Back to all

What to Do After You Buy a Used Vehicle in Walled Lake

October 20, 2022

So you've bought a used vehicle in the Walled Lake area. Do you know what you're getting? It is hard to know what you're getting because people in the Walled Lake area sell vehicles for different reasons. Think about why you've sold vehicles. Did you just want something new or were there problems that you wanted to run away from? Maybe it was a little of both.

Used vehicles in Michigan with 25,000 to 35,000 miles/40,000 to 55,000 km on them are often lease returns, corporate program cars or rental fleet vehicles. Most Walled Lake buyers feel pretty confident about these because they're newer and may still be under warranty. But how well have they been maintained?

Walled Lake drivers who are planning to own a vehicle for a long time will keep up on auto maintenance so that they can avoid repairs down the road. But, if you know you're only going to have the vehicle for two or three years, you may not be so committed to maintenance. It would be easy to think that skipping an oil change here and there wouldn't ruin a brand new engine. Then it'll be someone else's problem when it comes time to pay for the damage.

It is very tempting for Walled Lake drivers to skip the 30,000 mile/50,000 km service if they know they'll be turning in their leased vehicle in a couple of months.

If the vehicle didn't come with maintenance records, Walled Lake used vehicle buyers need to assume the worst. Most likely the coolant system and transmission have never been serviced. The cabin air filter has probably not been changed and a fuel system cleaning at Tuffy Walled Lake may be in order.

You'll want Tuffy Walled Lake to check the A/C, battery, engine air filter, serpentine belt and hoses. A used vehicle inspection at Tuffy Walled Lake is well worth the cost.

And if your “new” used vehicle has been driven an even longer distance, an inspection is even more important. Check your owner's manual or talk with your service advisor at Tuffy Walled Lake about what should have been done. Please don't forget the timing belt; that can be very expensive if it fails.

Tuffy Walled Lake will help you with a plan to take care of services and get the rest caught up. If your budget won't allow you to take care of everything right away, we can help you prioritize your needs and get it taken care of over the next several months. And remember to keep your maintenance records. They'll help you get top dollar on the Michigan used vehicle market when it's time for you to sell.

Tuffy Walled Lake
784 N. Pontiac Trail
Walled Lake, Michigan 48390
248.624.4440

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Walled Lake

The Need for Speed (Wheel Speed Sensor Maintenance)

April 21, 2024

Today's vehicles have some pretty amazing technology in them, including a computerized braking system we all pretty much take for granted these days. Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been around for years but they help drivers stop in much shorter distances reliably than ever before. When you ... More

Restore Your Get-Up-and-Go (Fuel and Air Induction Cleaning)

April 14, 2024

You may have heard the old saying, "My get-up-and-go got up and went." If your vehicle's engine's fuel economy is noticeably worse, your engine is idling roughly or stalling or your vehicle's acceleration isn't what it used to be, ask your service advisor if you might need your vehicle's fuel and... More

Oil Times are a-Changin' (Oil Change Synthetic)

April 7, 2024

When it comes to oil changes, things are really changing. Most newer vehicles require synthetic oil, and while it costs more than conventional oil, it doesn't need to be changed as often. When conventional oil was the only game in town, you changed your oil every 3,000 miles/5,000 km. But as tec... More