03 / INSPECTION
120 points, twelve systems, no adjectives
This is the protocol every car on the lot goes through before it is listed, and the same one we run on a car you found somewhere else. It is deliberately boring: compression numbers, millimetres of pad, dates on tyres, percentages of leak-down. Boring is what makes it checkable.
12 SYSTEMS · 16 PUBLISHED THRESHOLDS
PROTOCOL
Scope
ONE PASS
Systems
12
Points per system
10
Road test
20 mi min
Bay time
3.5 hours
A full pass takes one technician most of a morning. On a lift, wheels off, cold start documented, then a mixed road loop, then a re-scan on return.
THRESHOLDS
Pass marks
16 READINGS
Anything outside these numbers is either corrected before listing or written into the public defect log with the price consequence stated.
- Compression spread across cylinders
- within 10%
- Cylinder leak-down loss
- max 12%
- Brake pad depth
- min 4 mm
- Rotor thickness
- above minimum spec
- Tyre tread depth
- min 5 mm (4 mm on trucks)
- Tyre age
- max 7 years from date code
- Battery conductance
- min 70% of rated CCA
- Parasitic draw after sleep
- max 50 mA
- Paint depth deviation
- within 25% of factory
- Alignment toe
- ±0.15°
- Coolant freeze point
- below −34 °F
- Brake fluid moisture
- max 3%
- A/C vent temperature at full cold
- max 45 °F at 80 °F ambient
- Oil analysis
- no coolant, no fuel dilution
- Stored fault codes
- none unresolved, all published
- Road test distance
- min 20 miles
GAUGES
Where the failures cluster
BAY LOG
Most cars fail something. The point of the protocol is not to pass everything — it is to know what you are buying before money moves.
CHECKLIST
All 120 checks
CLICK A SYSTEM
SYS-01 Engine & compression 10 SHOW
- 01 Cold compression on every cylinder, recorded individually
- 02 Cylinder leak-down test, percentage loss per cylinder
- 03 Camshaft and lifter noise on cold start, listened to twice
- 04 Timing components inspected (belt, chain, tensioner, guides)
- 05 Turbocharger shaft play and boost pressure under load
- 06 Oil pressure at idle and at 2,500 rpm, hot
- 07 Oil sample pulled for laboratory analysis
- 08 Crankcase breather and PCV function
- 09 Mounts and brackets checked for cracks and sag
- 10 Fault codes read before and after a 20-mile drive
SYS-02 Cooling & fluids 10 SHOW
- 01 Coolant freeze point and pH measured
- 02 Pressure test of the cooling system at 1.5 bar
- 03 Radiator, condenser and intercooler fins inspected
- 04 Water pump play and weep-hole evidence
- 05 Thermostat opening temperature verified
- 06 Coolant hoses squeezed and inspected for softness
- 07 Transmission fluid colour and level where serviceable
- 08 Brake fluid moisture content measured
- 09 Power steering and differential fluid condition
- 10 Every fluid cap, reservoir and level photographed
SYS-03 Transmission & driveline 10 SHOW
- 01 Shift quality through every gear, cold and hot
- 02 Torque converter lock-up behaviour logged
- 03 Clutch take-up and pedal travel (manual units)
- 04 Driveshaft and CV joint play, both sides
- 05 Differential noise under coast and load
- 06 Transfer case engagement, all modes
- 07 Fluid condition and pan for metal debris
- 08 Transmission mounts and cooler lines
- 09 Adaptation and learned values read where supported
- 10 Road test on a grade to load the driveline properly
SYS-04 Brakes & hydraulics 10 SHOW
- 01 Pad depth measured in millimetres, all four corners
- 02 Rotor thickness measured against the minimum spec
- 03 Rotor runout and surface condition
- 04 Caliper operation, slide pins and dust boots
- 05 Flexible hose condition and hard line corrosion
- 06 Parking brake travel and holding power
- 07 ABS operation and wheel speed sensor readings
- 08 Master cylinder for leaks and pedal creep
- 09 Brake fluid condition and moisture percentage
- 10 Stopping straightness on a repeatable test stop
SYS-05 Suspension & steering 10 SHOW
- 01 Struts and shocks inspected for leaks and bounce
- 02 Control arm and sway bar bushings
- 03 Ball joints and tie rod ends for play
- 04 Wheel bearings spun and checked by hand
- 05 Steering rack for leaks and free play
- 06 Four-wheel alignment with a printed angle sheet
- 07 Subframe and mounting points inspected for impact
- 08 Ride height measured at all four corners
- 09 Springs checked for cracks and sag
- 10 Road test over broken surface for noise and rattle
SYS-06 Tyres & wheels 10 SHOW
- 01 Tread depth in 32nds at three points per tyre
- 02 Manufacture date code on all four tyres and the spare
- 03 Matching brand and size across axles
- 04 Sidewall damage, bulges and kerb rash
- 05 Wheel straightness and balance weights
- 06 Tyre pressures set and recorded cold
- 07 TPMS sensors alive on all positions
- 08 Spare, jack and tools present and usable
- 09 Lug nuts and stud condition, torque checked
- 10 Snow or all-season rating appropriate to the region
SYS-07 Body, paint & structure 10 SHOW
- 01 Paint depth gauge reading on every panel
- 02 Panel gap consistency around doors, hood and trunk
- 03 Frame rails and apron for repair evidence
- 04 Bolt heads and seam sealer checked for disturbance
- 05 Glass chips, cracks and correct branding
- 06 Underbody corrosion mapped and photographed
- 07 Seals, weatherstrips and water management drains
- 08 Lights, lenses and housings for moisture
- 09 Bumper covers, clips and trim alignment
- 10 Underside photographed with the car on the lift
SYS-08 Interior & controls 10 SHOW
- 01 Seat frames, motors and heating elements
- 02 Upholstery wear, dye transfer and odour
- 03 Headliner, pillars and sunroof operation
- 04 Every switch, knob and stalk exercised
- 05 Infotainment, navigation and pairing tested
- 06 Camera, sensor and driver-assist calibration
- 07 Carpet for moisture, staining and prior water
- 08 Cabin filter and air distribution
- 09 Warning labels and recall status checked by VIN
- 10 Cargo area, spare well and jack storage
SYS-09 Electrical & modules 10 SHOW
- 01 Battery conductance test against rated CCA
- 02 Charging voltage at idle and under load
- 03 Parasitic draw measured after sleep
- 04 Starter current and cranking speed
- 05 All module scans, stored and pending codes
- 06 Wiring harnesses for chafing and rodent damage
- 07 Grounds and body connectors cleaned and checked
- 08 Lighting: headlamps, beams, indicators, brake, reverse
- 09 Horn, wipers and washer function
- 10 Key fobs, immobiliser and remote start where fitted
SYS-10 HVAC & climate 10 SHOW
- 01 Vent temperature at full cold, measured
- 02 Heater output at full hot, measured
- 03 Air conditioning pressures on both sides
- 04 Compressor clutch engagement and noise
- 05 Blower speeds and blend door operation
- 06 Cabin and recirculation filter condition
- 07 Refrigerant leak detection with dye and sniffer
- 08 Defrost and rear demist performance
- 09 Sunroof and window seal water test
- 10 Drain tubes cleared and tested
SYS-11 Road test & diagnostics 10 SHOW
- 01 Twenty miles minimum, mixed city, highway and grade
- 02 Cold start behaviour documented on video
- 03 Transmission behaviour under full throttle
- 04 Braking from highway speed, straight and quiet
- 05 Steering feel and tracking on a level road
- 06 Ride quality and cabin noise at 70 mph
- 07 Fuel consumption logged, not estimated
- 08 Live data capture for fuel trim and misfire counters
- 09 Post-drive re-scan and fluid re-check
- 10 Every finding written into the public defect log
SYS-12 Documentation & title 10 SHOW
- 01 Title verified against the VIN, in hand before listing
- 02 Lien search on the VIN and the seller
- 03 Odometer disclosure and history check
- 04 Recalls open on the VIN, listed for the buyer
- 05 Service records collected, scanned and attached
- 06 Prior accident and insurance records reviewed
- 07 Owner count and registration history confirmed
- 08 Export eligibility and title authentication where needed
- 09 Purchase order, warranty terms and disclosures prepared
- 10 Paper file plus digital sheet handed over at delivery
OUTPUT
What you leave with
4 ITEMS
-
DOC-01
The inspection sheet
All 120 points with the measured values, photographs and the defect log — printed and emailed.
-
DOC-02
The paper file
Title, service records, prior invoices, recall status and the purchase order in one folder.
-
DOC-03
The measurement log
Compression, alignment, battery and paint depth readings, kept as a spreadsheet you can hand to your own mechanic.
-
DOC-04
The 30-day window
Powertrain coverage for thirty days, stated on the purchase order, honoured in our own bay.
RULES
How we report
4 STANDARDS
-
STD-01
Readings, not adjectives
“Runs great” is not a measurement. Every claim on a listing is attached to a number, a date or a photograph.
-
STD-02
Defects published
The defect log on each unit lists what we found and what we chose not to fix. You decide if it matters to you.
-
STD-03
No pressure pipeline
No lead forms, no drip sequences, no “today only” pricing. Contact happens on your terms, by phone or email.
-
STD-04
Title in hand
Every unit we list has a clean, transferable title in the file. No liens, no “title comes later”, no auctions with stories.
INSPECTION / BOOKING
Book the protocol on a car you found elsewhere
Bring it in, or send us the listing and the VIN. We inspect it the same way we inspect our own stock, publish the readings, and tell you plainly if the deal is worse than it looks.
Answer in under four business hours, from the person who inspected the car.