First service after buying a car
What to change right away after buying a used car, and how to avoid the common mistakes.
- What you need to change no matter what Find a reliable supplier of parts for your car (see the article on how to choose suspension parts). After that you can order parts as a set.
- Diagnosing a car's electronics Why read the error memory of the electronic units after buying a car, why a dead Check Engine lamp guarantees nothing and what a cheap OBD-II adapter can do.
- Your First Visit to a Garage What to check at a garage after buying a used car: suspension from shock absorbers to bushings, engine and gearbox leaks, underbody, body, tyres and wheels.
- Getting rid of misconceptions When buying a used car, treat its mileage as unknown and plan servicing from scratch: the seller’s word, VIN checks and worn pedals prove nothing.
- Servicing a used car The first service on a used car with no service history: why it is better to bring it up to scratch at once and start servicing from zero.
- Buying a used car: preview A preview of the first steps after buying a used car: its service history is unknown, so budget roughly another 20% of the car’s value for the first month.
- Servicing a second-hand car A short tip for owners of a used car: right after registration, service it with new oil, filters, technical fluids and belts, as earlier maintenance is unknown.
- Getting a second-hand car After buying a used car, specialists advise an immediate service with new engine oil, fluids, belts and all filters, because its maintenance history is unknown.
- First Service on a Used Car Buying a used car is a lottery, so a full service is advised straight after: filters, fluids, engine oil, belts and tensioners. A short piece of advice.
- First Service on a Second-Hand Car As soon as possible after registering a used car, have it serviced: oil, belts and rollers, filters and fluids, since its earlier maintenance is unknown.
- What to change on a used car? As soon as possible after registering a used car, you should have it serviced, with all filters, fluids, belts and oils changed.
- What to replace in a used car? A used car’s service history is unknown, so right after buying it have a big service done, replacing the filters, oil, belts, pulleys and fluids.
- First Service on a Used Car As early as the day after registering a used car, you need to have a service done, changing the engine oil, belts, fluids, and filters.
- Servicing a used car The service history of a used car is unknown, so right after buying it a major service is advised: engine oil, belts and tensioners, fluids and filters.
- What to change on a used car? After buying a used car with an unknown service history, have it serviced straight away and replace all the filters, operating fluids, engine oil and belts.
- So you've decided to buy a used car... Buying a used car comes with risk, since you don't know how well the previous owner maintained it.
- In brief: right after you buy the car Advice for used car buyers: replace every fluid right after purchase to protect the cooling system, brakes, power steering and automatic from costly repairs.
- Change all the fluids! Besides engine oil, change the coolant, power steering, brake and automatic transmission fluids: usually every two years, the automatic every 60,000-100,000 km.
- Servicing a used car After buying a used car, have it serviced straight away, replacing all filters, fluids, engine oil and belts, because its service history is unknown.