Back to all

What to Do After You Buy a Used Vehicle in Fort Wayne

October 13, 2022

So you've bought a used vehicle in the Fort Wayne area. Do you know what you're getting? It is hard to know what you're getting because people in the Fort Wayne 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 IN 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 Fort Wayne buyers feel pretty confident about these because they're newer and may still be under warranty. But how well have they been maintained?

Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne 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, Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne - Dupont Rd. may be in order.

You'll want Tuffy Fort Wayne - Dupont Rd. to check the A/C, battery, engine air filter, serpentine belt and hoses. A used vehicle inspection at Tuffy Fort Wayne - Dupont Rd. 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 Fort Wayne - Dupont Rd. about what should have been done. Please don't forget the timing belt; that can be very expensive if it fails.

Tuffy Fort Wayne - Dupont Rd. 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 IN used vehicle market when it's time for you to sell.

Tuffy Fort Wayne - Dupont Rd.
1910 W. Dupont Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46818
260.489.4800

More articles from Tuffy Fort Wayne (Dupont Rd.)

Oh, Stop! (Disc Brake Service)

April 20, 2025

Every time you drive your vehicle, you wear down your brakes just a little bit. And after a while, that adds up. Gradually, your stopping power isn't like it used to be. Since brakes are one of your vehicle's most important safety features, it just makes sense to keep them performing well. Mos... More

The Last Gas (Fuel Pump Replacement).

April 13, 2025

You're heading down the road and you notice your vehicle is sputtering, like it's running out of gas. But the gauge show's it's still got a quarter of a tank. So what gives? It could be that your fuel pump is failing, meaning your engine is not getting enough gas to run properly. While fuel pu... More

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

April 6, 2025

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