The big secret dealers: how to recognize a battered car

Selling broken cars is serious business, and for someone – a piece of bread with red caviar. Because to trade them profitably. Emergency vehicle to buy on the cheap, repair and nepomogaet so that the phrase "as new" do not hurt the eyes. Put the corresponding price tag.

Inexperienced buyers often peck at a beautiful wrapper, adds excitement and is a classic ploy: "450 wanted to sell it to you for 420 will give..." And then the desire to buy cute car outweighs common sense.

But standing next to an honest option, but his body chipped, paint faded, Yes the price is higher... But inside a healthy iron, but how to know?





Usually refurbished machines are sold through the professional market dealers, but to slip the battered can and usually the seller is the owner, so that there is even an official dealer. To distinguish the alarm instance is actually not that hard, and to learn this is at least to have a good bargain. Besides, not every broken machine is a reason to abandon a purchase, and you need to be able to distinguish serious "the automotive body" from redecoration.

We asked experts to share experiences.

Suspiciously good condition paintwork

With a market avtotormozami Andrew we approach a black Lada-2110, and from a distance of 10 meters, he concludes: "This don't look. The whole "face" painted".

Even with careful use on the car body appear chipped: usually they focus on the front bumper, the grille and the hood. "Vasikov" the thickness and strength of paint coating is small, so that the "pockmarked" from chipping the hood is normal. The instance with the stated mileage 75 thousand miles the bonnet and bumper are amazingly black and, most likely, recently repainted.

Pay attention to the thresholds – usually they are covered with a grid of small scratches from shoes. If on the one hand they are not, it is an occasion to look at the thresholds more closely, perhaps their painted.

Uneven body gaps

Artisanal repair often produces the "curvature" of the body, which is particularly noticeable in the joint areas of the panels. "What is important is not so much the absolute size of the gap, as its uniformity in length and the difference with the gap at the symmetric side of the car, – says the master body shop bestem'yanov Vadim. – Russian machine clearances are typically more curves from the factory, but if something breaks a finger, and a little below details are almost overlapping, it's an instance of".





Look at the picture: walking the gap between the edge of the hood and grille of the Ford Focus is an unhealthy phenomenon. Our suspicions were later confirmed.

A solid body may give the fuzzy closing of the door, so experienced buyers be sure to check their functioning: there are no binding, creaking, the fuzzy operation of the locks?





And in the photo below – hatchback Chevrolet, which on the tail light housing find little cracks. More careful inspection shows that the traces from the fifth door that when closing hits the plastic fasteners brake, damaging them. The reason was found a minute later: the rear of the car repaired.





Taillight Chevrolet

Curves, gaps, or "restorannye" panel sometimes show about using cheap Turkish or Chinese spare parts whose geometry is often not identical with the original.

Treacherous fasteners

Specialist of the Department trade-in company "Ford Center-East" Vasily Martyanov worked in the body shop, and is now responsible for the reception, "Radinovsky" machines, so to identify broken instances – his bread. He helped us to appreciate the Ford Focus in the video under the article.

Basil shows one of the bolts on the car door: "you See?" I honestly don't see it. Don't even know what to look for.





Mount tailgate Ford Focus 5d

"It unpainted, – said Vasily. – And on the other hand it is seen that in the factory it was covered with enamel along with the body. This is a clear sign that the door was removed, probably for repairs."

It should be clarified that not all the bolts the car should be shaded: the factory part of the elements installed after the painting works.

Basil advises to pay special attention to the fastening parts of the body and skin salon. "When body repairs car apart, any fasteners are lost or broken, for example caps for fixing interior panels. If you noticed neoteny, unpainted or non-standard bolt, as well as lost or broken the piston is a chance to examine the item more carefully. Compare fasteners suspicious elements with the same parts on the other side of the machine or a new car. Check "walk" whether the interior: after a body repair, they are often not fastened properly, or they get loose or fall".





Give "the automotive body" can even door handles. "Small details like door handles in budget auto body repairs do not change, so suddenly their bad condition has to bring on thoughts about the problems with the machine, as is the case with this Ford Focus", – said Vasily.

The hands on the hips

Factory automobile body are welded together from individual parts mostly spot welded, and then seal the joints with special sealant. A method of applying a sealant is different: the Nissan plant near St. Petersburg is doing work with the help of special guns in the shops Hyundai "Solaris" and "Rio" – robots. Subsequently, the sealant is subjected to fusing, and the body is painted.





Factory sealer looks neat, well coloured and often almost invisible. At the body repair it is applied more knotty, often smear, and the consistency is sometimes like dried paint.

Vasily Azarov drew attention to rough seam around the bracket tailgate Chevrolet, the same one that caught our attention split casing brake. "It is immediately evident that the sealant nesovetskie here, from both sides, then, most likely, was hit in the back because the trunk lid is not closed now, as it should," he concludes.





Sometimes a sealant is put quite neatly, and if you have any doubts, Basil advises to look at the seams guaranteed new or broken car of the same model.

With welded seams harder. The repair are two methods of welding: spot and seam (including inert gases). Spot welding is used in the factory, therefore, it would seem, that repair should be invisible. However, Vadim, master Kosowski, insists that it is not. "Look here, – he leads a finger on the bottom of the rapids hanging on the lift car. One side of the factory from the point of welding, and here traces of the workshop. Points not as smooth, traces of burn marks, it means that the threshold vparivali again."





To perform spot welding in the repair is not always possible. The plant parts connect in a certain sequence, and in the shop to crawl from the welding gun to each joint to obtain the desired overlap is not always possible. Then use the continuous or intermittent welding seam, which is easy to distinguish by eye.

If in some place you didn't find traces of spot welding, while on the other side of the car they are, most likely, the car has undergone a major repair.

"But there are little tricks – says Vadim. – Masters are often close up of the weld putty, and then the back of a pencil eraser to make marks that looks very reminiscent of the traces of spot welding. Then the area is primed, painted and looks factory option".





Factory Nissan some details cook like ticks

Hidden cavity

First of all the customer cares the look of the car. So repairers spend the lion's share of effort and time on the recovery of the basic geometry and "smoothing" of visible panels. So, many interesting things can tell you a hidden cavity: the bowels of the engine compartment, spare wheel well and boot floor, the inner ends of the doors and so on. Experienced appraisers take the examination a screwdriver and do not hesitate to remove trunk lining to see the rear fenders from the inside: if the machine is run back, as a rule, in these cavities there is a lot of evidence.

Basil Martyanov shares another subtlety: "When finish coatings are used polishes that are washed from the outer part of the body, but often remain concealed. Externally, the Polish like the chalk residue that easily washes off and rubs off with your fingers. Sometimes the master too lazy to disassemble the item completely before painting and glued the adjacent parts with tape, but not always "sealed", so traces of paint remain on parts of the interior and seals. It is useful to bend the finger, the rubber elements and look at the places of their adjunction to the painted detail: if some particles have traces of paint – the car was at the painters."

By the way, and the boundaries of the painted zones often give birth in secluded places, say, the Ford Focus we found rough color transition inside the doorway.





Transition in color, this Focus is located in an inconspicuous place, but treated roughly

What will tell the fuel filler flap

Middleman Andrew, coming up to the next "victim" in the first place opens the gas tank flap, squats and something looks for in its bowels.

"Many machines on fastening flap once seen, filmed or not, – says Andrey. – Non-standard or damaged bolts, "left" rivets – all this suggests that the hatch was removed. A shot, most likely, for tinting, i.e., selection of color."

The tank hatch is convenient for kolarovska because of the compact and its absence does not preclude the movement. However, some cars (e.g. Ford Focus) flap can be removed quickly. Again, the fact tinting is not talking about any serious problems, but it is an occasion to ask the owner what was painted. The answer on duty: "Yes, I was the bumper on a snowdrift split, here and repainted". But is it really?

Looking for spots and joints of color

Good workshops the damaged area is painted with the so-called transition, i.e. the enamel is applied in particular on the neighbouring fragments of the body, the color contrast between the factory paint and the repair was not as rapid. For example, after replacement of a door is usually painted not only her but also the next wing and the adjacent vehicle door. If the repair budget and just walked in the door, the difference in hue can be highly visible as to ensure perfect color matching is rarely possible. Even two new cars from different lots can have different color.

To distinguish between painted areas need bright light, clean body and good looking svetochuvstvitelen. Usually the difference is noticeable at certain angles, so you should walk around the car or ask the owner to ride in a circle first one way, then the other.

My question is, can I paint so that you don't even notice the professional, the master of the paint shop Yuri answers: "In theory perhaps, in reality almost none. The experienced eye sees not only the difference in color, but different surface finishes: grain, shagreen. To provide a complete match to the factory paint, it takes too rigorous and expensive approach, in most cases, a trained eye can immediately see the tinted areas."





The measurement of the thickness of the paintwork

A more precise method is the determination of the thickness of the paint coating using a special device, which in the workshops often referred to as "thickness". Basil shows us the device Automation Dr Nix on the example of the Cadillac. It applies the sensor to the fender of the car, and the screen indicates the coating thickness in micrometers. "310...... 110 175... – said Vasily and concludes: – a range of thicknesses suggests that the wing is painted. A factory layer of paint is usually thinner and much more uniform than repair. If you have used putty, the sensor readings will be even more. With machines from different manufacturers their own standards on the thickness of paint: Japanese and Russian they are thinner, American – usually thicker".

Such a device is almost all body shops and dealerships, so if in doubt, drive the car to the experts. Surely in your city, there are mobile teams of experts who can assess the car directly in the market or in a convenient place.

To take or not to take?

Broken car, and especially dyed – not a reason to abandon the purchase. First, the mere fact of the repairs does not mean that affected vital organs: may have been a minor accident. Painted the bumper with no other signs of repairs – it is likely the result of a failed Parking attempts or the owner to repair the chips. Minor injuries in the operation are almost inevitable.

Second, even if the impact has damaged the bearing elements of the car, shifted the point of attachment of the suspension or deformed power structure, after high-quality repair car may well serve another. The main thing – not to overpay for him too much, but by itself bytosti is still not a sentence.

Worse, if the repair was done poorly: the abundance of filler, bad paint, the more cracks in the paint coating, the shortage of fasteners – signs anyhow-repair.

Really bad if it's not possible to restore the geometry of the body: that's when you can hold a whole heap of problems from a bad closing doors to the inability to set the recommended values of corners of installation of wheels. And this is unsafe.

"To determine the changes of the body geometry by eye is very difficult, but there are indirect signs, – said Vasily. – I recommend to pay attention to the evenness of the tire wear: if they erased different or their separate parts wear out faster, most likely shot down the angle of alignment, and it can be a symptom of critical violations geometry of the body. If the machine is the second set of tires, for example winter – check it. A car with unevenly worn wheels should check twice carefully, and before you buy be sure to check whether the exhibited angles of camber and toe-in principle. If not taking the car is not worth it."





Instrumental measuring of body geometry

If you want, and prickly – take the money on the instrumental measuring of the geometry of the body: such equipment include dealers or major services. We demonstrated the contact of the measuring complex of the company "Ford Center East". It determines the relative position of the several vital points on the bottom of the car, allowing to judge about keeping the factory geometry.





Tip for the masters at some point need to perform the following measurement

The process is simple: on the screen of the laptop to the master is displayed in a tip with a picture next point to measure, he touches her probe with a sharp tip, and the system determines the position of a point in the coordinate system attached to the car. Then the coordinates are compared with the database, and it is concluded whether the geometry of the body in the correction. Generally this equipment is used in the repair of heavily damaged vehicles and the computer simultaneously gives hints in which direction and how far to pull back. But you can use it to diagnose as much as to the form of machinery: the cost is of the order of 4000 rubles.

"According to regulations, the displacement should not exceed 2-3 mm for each point its value, explains the operator of the stand. – If the body is "left" on the 4 mm is likely to need repairs. If the client does not want to pay 4,000 rubles for instrumental diagnostics, we offer a visual inspection – it costs about 1000 rubles. Experienced master is not difficult to find problem areas and to determine how well they were repaired".





Is the machine with which better not to communicate: for example, welded from two halves of the emergency vehicles. These "centaurs" in another accident, break in half, often with fatal consequences. Of course, look like this car may well: fresh paint, new interior, perky engine... but only for the eyes of the layman who are "designers" and addressed.

Another way to hedge is to buy a car at the dealership Trade-In from an authorized dealer: these machines are screened before hiring, so that their background is known to the future buyer in advance. Usually, the car dealers Trade-In did not take on the implementation of broken instances.

What not to dwell

Small dents without paint damage usually does not threaten anything, except the loss of aesthetics, and in some services improves CIP method Paintless Dent Repair (e.g., markings from the "enemy" doors on the side of the car).

The scratches on the bumpers and scratches also do not affect the functionality. In tight European cities flattened bumpers is normal. Crooked bumper or torn aerodynamic aprons underneath often indicate a failed off-road outing, but if the other elements intact, it's not critical.

Mesh macrocarpon on the surface of the body appears in the first months of operation after the washing – it's almost a necessary evil.

The local tint of the elements most likely is not a problem, but if in doubt check with a "thickness": whether under paint a thick layer of putty? In any case, it is reason a little to bring down the price (if the seller has not claimed damages in advance).





Technology body repair

In a nutshell: how to restore machine from serious damage.

First, the injured part is disassembled, the "dead" parts are rejected, and body parts are subjected to thorough Troubleshooting. Sometimes it is more profitable to pull a spar, sometimes – to change to a new one.

Serious centers use the system to measure the geometry of the body. They are different: laser, template, mechanical, but the meaning is the same – to determine the offset of the key points of the body and the direction in which it should pull.





Slipway to pull body

Pull on the special stocks: is attached to its base for thresholds with the clamps, and torque is transmitted from the power device (e.g., lever-hydraulic type) using the special chains with hooks. On the stocks there is a system rulers and templates by which the master determines how to extend the feature.

Body panels also defectuosa, and if the damage is not critical – ryhtuyut. Previously they removed the enamel and zinc coating, which, in theory, then you need to restore.

When the straightening is used an incredible number of tools: anvil, hammers, mandrels, trowel. Sometimes used tooling, for example, spotters or reverse hammers: to the surface is welded temporary fastener and an indentation as if the sky outside (vastukala in the opposite direction).

Often too crumpled to restore the surface to a perfect state is impossible, and the course is putty – plastic material, which give the desired shape. Plenty of putty is usually a sign of low quality repairs, and to detect its presence, for example, using the device for measuring the thickness of coatings – it promenyaet depth to the metal.

If the power structure is strongly damaged, some of the elements cut and welded a new whole or with fragments-inserts. Cook ticks for spot welding or seam welding.





Surface preparation for painting in the paint shop

After the restoration of the geometry of the part is sent to the paint shop, and here many of their subtleties. Surface is ready for painting, primed, meanwhile, kolarovski pick the color, mix the paint. After application of enamel, the body is sent into the drying chamber. And then to the reinforcement shop to final Assembly.

Work on the restoration of the body requires a lot of thoroughness and good repairers or painter – it's almost human of art.

Worse bat...

The worst thing that can happen to a buyer is endurance auto is the collateral acquisition vehicle. Full of precedents. A person buys a car, registers, goes a year or two, and then the bailiffs seize the car, since it is, for example, is the collateral for the loan or other debt that was not paid on time the previous owner. The extreme is the last owner of the vehicle is confiscated by the court and sold at auction in favor of the Bank. The chance to get back at least the money is there, but obstacles in the way will be a lot. The fraudsters who sold mortgage car, will face criminal punishment, but the victim that does not help: typically, the money he did not return.

The paradox is that guaranteed ways to protect yourself from such a situation there is a unified register of mortgage of the machines there, as well as special marks in the certificate of registration or title. When buying a car in loan title usually remains in the Bank, but the owner is easy to copy the traffic police on the cause of the alleged loss. Some banks whether intentionally, or "accidentally" accept the Deposit of a copy of the vehicle registration.

How to reduce the risks? Completely reliable way, but suspicions should call the machine that you recently purchased and immediately put on sale; which is PTS – a duplicate issued in connection with the loss (see the column "Special notes"). Ask the owner of the receipts, by which to judge whether the vehicle is purchased on credit or in cash (however, this does not prevent refinancing the car later to obtain a new loan). And of course, do not ignore gut instinct: if the seller seems suspicious, sometimes it is better to abandon the purchase than to lose money and cars.

The algorithm search for signs of body repair

1. Check, were shot there the tank hatch. If Yes, specify the owner, for any purpose.

2. Looking at the back of the chips and micro-scratches: if the machine is in operation for several years, but the body is perfect, perhaps it's been recently repainted.

3. In good light looking for a mismatch of colors between the components, the color transitions or color spots, which go around the car around.

4. In suspicious places when viewed along the surface defined by the presence of shagreen. (of asperities LCP), check the "playing" surface in the light.

5. Carefully considering the uniformity and symmetry of body gaps.

6. Check the ease and sound of closing all doors, tailgate and bonnet.

7. Evaluate the quality of welds (points) and accuracy of applying the sealer.

8. Check fasteners: bolts, rivets, caps. Whether there are any damaged, replaced, custom or unpainted parts? Not whether the plating of the interior?

9. Pay special attention to hidden cavities, e.g., under hood space, the bottom of the Luggage compartment and the back side of the hind wings.

10. Looking for the traces from the polishing paste or paint on unpaintable parts, especially rubber seals.

 



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In case of doubt, required of instrumental diagnostics of the car. Ideally you should check the geometry of the body, the functionality of undercarriage, brake system, steering, diagnose the engine and to check the information about the triggering security systems.published

 



Source: autochel.ru/text/instructor/507029.html