Skilton Truck Repairs Onsite Pre-Purchase Inspection
When buying a used truck, you need to make sure it has been maintained correctly.
We can’t see inside of an engine, but with our experience we know when a vehicle has been looked after or not.
If you need a professional pre-purchase inspection then Skilton Truck Repairs can give you one.
Our Pre-Purchase Inspection Consists Of The Following
- Visual Inspection
On one hand, you can have a quarry truck that has dents and scratches all over it, but all its filters and oils have been replaced religiously. On the other hand, you can have a privately owned truck that is shiny and scratch free, yet the filters and oils and grease have been neglected. A vehicle like this has the potential to cause thousands of dollars in repairs.
This is where we come in. We visually inspect the entire vehicle. From the passenger seat mounting to the rear U-Bolts and everything in-between. Is the oil old? is the oil diluted with fuel? water? Brake and tire report. Everything is visually inspected front to back and all faults are recorded on the digital inspection report.
- Cosmetic Inspection
Obviously we don’t want dents and scratch’s. So we inspect all the cosmetic aspects too. The cab, inside the cab, the body, marker plates, light mountings. Accessory’s and their installation ect..
- Road Test
We listen to the vehicle with experience. We know how the engine should sound, the vibrations while driving, cracks and bangs while turning. Is she going to over heat? Make a whining noise when on the highway? Do all the instruments on the dash work correctly. A proper road test is where the vehicle is really tested.
- Electronic Computer Scan
- Full system scan for current or past error codes.
- Freeze frame data when available, eg miss fire counts, engine over speed.
- Visually inspect the live engine data to check health of diesel fuel system and sensors.
- Service History.
We check for log books and if available we call the mechanic who is listed on the service sticker and ask about previous service history.
- Digital Pre-Inspection Report
The Pre-Inspection Report Includes:
- Visual Examination: A professional visual inspection to assess the vehicle’s condition.
- Digital Reporting: A digital report documenting the inspection findings and archived for future use.
- Road Test: An evaluation conducted through a test drive to gauge the vehicle performance.
- Electronic Diagnostics: Utilization of computers to assess the vehicle’s electronic sensor data and gauge vehicle performance.
- Service History Review: Analysis of the vehicle’s maintenance records to evaluate its upkeep.
- Expert Recommendation: A professional judgment regarding the advisability of the vehicle’s purchase.
Our Advice
We advise against investing substantial sums into a pre-owned truck without conducting a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a qualified professional. Such oversight can lead to significant financial burdens due to repairs and ongoing issues.
Consider a scenario where you allocate $100,000 for a vehicle, only to encounter engine overheating while under load. This could require towing services, mechanic consultations, extensive diagnostics, and potentially, the replacement of an engine, incurring thousands in additional costs. To mitigate these risks, it is important to consider a professional inspection, which can significantly decrease the likelihood of encountering such expensive setbacks.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Conditions
- In dry weather or sheltered area.
- Safe setting: Roadside is fine, ensure the vehicle is positioned away from heavy traffic.
- Ideally, the vehicle’s engine should be cold upon initial inspection to allow for an assessment of its cold-start capabilities
- The seller agrees to a minimum one-hour test drive of the vehicle.
