What to look for when buying used 4WDs

Top Tips for Buying a Used 4WD

From inspecting the vehicle’s condition to asking the right questions, a thorough approach can help you spot a bargain and steer clear of a lemon. Below, we break down the key factors to consider when buying a second-hand 4WD.

Is the Owner Telling the Truth?

People selling their 4WDs will hide the truth. Of course, they won’t always tell you that they bought the vehicle from the mines, or that they take it 4WDing in the Glasshouse Mountains every weekend, or that they previously flooded it in Cape York. It is important to do your research on the owner, then compare what they have said to the condition of the 4WD and make a judgment call.

An example of a judgment call between the owner and the vehicle could be that the seller has said the vehicle has not done much heavy towing, yet they have installed an aftermarket brake controller and an upgraded tow hitch. These are a few signs the vehicle has towed something heavy.

Questions to ask the seller:

• What has the vehicle been used for?
• Why are you selling the vehicle?
• Do you have a service history of the vehicle?
• Has the vehicle ever been in an accident?

The answers to these questions can help you get an understanding of the type of person who is selling the 4WD. Then, when you look over the vehicle, you can compare their word to the condition and make the call if it would be a good purchase or not. You need to get as much information about the condition of the vehicle and the type of person the seller is.

Checking For Rust

Unless you are looking for a project car such as an old 4WD to transform, like a GQ Patrol, a Hilux, or a 60 Series LandCruiser, you really need to keep an eye out for rust. In most cases, you will find rust around the windscreen, the roof, and the bottoms of doors. Once rust starts, it is difficult to stop it.

Our opinion is that if you see rust, then walk away, especially in a newer 4WD or rust on the chassis.

Basic Engine Checks

The hardest part to check in a 4WD, and the part that could cost you the most money in repairs, is the engine. Here are a few checks to get a good indication of the health of the vehicle’s engine:

Smoke

Check for excessive smoke when the vehicle is started up. In a modern diesel engine, white and black smoke indicate unburned fuel, and blue smoke is oil.

Turbos and Injectors

Two areas that can be difficult to check are the injectors and the turbo. When looking over the engine, check around the turbo for leaking seals. With the injectors, while test driving the vehicle, keep an eye out for excessive white smoke and listen for any abnormal sounds, such as excessive knocking – indicating that the injectors are tired.

Fan Clutch Wear

With the engine hot, shut it off with the bonnet open and check to see if the fan stays spinning after shutdown, as this can indicate a worn viscous fan clutch. This can mean that the engine may have been running above optimum temperature without the fan working.

Blow-by

A handy trick to check the overall condition of the engine is to check for excessive blow-by. Start the vehicle and remove the filler cap, then place it back on the hole without screwing it in. If it bounces around a bit – particularly on diesel engines – that is completely normal. If the cap blows away, this indicates excessive blow-by and could mean worn piston rings and a tired engine.

Milky Oil

Another thing to check on the oil filler cap and the dipstick is to look for signs of milky oil. Milky oil can mean contamination like coolant because of a cracked head. Black oil is completely normal for diesel engines, as anyone who has ever changed diesel oil knows it turns black almost instantly.

Air Filter

Take out the air filter and check for any dust past the clean side. Any dust there means the engine could have dust inside, which wears everything out.

Leaks

Look for obvious leaks from rocker covers, the turbo, and oil return lines.

Old Diesels

If the vehicle is an old diesel and is not starting well, it may be worn glow plugs, but it is mostly a big indicator of low compression in the engine.

Test Drive

Taking the 4WD for a test drive will give the best indication of how the vehicle performs and if there may be any internal issues, as you are more likely going to hear them when you are driving.

Braking

When driving in a straight line and when it is safe to do so, do a few brake checks to feel for a shudder and to test if the vehicle pulls left or right, as this can indicate worn brake components or a caliper may need an overhaul of working parts.

Automatics

When driving an auto, listen and feel for late or irregular shifting.

Transfer Case

Make sure you test high range and low range to ensure they are engaging and working as they should. Go through all the gears while doing this check as well to make sure the transfer case is operating properly and take notice of how easily it shifts and selects into high range and low range.

Gearbox and Transmission

It can be very hard to diagnose if your transmission or gearbox has any issues, so we spoke to the experts at Wholesale Automatic Transmissions and 360 Gearboxes. Both our experts agreed that if possible – whether in an auto or a manual – try and drain a little bit out of the gearbox/transmission to get an indication of the internal conditions or ask your Roadworthy Certificate provider to change that oil. This may seem excessive, but it pays to be fastidious in your checks when spending your hard-earned money.

Bodywork and Damage

The bodywork and paint condition of a car are important when buying a second- hand vehicle, and it is important to check there is no mismatched paint on the panels. Most people will pay for an online check of a 4WD that will only tell you if the vehicle was previously written off, but it will not tell you if the vehicle has been in a minor accident or if it has been T-boned.

Here are some tell-tale signs to see if the vehicle has been in an accident:

• Check for swirl marks, dots, or blemishes in the paint. Factory paint is perfect as it is applied by a robot, and it is much harder to get this effect with a spray gun.
• Mismatching colours on panels mean a panel has been resprayed or has been replaced from a donor car.
• Look for sealant under the guards and where panels attach to areas, like the firewall. When the sealant looks smooth, it is an indication it was applied by a robot.
• Gaps in doors and the bonnet can also mean that a panel has been replaced.
• If you find a panel has been replaced, it may not be a deal-breaker, but remember that if this was not disclosed by the seller, who knows what else they are hiding?

Has the Vehicle Been Looked After?

A well-maintained 4WD will have fewer hidden issues and be much more reliable in the long run. Checking the service history, accessories, and overall condition of the vehicle can give you a good indication of how it’s been treated by its previous owner. Here’s what to look for to ensure the 4WD has been properly cared for.

Logbook

Ensure you check the logbook to see who has done the work, if it has been to the same mechanic, and whether there are service records and receipts missing. Make sure you spend time checking the logbook properly, checking the kilometres on the odometer match the quality of the vehicle.

Visual Check

You will be able to visually see the difference between a cared-for 4WD with 150,000 km on the odometer compared to one that has been hammered and thrashed off-road. Even little things like tears in the seats and wear on the clutch and brake pedals can indicate the kind of life the 4WD has had.

There are also little things that indicate the 4WD has been looked after by the owner. Things like bonnet protectors and headlight protectors are a sign the owner has cared for their 4WD.

Accessories

Check the aftermarket accessories and how they have been installed – you can see the difference between DIY backyard wiring on a dual battery system compared to one that has been professionally installed. Our tip is that if they have used tech screws to mount things rather than nuts and bolts, it is likely done by someone who takes shortcuts and doesn’t know what they are doing.

Driveline and Chassis

The driveline and chassis will often tell you if a vehicle has been used for hard 4WDing, and because of this, the seller will often try to tidy it up to make it more presentable for inspections from buyers.

Tail Shaft

To check the condition of the tail shaft and uni-joints, give them a shake with no load on them and feel for movement in the uni-joints. Check the condition of the centre bearing if the vehicle has one and look out for weeping seals on the transfer case, diff housing, and pinion seals.

Chassis

Inspect hard-to-reach areas of the chassis with a torch, looking for visible signs of rust, corrosion, or new paint. If you do find new paint, ask the seller why, as they may be trying to hide rust or previous chassis repairs. If you do find paint or surface rust, thoroughly check the rest of the chassis. Look for sand on top of the chassis rails and cross members, as this can indicate beach driving and poor cleaning maintenance.

Underbody Damage

Look for gouges, marks, and dents on low-hanging driveline components like under the diff housing, U-bolt plates, and low shock mounts. All can be signs of hard 4WDing.

Bushes

Check the condition of the bushes on the 4WD, such as the lower control arms, tie rod ends, and radius arms.

Water Inspection

Look for tide marks and under door cards to get an indication of whether the vehicle has taken on water during a water crossing or flood.

Dust and Dirt

Anyone who has done an outback trip knows that it is very hard to get rid of red dirt from your 4WD, so if you suspect something, pull back a little bit of the carpet to see if you can find some.

Your Choice

At the end of the day, you need to weigh up everything. If the engine is healthy, the gearbox is smooth, and the vehicle has not done a lot of 4WDing, you may not be worried about that one panel that has been replaced. Focus on the parts of the 4WD that will cost the most to fix, and if you aren’t sure, take a mate who knows their way around 4WDs or pay a mechanic to check everything over.

Often, 4WDers fall into the trap of buying the newest 4WD they can for their money. However, there is no denying that the number of kilometres – especially on modern diesels – is the most important thing for you to consider.

We recommend looking at a lower-kilometre older vehicle rather than a high-kilometre newer 4WD that’s the same price. Vehicles with old technology are easier, cheaper, and less trouble to repair.