What is this? Well, I thought I'd concatenate the subaru 152-point checklist, some other guides, and some common knowledge to make one big master list of things to check on a used WRX that you're looking at. I'd like to keep it just for WRX/STi. PLEASE let me know if you spot something wrong or missing.
I couldn't sleep last night, so I decided to just take 3 hours and write this up. Hope the sleep deprivation doesn't show through
And remember - a perfect car can fail a few of these - a great car can fail even more. This list is so you can collect information, and make a more informed decision.
Talk to the owner/dealer
Walk around the vehicle
COLD Underhood checks
On-lift checks - some can be done off-lift.
Trunk - sedan only issues
Hatch - wagon/hatchback only issues
Get in the vehicle
I couldn't sleep last night, so I decided to just take 3 hours and write this up. Hope the sleep deprivation doesn't show through
And remember - a perfect car can fail a few of these - a great car can fail even more. This list is so you can collect information, and make a more informed decision.
Talk to the owner/dealer
- Get a vehicle history report. That'll help you answer some of these:
- Was the vehicle in an accident, flood, etc.?
- Does the vehicle have a clean title?
- Do the odometer readings make sense?
- Any open recalls?
- Ask for a full service history. You may not get it (some folks are disorganized), but it REALLY helps.
- When was the last oil change? What type of oil was used?
- When was the last tune up (spark plugs)? What type?
- When were the tires last rotated?
- What aftermarket parts are on there?
Walk around the vehicle
- Look at all the panels. ALL of them.
- Do they all match EXACTLY in color? If not, why not?
- Are there any paint deformations - scratches, rock marks, etc?
- Are there any metal deformations - dings, dents, etc?
- Has the car been debadged? Can you have the original badges?
- Are there extra badges? Are they removable?
- Try all 4 doors - open and close them with the windows up and down. Rattle is okay, but it should be easy and solid.
- Are there any chips/cracks on the windshield or the other windows?
- Are the wiper blades in good condition?
- For each door (5 on the wagon/hatch):
- Hit lock via the keyless fob. Did the door lock as expected?
- Try the door - shouldn't open.
- Hit unlock via the keyless fob. Did the door unlock as expected?
- Try the door - should open.
- When the door's opened, do the interior lights come on as expected?
- Look at the wheels/tires - curb rash?
- Is the spare in good condition and full?
- Are there enough tools to change a tire in there?
COLD Underhood checks
- Pop the hood. Is it an easy process?
- Check oil level - since the car's COLD, the level should be low in the safe range - BUT IN THE RANGE.
- Check coolant level - there's a fill line.
- Check power steering fluid level.
- Check brake fluid.
- Check clutch fluid.
- Check ATF or gear oil - the latter is the dipstick under the I/C.
- Check windshield washer fluid.
- Inspect the battery.
- Does it look like there's been a wrench to it recently? why?
- Is it secure?
- Get a mechanic to check the chemistry (specific gravity, electrolyte level).
- Run a load test
- Get a compression test - are all four values in a decent range and close to each other?
- Pull on the accessory belts (two of them - better have small hands ) - are they taut?
- Look at those belts again closely - are they cracked or worn looking?
- Look at all the hoses - are they in good condition?
- Look at all the clamps - are they tight?
- Look at the metal around here:
- Do all the VIN's match?
- Is there a catalyst sticker on the hood, and at least one sticker on the front frame?
- Look carefully at the frame pieces (to which the body panels are attached) - ANY warping whatsoever?
- Look at the _____, is it aftermarket? List: (not all under-hood bits)
- Intercooler
- Intake
- BPV
- Uppipe - this'll be hard to see.
- Turbo
- Downpipe - ditto.
- Exhaust - get under the vehicle for this.
- Suspension - springs, struts, etc.
- Sway bars
- Strut tower braces
- Headlights/Taillights
- Brakes - you'll see calipers and rotors.
- Wheels
- Body - body kits, spoiler, hood scoop, roof rack, roof, bumpers, etc.
- Steering wheel
- Gauges
- Seats
- Harness
- Shifter/knob/boot
- Anything else you can easily spot.
On-lift checks - some can be done off-lift.
- Check the tires
- Is the pressure correct?
- Are all four the same? THEY MUST BE!
- Is the tread alright? Do the penny/quarter test.
- Is the tread even on all 4 tires?
- The tire manufacture dates - are they matching and within the last few years? Guides online help you read these.
- Look carefully at the bottom cosmetic bits for problems.
- Check brakes
- Check/fix lug nut torque
- Check for ANY fluid leaks
- Check exhaust system
- Check steering linkage
- Check struts
- Check axles
- Check bolts/bushings/fasteners
- Check rear diff fluid
- Generally look for damage
Trunk - sedan only issues
- (Especially with modified spoilers) - does the trunk open too fast? When you undo the latch, the trunk should float a half inch up or so.
- Is it smooth to open/close?
- Does it latch/unlatch properly?
Hatch - wagon/hatchback only issues
- Does the hatch open all the way by itself, or do you have to help it that last inch?
- Does the hatch latch properly?
- Does the privacy cover work properly?
- Do the back seats flip down correctly?
Get in the vehicle
- Check for basic cosmetic issues - dirt, stains, rips, etc:
- Steering Wheel
- Instrument panel
- Headliner
- Sunvisors
- Glovebox
- Carpets/mats - are they all there?
- Center console/cupholders
- Door cards
- Sit in the driver's seat.
- Are the seats stained/ripped/etc?
- Look in front of you, and at the interior stuff on both sides - are they dirty?
- Does your seat belt work?
- Can you slide forward and back all the way?
- Can you tilt forward and back all the way?
- Can you adjust up and down?
- Can your headrest go all the way up and down (if it's supposed to)?
- If the adjustments are electric, do they work? Do they remember positions?
- Shut the door, hit the lock, try to flip the lock yourself
- Sit in the passenger seat. Check all the above.
- Sit in the 3 other seats. Check all above (all that's applicable).
- Check the cabin air filter. Yeah, you'll probably need to replace this .
- Check the child locks in the back - should NOT open from the inside when engaged, but should open from the outside.
- While you're in the back, do the seats fold down correctly/easily if they're supposed to?
- Back in the driver's seat - Are the pedals wobbly? Too tight?
- Try working the gearbox into all the gears - do you feel any resistance?
- Put it into neutral, make sure the handbrake is on. Get out and try to move the car. Can you?
- Still in neutral, handbrake off, get out and push. Can you?
- Adjust the steering wheel all the way up and down (and in and out, if you can). Easy?
- Honk the horn. You should hear 2 distinct loud tones.
- Hit the lock button. Do ALL the doors (5 in the wagon) lock?
- Hit the unlock button. Do ALL the doors (5 in the wagon) lock? Repeat these two. Is the latching easy or forced?
- Put the key in - you should hear a chime with the door open
- Try the hazards - do they work with the car off?
- Using the button on top of the steering wheel and other methods, check:
- Headlights - low and high beams, turn/parking indicators
- Fog lamps
- Side markers
- Taillights - brake, backup, turn (you'll see three different bulbs).
- Brake bar - the red thing mounted higher.
- Rear license plate lamps
- Turn the key to Accessory.
- Do the interior lights work?
- Go back outside, pull the gas cap off. Do you get a warning light?
- Play with the radio/head unit (nomenclature )
- Is it the OEM radio?
- Do all the buttons physically work?
- Do all the functions (FM, AM, tape, CD, aux in - depending on what's there) work?
- Turn it all the way up - is it loud?
- QUICK - turn it back to normal! Are all the speakers outputting sound at the same level?
- Can it turn off and back on?
- Turn the key to ON. (most of these can be done later when the car is on to save battery)
- Do all the dash warning lights go on momentarily, then turn off if they are supposed to?
- If you've got the fancy gauges, did they dance for you?
- Do the hazards still work?
- Signal left. Check the front, side, and rear indicator.
- Signal right. Same checks.
- Tap the brakes just slightly. Are all three brake lights lit?
- With the lights off, are the DRL's running (take parking brake off)?
- Turn on parking lights (first notch) - do the right lights come on?
- Turn on headlights (second notch) - do the right lights come on?
- Point the lights at a wall - the driver's side should be aimed a bit lower than the passenger's.
- Stand in front of the lights, on the driver's side, maybe 100' away. Are you blind?
- Change the dash light level - do the dash lights fade in and out?
- Does the rear defroster work?
- If equipped, check the heated seats, windshield, mirrors.
- Try the 12v outlet - does it power your favorite plug-in thing?