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USED CAR BUYER'S GUIDE
July 6, 1977
When looking over a
used car, systematically
check out the obvious
things first. Is the body
rusted? (look underneath);
do all the lights work? (try
them); are the tires 0.K.?
Horn works? Body rust
usually starts in the quarter
and rocker panels, as we
learned from Bill Gilbert at
Gilbert Motors in May-
town, so look at them.
Check the steering
wheel. If you can move it
more than an inch or two
without the front wheels
starting to move, the steer-
ing box is worn, and soon
to be junk.
If the pedals are badly
worn, and the driver’s seat
is squashed flat, the car
has been driven hard.
Fresh oil spots under the
car indicate leaks. If the
Check it out!
engine has a bad leak, you
will see the clean streak
where oil washed the dirt
down the side of it.
If you don’t mind dirty
hands, grab the front wheel
at the top and try to shake
it in and out. Much play
means that the front end
needs work. Do this on
both sides.
If the dealer has not
changed the oil since he
got the used car, pull out
the dipstick and feel the oil
between your fingers. If
it’s very black and gritty,
chances are the car has not
been serviced regularly.
Smell the automatic trans-
mission fluid also: if it’s
dark and smells burned,
the transmission is not in
good shape.
The funny little dial with
all those big numbers
Some suspicious types
worry that the odometer
reading (the total elapsed
mileage indicator in the
speedometer housing)
might have been tampered
with. It’s possible that the
individual who sold the car
to the dealer did, but the
dealer would never do such
a thing. Even if he was
dishonest, he’d be crazy to
alter the setting: Federal
law has very stiff penalties
for that.
If you think the reading
is low, look at the wind-
shield in direct sunlight.
Tiny pits will mar the
polish if the car has more
than 70 or 80 thousand
miles on it.
Odometer readings can
generally be depended on
with PA ears. Those from
out of state are more sus-
pect.
High mileage doesn’t
mean the car is no good. A
car that’s been well main-
tained and has gone far is
a better bet than one that
wasn’t kept up and driven
less. The odometer won't
tell you how often the oil
was changed or if the auto
was warmed up on cold
mornings.
EoD bE Ge of oS oS JS J & os
t ERNOLD
MAYTOWN, PA.
USED CARS
§3378 Pontiac Lemans Sport Coupe
j1o76 b Pontiac Lemans Station
£1975 Olds 98 Regency Sedan
§1975 Olds Toronado
$1974 Pontiac Lemans Coupe
§1974 Pontiac Grand Prix
§1974 Pontiac Bonneville Sedan
§1973 Pontiac Grand Prix
§1973 M G GBT
j1972 Pontiac Grand Prix
1972 Olds 88 4-dr. HT
11972 Pontiac Lemans Sedan
j1372 Buick Riviera Coupe
1969 Pontiac Lemans Coupe
3 Ask us about
THE WORKS
our 12 month—20,000 mile used car guarantee.
:
| PONTIAC $OLDSMOBLE i
jrore Pontiac Ventura Coupe- shift
t
5
:
i
mamrninienininiaiaisieielerie
Donegal Auto
Exchange |nc.
MT. JOY, PENNA. 17552
PHONE (717) 653-4831
An engine can run
roughly and not be in bad
mechanical condition—it
may only be in need of a
tune-up. It’s a good idea to
take the car to your
mechanic for a check-up
before you buy it. If the
dealer won’t allow this,
don’t buy it.
You may want to run
some tests yourself, before
spending money on a pro-
fessional check-up. Here’s
the most important one:
Before you go to the lot,
buy a compression guage
for about ten dollars, and
take a spark plug wrench
along. Take all the plugs
out of the engine and test
the compression on each
cylinder by cranking the
engine with the guage in
each of the holes. Write
down the readings as you
go. If one or more of the
cylinders reads more than
five pounds different from
the others, the engine has
problems. There are other
tests you can do yourself,
and books that tell you
how.
Test-drive the car. Ed
Crafts, of Modern Classics
in Mount Joy, says that
any reputable dealer will
allow this. Listen for noises
when you do, from the
engine and rear end. Drive
with the window open so
you can hear.
When you get back, pull
the dipstick and look for
bubbles or water in the oil,
which could indicate a
cracked block, and the
iminent demise of the
engine. Look for dripping
oil underneath again.
Note: a brand-new paint
job on an old car might be
hiding a rotten body, ac-
cording to Ed Crafts. The
same idea applies to a
newly-steam-tleaned en-
gine.
vapiain aie elaiainiasioieiaiacsindela ingle
HOME PHONE
GILBERT MOTORS
Used Cars, Sales,
Inspections,
and Service
Maytown, Pa. 426-3604
Ww
WISSLER
MOUNT JOY, PA.
MOTORS
O Ar Vy AMC & RENAULT
653-2091
NILE
REIL RS
1976 VEGA HATCHBACK, sauto., 7,000 mi.
1975 PACER, AM-FM stereo, air, auto, P.S., radial
tires
1974 VW DASHER STATION WAGON, auto, air.
1973 AUDI FOX, 4 spd.,
clean
1970 JAVELIN, auto., P.S., 46,000 mi.
1969 CHEVY CHEVELLE, 2 dr., coupe, auto., 350,
extra sharp
Diners Club & Master Charge
SUSQUEHANNA TIMES - Page 9
0 Classics oe
fine automobiles
featuring
MERCEDES-BENZ &
mount joy, pa.17552
(717) 653-8610
1966 Mercedes 230SL
1973 Volvo 142
1973 Fiat 128
L&G MOTORS
“QUALITY USED CARS
and TRUCKS"
R. D. 2, Rt. 230 West, Mount Joy, Pa. 17552
TRUCKS
1977 Chevy Blazer, 4 wheel drive
1977 GMC *% ton
1976 Ford F100 (loaded)
1976 Ford F150 Van
1976 Ford F150 2 ton
1975 Chevy 2 ton
1974 Ford Van
1974 Chevy 2 ton
Many good used cars
and some older trucks
PHONE 653-8210
Mondays thru
Saturdays
Specializing in fVOLVO & MERCEDES
AUTO SALES and SERVICE
1976 Monza, Loaded, Factory Warranty 3,000
1975 Volve, 242, Burgundy 4,800
1975 Triumph Spitfire, 21,000 mi., Green 3,000
1975 Volvo 245 Wagon, air cond., AM-FM, Green
5,500
3,500
4,000
4,500
2,800
7,500
1,950
1975 Dasher, 4 spd., 17,000 miles
1974 Volvo 142, air cond., Orange
1974 Volvo 145 Wagon, 29,000 mi., Orange
1974 Bradley GT, Metallic Brown
1974 Bricklin, 5,000 mi., Air Cond., Green
1970 Volvo 145 Wagon, White
1964 Scout-289, Ford engine, Jeep differentials
1,650
va MOTOBECANE
fambhiralla
The Effortless Bicycle
‘Motor Scooters
— nr —
Professional Mechanical Repairs on Most Imported Makes
Between Elizabethtown & Mt. Joy on Route 230 =
R.D.2, Mt Joy. Pa 17552
653-8200 653-8175
Michelin Radial Tires
Bonk Americard (Visa),