How to Check Under the Bonnet

Although you may not be a mechanic, there are a number of simple checks you can carry out yourself that could reveal a number of critical and expensive problems.

• Make sure that the engine number, which is usually on the top of the block, ties up with the one on the registration document.
• Look under the bonnet for leaks of oil, water or hydraulic fluid. Be suspicious of a very clean engine bay, has it been cleaned to hide something?
• Check the coolant level; if the engine has not been efficiently cooled (particularly on a long journey in hot weather), then it may have become seriously damaged.
• Check the condition and amount of oil; if you find a brown sludge or a frothy foam on the oil filler cap or dipstick, this will indicate a serious (and expensive) problem with the engine. If it's low, it may indicate that there is an oil leak, or the owner may not have changed it for a while (this should make you worry about the general maintenance the car has received).
• Are the fuel lines are intact? If they are not fitted correctly or if they are damaged, highly flammable fuel could spill onto the hot engine.
• Check the colour of the water in the radiator; it should be clean, without any residue. The radiator itself should be free of leaks and the hoses free from damage.
• Whilst you're under the bonnet, look out for signs of rust flaking and paint around the panel joints at the front of the car, which could indicate repairs after crash damage.

If you're at all unsure about checking over the car's mechanical condition, bring along a more experienced friend, or consider hiring a qualified engineer to check the car over for you instead.

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