NOTE:
To receive maximum benefit, the inspection should occur during daylight hours.
| Paperwork check: IMPORTANT - verify before you fall in love with the truck!! | |
OK? |
|
| Vehicle Identification - Check VIN on dashboard and door plate against title | |
| Option Verification - Check Sticker to verify all codes | |
| Owners manual, vehicle warranty, GM contact pamphlet, tire warranty, trailer wiring kit - should be in glovebox. These items can be very difficult to obtain after the dealership has your money. | |
| Registration paperwork, make sure VIN and mileage match what is on application for title and license plate | |
| Check for Extended Warranty Paperwork (option) | |
| Exterior Appearance Inspection:
(walk around inspection of the exterior ) NOTE: While inspecting exterior, look for paint problems such as Bubbles in clear coat, Excessive orange peel, Industrial fallout on paint finish, Scratches, Dents, etc. |
|
OK? |
|
| Front End & Cab | |
| Nose / Fender / Hood Area | |
| Bumpers (not even a hint of rust) | |
| Fender fit and finish | |
| Hood fit and finish | |
| Grille fit and finish | |
| Cab Area | |
| Door fit and finish | |
| Door Jamb Area | |
| Hinges | |
| Locks | |
| Molding | |
| Rubber gaskets | |
| Outside decorative Trim | |
| Window operation | |
| Check for windshield cracks | |
| Mirrors | |
| Roof | |
| Check seams for separation | |
| Radio antenna | |
| Bed & Rear End | |
| Rear End | |
| Bumpers - watch for dents, rust, loose mounting bolts | |
| Tail gate - check latch function, cables | |
| Receiver - installed, bolts tight, trailer plug cover opens without interference | |
| Bed | |
| Make sure the bed paint matches the cab paint, especially on the new colors | |
| Fender fit and finish | |
| Floor | |
| Front Wall | |
| Molding | |
| Under body inspection | |
| Check for coffee cups and trash stuffed in chassis rails | |
| Check for proper amount of grease in grease fittings | |
| Check for loose steering box | |
| Shake intermediate steering shaft - feel for any loose parts/joints | |
| Check shocks for for looseness | |
| Check brake line routing (no kinks, no rubbing) | |
| Check routing of emergency brake cable | |
| Jack, Lug Nut, and Tire Checks | |
OK? |
|
| Wheels & Tires | |
| Check door plate against tire size for match | |
| Right Front Tire - proper size, tread pattern, inflation pressure | |
| Left Front Tire - proper size, tread pattern, inflation pressure | |
| Right Rear Tire - proper size, tread pattern, inflation pressure | |
| Left Rear Tire - proper size, tread pattern, inflation pressure | |
| Spare - installed, proper size and tread | |
| Jack and wheel changing accessories | |
| Retrieve jack and tire tools - inspect for completeness | |
| Check jack function - it will be stiff, but should crank up and down | |
| Using the lug wrench, verify that all lugs are not crossthreaded and tight | |
| Check spare tire carrier - Check all functionality | |
| Return jack and accessories | |
| Under hood Inspection | |
OK? |
|
| Check function of secondary hood latch | |
| Check for smooth hinge operation with no binding | |
| Check grill for loose fasteners | |
| Under hood light turns on with hood open, Light goes off before hood closes | |
| Identify all components | |
| Check brake fluid | |
| Check Power steering fluid | |
| Check PS tubing and hoses for rubbing | |
| Check Oil level | |
| Check washer fluid | |
| Check transmission fluid | |
| Check for coolant leak, heater hose | |
| Check Battery cables - tight? | |
| Check A/C hose routing for rubbing | |
| Test coolant additive level (FW-16) | |
| Check Air Cleaner | |
| Installed? | |
| Check housing for obstructions (coffee cups, trash) | |
| Check filter seal - Smear vaseline on filter gasket, close cleaner, open again. check for 100% positive mating mark, vaseline should be displaced (plastic air cleaners housings can warp, allowing unfiltered air to pass) | |
| Check firewall noise deadening insulation. Check for seal where items penetrate the firewall. | |
| Check on injector additive. | |
Take a break, go wash your hands |
| Interior Inspection - look inside for appearance problems | |
OK? |
|
| Front Seats | |
| Appearance of upholstery and hardware | |
| 6-way power seat test. | |
| Recline Function | |
| Front to rear adjustment | |
| Folding Function | |
| Center Console Raises and lowers smoothly | |
| Center Console Latch works. | |
| Rear Seat | |
| Appearance of uphostery and hardware | |
| Function | |
| Fold | |
| Carpet | |
| Check for window or door seal leaks. | |
| Check for stains and tears | |
| Floor mats & Cargo Net | |
| General InteriorFit and Finish | |
| Dash & Steering wheel | |
| Shifter & Pedals | |
| Headliner & Door Panels | |
| Check for grill/vent on doors | |
| Sliding Rear Window Open/closing action | |
| Sliding Rear Window Latch Function | |
| Operation Verification | |
OK? |
|
|
|
| Warning lights should illuminate and then go out (engine warning should stay lit ) | |
| Oil pressure reads 0 | |
| Water Temperature steady | |
| Voltmeter reads less than 12.5 Volts and steady | |
| Fuel Gauge steady | |
| Tachometer reads 0 | |
| Warning Buzzer should sound if door is opened | |
| Warning Buzzer should sound if headlights are turned on | |
| Start Engine | |
| Firm brake pedal (not mush, does not slowly sink to floor) | |
| Oil Pressure - normal and steady | |
| Water temperature - steady | |
| Voltmeter - should read 13.5 to 14.5 volts | |
| Fuel Gauge - steady | |
| Tachometer - steady at a reasonable idle speed | |
| No Warning Lights or Buzzers | |
| Shift between forward and reverse gears listening for abnormal sounds and clunks | |
| Test Lights | |
|
|
| Check Instrument Panel Light dimmer | |
| High beam | |
| Low Beam | |
| Tail Lights | |
| License plate lights | |
| Side marker lights | |
| Running lights | |
|
|
| Brake lights | |
| flashers | |
| Turn signals | |
| Dome lights on when doors open | |
| Dome lights on when doors closed and switch on | |
| Check Map light switches | |
| Glove compartment light - on when door open | |
| Glove compartment light - Make certain that it shuts off when glove box door is closed | |
| Cargo area light - Turn on and off with switch | |
| Temporarily Engage Transmission reverse gear and check backup lights | |
| Radio & speaker test - Turn Radio on | |
| Tune an station AM | |
| balance speakers | |
| seek new station | |
| Tune an station FM | |
| balance speakers | |
| seek new station | |
| Play a tape | |
| Play a CD | |
| Mirror Tests | |
| Vanity Mirror Left, Right | |
| Rearview Mirror - adjust, flip day/night | |
| Outside Mirror - Adjust Left, Right, Up Down, Check heating functionality | |
| Look for Mirror Vibration at idle | |
| Steering Wheel | |
| Blow Horn (should require an easy push, not a great deal of force) | |
| Turn wheel to lock in both directions - should not bind | |
| Adjust tilt to fit | |
| Overhead Console (if applicable) | |
| Check temperature - make sure all display segments light properly | |
| Check Compass - make sure all display segments light properly | |
| Check Map Lights - make sure all display segments light properly | |
| Power options | |
| Lock and Unlock Doors | |
| Raise and lower windows | |
| Keyless entry functions. | |
| Windshield Wipers | |
| Wash & Wipe - Front and if applicable, Rear | |
| Check All Speeds | |
| Heat and Air Conditioner system | |
| Check for blower motor squeak | |
| cycle through all heat positions - vents should change as expected | |
| Check Fan on all speeds | |
| AC runs in Defrost positions | |
| Temperature knob turns smoothly - note: cold engine may not produce heat | |
| Road Test - Ready for a drive?? Check Seat and Mirror Adjustments | |
OK? |
|
| Test reverse gear | |
| Parking Brake should hold in 1st gear | |
| Release parking brake and run through the gears - listen for noise | |
| Feel for scratchy synchronizers (manual) | |
| Torque Converter Lockup should stay locked, not hunting (auto) | |
| Firm shifts | |
| Listen for noises while running straight, turning, and when stopping | |
| Can you hear the turn signals? | |
| Listen for valve tappet noises | |
| Feel for a Steering wheel clunk over bumps or when stopping | |
| Push/pull top of steering wheel to check for play | |
| Check alignment - no pulling left or right | |
| Braking - no pulling left or right | |
| Cruise Control - check function of Set, Coast, Accelerate, Resume, Cancel | |
| Check mirrors for vibration at speed | |
| If vehicle is still OK at this point, it can be accepted. | |
OK? |
|
| Finalize the paperwork and leave the dealer | |
| Fill up the fuel tank if the dealer did not do it. | |
| Drive the truck on expressway | |
| Test speedometer accuracy with stopwatch & mile markers | |
| Retest cruise control functions | |
| Listen for noises | |
| Feel for vibrations | |
| Watch for steering problems | |
| Note all the people staring at your sweet ride! | |
I am looking for information to include on this site. If you can provide any info that would be of help to people, please contact me. Thanks for visiting my web site and please come back often. If you have any comments or information, please contact me.
This web site was last updated on June 18, 2000 at 02:30 a.m. EDT.