Q: So im thinking about buying this car from someone. he says "just put in engine and transmission from junk yard runs strong! New tuneup, newer tires,v6 engine. needs doorlocks, turn signal, minor exterior body work" its an older car obviously so when i go look/test drive it, what are signs i should look for that this is just gonna break down in the next month? As in what would you do when going to look at a car? such as test timing, tire alignment, break line leaks etc....
A: There are a lot of things to look at. First of all, when you first start it up, look at the engine temperature to see if he had the car running before you came or not? If he did, the car may run rough when it is cold, and he would be trying to cover that up. Also check for smoke from the exhaust when it is started. Look at where it is parked, or get under it and check and see if there is any fluid leaking. When you take it out to drive it, don't be afraid to get on it a little bit and put it through the ropes. Those cars were made to be driven fairly rough, and any issues should surface then. Pull the oil dipstick and make sure there isn't any coolant in it. That's all i can really think of for sure off the top of my head.