             Lemon Check your Used Car - Before You Buy It!
                         By David M.Harris.B.Sc.

A used car testing system that may save you thousands of dollars by
warning you of lemons when buying a used car. You do not need to be a
mechanic to use this system, just use common sense and the right
clothes. A friend will be invaluable when testing out a used car, so
take one with you. The following check list will help you check your
prospective used car, but you will need some basic knowledge of cars
to use it. If you wish to obtain an illustrated booklet to help you do
these checks please contact us. Copyright David M.Harris (c) 1994.

Harris Data Systems, 19 Orleans Dr, West Hill,Ontario,Canada, M1C 4T1
(416)286-4282 FAX (416)286-0661                  Compuserve 70302,122

If you paid a fee to receive this information please be aware that the
fee was only for copying and distribution. The author receives no part
of that fee. Registration is requested over and above that fee if you
wish to use this used car testing system.

Register for a 36 page descriptive booklet of each of these tests.

Only $9.95 plus $2.00 S & H (plus in Canada (;<) GST $0.84).
Pay by AMEX or Mastercard (sorry VISA not available at present).
or pay by Cheque or Money Order made out to Harris Data Systems.
(U.S. Checks accepted at US$9.95 + US$2.00 S & H)
(U.K. Cheques accepted at 5.50 + 2.00 S & H)
(Other currencies accepted providing there is no exchange restriction
at the Canadian equivalent of $9.95 plus $4.00 S & H + 20% for exchange.)
Booklet shipped within 48 hours of receiving the order.

                         Distribution

This file including the text and check list may be distributed without
payment to Harris Data Systems, however it must be distributed in its
entirety without changes. It may be compressed for transmission. A
nominal charge may be made for distribution by the distributor.

Distribution/ agent enquiries are welcomed. Please make your
enquiries to the above e-mail, FAX, Phone or snail-mail.

                              Disclaimer

Disclaimer: This guide will not guarantee the condition of any car you
check. The effectiveness of the check will depend on how careful the
used car checks are made. The check does not cover all possible major
problems. To be more certain of the car's condition once you have
checked it, take it to a mechanic you can trust. Neither David Harris,
nor Harris Data Systems is responsible for the condition of the car
purchased using this guide. Great care has been taken to ensure the
accuracy of the information given in this guide, but no responsibility
or liability is assumed, either consequential, incidental, direct or
indirect by David M.Harris or Harris Data Systems for any remaining
errors, or the use or inability to use the instructions in this guide
or any damage or injury sustained to any person or property when using
this guide. No warranties are made with respect to this guide. All
implied warranties of the use of this guide are disclaimed.







             Lemon Check your Used Car - Before You Buy It!
                         By David M.Harris.B.Sc.

+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Test   Description   C*=comments      | Good |Minor |Medium|Major |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 1     Fluid Leaks                    |      |      |      |      |
| 1.a    - Radiator            ________|______|______|______|______|
| 1.b    - Engine              ________|______|______|______|______|
| 1.c    - Transmission        ________|______|______|______|______|
| 1.d    - Rear Axle           ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 2.    Tail Pipe                      |      |      |      |      |
| 2.a    - Carbon              ________|______|______|______|______|
| 2.b    - Oil                 ________|______|______|______|______|
| 2.c    - Gunk                ________|______|______|______|______|
| 2.d    - White Powder _      ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 3.    Radiator Fluid                 |      |      |      |      |
| 3.a    - Rust                ________|______|______|______|______|
| 3.b    - Gunk                ________|______|______|______|______|
| 3.c    - Oil                 ________|______|______|______|______|
| 3.d    - Water Only          ________|______|______|______|______|
| 3.e    - Scaly Deposits      ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 4.    Dashboard Warng Lights         |      |      |      |      |
| 4.a   - Any Fail to Light Up ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 5.    Starting                       |      |      |      |      |
| 5.a    - Difficult           ________|______|______|______|______|
| 5.b    - Sluggish            ________|______|______|______|______|
| 5.c    - Sputtering          ________|______|______|______|______|
| 5.d    - Cut-Out             ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 6.    Smoke Colour                   |      |      |      |      |
| 6.a    - Black               ________|______|______|______|______|
| 6.b    - Blue                ________|______|______|______|______|
| 6.c    - White (at First) _  ________|______|______|______|______|
| 6.d    - White (Lasting)     ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 7.    Drive Belts                    |      |      |      |      |
| 7.a    - Some Stationary     ________|______|______|______|______|
|       Which ones:                                                |
|       ___________________________________________________________|
| 7.b    - Squeals             ________|______|______|______|______|
| 7.c    - Clutch Pulley Stoppd________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 8.    Brakes (Stopped)               |      |      |      |      |
| 8.a    - Soft                ________|______|______|______|______|
| 8.b    - Spongy              ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+







             Lemon Check your Used Car - Before You Buy It!
                         By David M.Harris.B.Sc.

+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Test   Description   C*=comments      | Good |Minor |Medium|Major |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
| 9.    W/S Wipers Working             |      |      |      |      |
| 9.a    - Front all speeds  _ ________|______|______|______|______|
| 9.b    - Back all speeds   _ ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|10.a   W/S Washer Working             |      |      |      |      |
|        - Front             _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|10.b    - Back              _ ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|11.    Defroster                      |      |      |      |      |
|11.a    - Ind Light Workng  _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|11.b    - Clears window     _ ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|12.    Heater                         |      |      |      |      |
|12.a    - Warm Air          _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|12.b    - Temp. Control Easy_ ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|13.    Fan Blower Works               |      |      |      |      |
|13.a    - All Speeds        _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|14.    Air Conditioner                |      |      |      |      |
|14.a    - Blows Cold Air    _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|14.b    - Stops when cooled _ ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|15.    Entertainment                  |      |      |      |      |
|15.a   - Radio Works        _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|15.b   - Cassette Player Works________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|16.a   Other Accessories Work_________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|17     Manual Transmission    ________|______|______|______|______|
|17.a   - Clutch Free Play min         |      |      |      |      |
|          5 cm / 1 inch     _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|18     Manual Transmission    ________|______|______|______|______|
|18.a   - Stall Test Works   _ ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|19     All Transmissions      ________|______|______|______|______|
|19.a   Pulling Away Smooth  _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|20     All Transmissions      ________|______|______|______|______|
|20.a   Hill Start Smooth    _ ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+










             Lemon Check your Used Car - Before You Buy It!
                         By David M.Harris.B.Sc.

+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Test   Description   C*=comments      | Good |Minor |Medium|Major |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|21     Noises                 ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.a    - All Gears           ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.b    - Shifting Gears      ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|21.c    - Coasting            ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.d    - Hard Acceleration   ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|21.e    - Open Windows        ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.f    - Closed Windows      ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.g    - Different Surfaces  ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|21.h    - Flat Slopes         ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.i    - Steep Slopes        ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.j    - Knocking Sound      ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.k    - Engine Noise        ________|______|______|______|______|
|21.l    - Transmission Noise  ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|22.    Steering Test                  |      |      |      |      |
|22.a    - Pulls to one side   ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|23.    Hard Brake Test                |      |      |      |      |
|23.a    - Pulls to one side   ________|______|______|______|______|
|23.b    - Jerky               ________|______|______|______|______|
|23.c    - Squealing           ________|______|______|______|______|
|23.d    - Rumbling            ________|______|______|______|______|
|23.e    - Wheels Lock problem ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|24.    Smoke Colour Accelerating      |      |      |      |      |
|24.a    - White             _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|24.b    - Blue                ________|______|______|______|______|
|24.c    - Black               ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|25.    Ride Smoothness                |      |      |      |      |
|25.a    - Bumpy               ________|______|______|______|______|
|25.b    - Shakes              ________|______|______|______|______|
|25.c    - Sway                ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|26.a   Frame Twist Test: Fail ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|27.    Engine Restart                 |      |      |      |      |
|27.a    - Difficult           ________|______|______|______|______|
|27.b    - Oil Drips           ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+










             Lemon Check your Used Car - Before You Buy It!
                         By David M.Harris.B.Sc.

+------------------------------------------------------------------+                           |--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|Test   Description   C*=comments      | Good |Minor |Medium|Major |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|28.    Step 7 Stationary Belts        |      |      |      |      |
|28.a    - STILL Stationary    ________|______|______|______|______|
|       Belt Condition                 |      |      |      |      |
|28.b    - Shiny               ________|______|______|______|______|
|28.c    - Smooth              ________|______|______|______|______|
|28.d    - Cracked             ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|29.    Dipstick Oil                   |      |      |      |      |
|29.a    - Not Full            ________|______|______|______|______|
|29.b    - Water in it         ________|______|______|______|______|
|29.c    - Carbon Specks       ________|______|______|______|______|
|29.d    - Dirty Oil           ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|30.    Radiator Fluid                 |      |      |      |      |
|30.a    - Oil in it           ________|______|______|______|______|
|30.b    - Rust                ________|______|______|______|______|
|30.c    - Gunk                ________|______|______|______|______|
|30.d    - Low/ No Overflow    ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|31.a   Engine Dirty:          ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|32.    Brake Master Cylinder          |      |      |      |      |
|32.a    - Leaks               ________|______|______|______|______|
|32.b    - Low Fluid           ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|33.    Automatic Transmission         |      |      |      |      |
|33.a    - Opaque (Cloudy)     ________|______|______|______|______|
|33.b    - Carbon Specks       ________|______|______|______|______|
|33.c    - Orange              ________|______|______|______|______|
|33.d    - Black               ________|______|______|______|______|
|33.e    - Varnish Smell       ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|34.    Battery Terminal               |      |      |      |      |
|34.a    - White Deposits      ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|35.    Tail Pipe recheck              |      |      |      |      |
|35.a    - Carbon              ________|______|______|______|______|
|35.b    - Oil                 ________|______|______|______|______|
|35.c    - Gunk                ________|______|______|______|______|
|35.d    - White Powder      _ ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+













             Lemon Check your Used Car - Before You Buy It!
                         By David M.Harris.B.Sc.

+------------------------------------------------------------------+                           |--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|Test   Description   C*=comments      | Good |Minor |Medium|Major |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|36.    Body Alignment         ________|______|______|______|______|
|36.a    -Bent Left            ________|______|______|______|______|
|              Right           ________|______|______|______|______|
|              Front           ________|______|______|______|______|
|              Back            ________|______|______|______|______|
|36.b    - Ripples             ________|______|______|______|______|
|36.c    - Irregularities      ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|37.a   Colour Variations      ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|38.    Dashboard Top                  |      |      |      |      |
|38.a    - Small Glass Pieces  ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|39.    Carpets, Mats, Seat Creases    |      |      |      |      |
|39.a    - Small Glass Pieces  ________|______|______|______|______|
|39.b    - Invoice/ Cr Cd Slip_________|______|______|______|______|
|39.c    - Drivr vs.Passgr wear________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|40.    Bumper Splash Guards           |      |      |      |      |
|40.a    - Rust                ________|______|______|______|______|
|40.b    - Crash Damage        ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|41.    Bumper Mountg Brackets         |      |      |      |      |
|41.a    - New                 ________|______|______|______|______|
|41.b    - New Welds           ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|42.    Loose Fit                      |      |      |      |      |
|42.a    - Doors               ________|______|______|______|______|
|42.b    - Windows             ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|43.    Lubrication Stickers           |      |      |      |      |
|43.a    - Overdue Lubrication ________|______|______|______|______|
|43.b    - Odometer mis-match  ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|44.    Pedal & Mat wear/              |      |      |      |      |
|44.a    Odometer mis-match    ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|45.a   Cracked Windows        ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|46.    Paint work                     |      |      |      |      |
|46.a    - Pitting             ________|______|______|______|______|
|46.b    - Bumps               ________|______|______|______|______|
|46.c    - Bubbles             ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+








             Lemon Check your Used Car - Before You Buy It!
                         By David M.Harris.B.Sc.

+------------------------------------------------------------------+                           |--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|Test   Description   C*=comments      | Good |Minor |Medium|Major |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|47.    Small Holes                    |      |      |      |      |
|47.a    - Roof                ________|______|______|______|______|
|47.b    - Fenders             ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|48.    Exhaust System                 |      |      |      |      |
|48.a    - Corrosion           ________|______|______|______|______|
|48.b    - Rust                ________|______|______|______|______|
|48.c    - Damage              ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|49.a   Rims & Hub Cap Dents   ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|50.    Tire Tread Depth               |      |      |      |      |
|50.a    - Low                 ________|______|______|______|______|
|50.b    - Alignment/ Toe-in/          |      |      |      |      |
|           out Problems       ________|______|______|______|______|
|50.c    - 4-Wheel Aligt Probs ________|______|______|______|______|
|50.d    - Under Infln Problems________|______|______|______|______|
|50.e    - Over Infln  Problems________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|51.a   Tire Scratches and Cuts________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|52.a   Steering Linkage Slack ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|53.a   Suspension/ Wheel              |      |      |      |      |
|         Bearing Problems     ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|54.    Unlevel Car                    |      |      |      |      |
|54.a    - Suspension/ Shocks  ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|55.    Bounce Test                    |      |      |      |      |
|55.a    - Too many bounces    ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|56.    Check Locks Work               |      |      |      |      |
|56.a    - Doors               ________|______|______|______|______|
|56.b    - Trunk               ________|______|______|______|______|
|56.c    - Tail Gate           ________|______|______|______|______|
|56.d    - Other               ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|57.    Windows                        |      |      |      |      |
|57.a    - Open and Close Fully________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|58.a   Dashboard Lights Work  ________|______|______|______|______|
+------------------------------------------------------------------+











             Lemon Check your Used Car - Before You Buy It!
                         By David M.Harris.B.Sc.

+------------------------------------------------------------------+                           |--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|Test   Description   C*=comments      | Good |Minor |Medium|Major |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|59.    Flashers work                  |      |      |      |      |
|59.a    - front left          ________|______|______|______|______|
|59.b    - front right         ________|______|______|______|______|
|59.c    - back  left          ________|______|______|______|______|
|59.d    - back  right         ________|______|______|______|______|
|59.e    - front left  Hazards ________|______|______|______|______|
|59.f    - front right Hazards ________|______|______|______|______|
|59.g    - back  left  Hazards ________|______|______|______|______|
|59.h    - back  right Hazards ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|60.a   All Parking Lights Work________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|61.a   Normal Beam Lights OK  ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|62.a   Full Beam Lights OK    ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|63.a   Reversing Lights Work  ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|64.a   Brake Lights Work      ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|65.a   Marker Lights Work     ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|66.a   Good Spare Tire      _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|66.b   Good Jack            _ ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|67.a   Odometer Scratches     ________|______|______|______|______|
| C*                                   |      |      |      |      |
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|68.a   VIN 10th Digit Yr match________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|69.a   Dealer's Service Shop_ ________|______|______|______|______|
|--------------------------------------+------+------+------+------|
|70.a   Bill marked Date & Time________|______|______|______|______|
|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Comments                                                          |
|                                                                  |
|                                                                  |
|                                                                  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
When you have performed all the tests possible, check or even total
each column to see the basic condition of the used car you are
checking. Use this to determine if you want to buy the car, and
if you want to get the price reduced. Some factors such as major
collision damage could far outweigh any other factors. Caveat Emptor,
or in English, buyer, beware. This information helps you to be aware
of what you are about to buy. For further information please register
as described.

Harris Data Systems, 19 Orleans Dr, West Hill,Ontario,Canada, M1C 4T1
(416)286-4282 FAX (416)286-0661                  Compuserve 70302,122

