Here is a checklist of what all things you should check for when considering buying a pre-owned Jimny.
If you are not confident of doing these checks yourself then take your trusted mechanic along with you and make him tick against all of the items in the checklist below.
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Check underbody thoroughly by lifting the Jimny on a two-post lift.
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Particularly check radial arm Mounts for bends or damage.
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Check chassis for marks of rubbing or scrapping.
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Check propellor shaft seals near rear differential and check for the bangle mark below the rear chassis cross member.
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Check all 4 shock absorbers for sign of leakage or accumulated dirt and oil.
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Check battery health using a battery tester.
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Check coolant color, it should be bright blue not faded blue.
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Check windshield washer operation.
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Check all 5 tyres sidewall and for any unusual sidewall bulge or bog patch punctures.
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Check body line against a bright source of light. Look at the reflection of the light in door panels and from front to rear by walking along the car while looking at the reflection of the light. Any inconsistencies will mean there has been repair work done.
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Check all door frame gaps and door frames. Remove the rubber beading around the upper door frames and check the spot welds. They should appear consistent, and factory finished.
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Plug in an OBD diagnostic tool and check for logged errors.
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Check all steering and front suspension bushes for wear and play. Tie rod ends, stabilizer links, steering arms on both sides and anti-roll bar bushes.
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Check rain drip gutter or rail closely for any damage due to fitting of luggage carrier.
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Check thoroughly for any electrical accessories and how they have been installed. There should be no wire splicing.
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Check service history from Nexa or ask for service invoices of the car from the owner.
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Check rear door hinges and operation of rear door locking and unlocking. The door should not rattle when locked.
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Check engine oil level and color. Put your finger in the silencer and check if it is dry or oily. Oil in the tail pipe indicates worn out cylinder and piston rings.
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Check all 4 power windows for smooth operation.
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Check 12v outlet in dashboard for power.
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Check 4x4 operation thoroughly.
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Check insurance records for any claims. Best is to ask for latest insurance and check how much NCB is there. 0 NCB means either it’s a brand-new car or a claim was made within the last year.
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Check all electricals including lights.
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Check AC functioning and defroster working.
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Check if both remotes are available.
These checks should be enough in my opinion. All the best.