have asked us to consult with you on your vehicle needs, we'll have already given you guidelines of vehicles you should be looking for. We'll let you know beforehand, based on the specs, if this truck is one you should be looking at. If it isn't, we'll save you the cost of an unnecessary PPI.