So you’ve bought a used car in the Albert Lea area. Do you know what you’re getting? It is hard to know what you’re getting because people in the Albert Lea area sell cars for different reasons. Think about why you’ve sold cars. 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 cars in MN with 25,000 to 35,000 miles on them are often lease returns, Albert Lea corporate program cars or rental fleet vehicles. Most Albert Lea buyers feel pretty confident about these because they’re newer and may still be under warranty. But how well have they been maintained?
Albert Lea auto owners who are planning to own a car for a long time will keep up on auto maintenance so that they can avoid expensive repairs down the road. But, if you know you’re only going to have the car 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 Albert Lea auto owners to skip the 30,000 mile 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, Albert Lea used care 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 Sanderson Auto may be in order.
You’ll want Sanderson Auto to check the A/C, battery, engine air filter, serpentine belt and hoses. A used car inspection at Sanderson Auto is well worth the cost.
And if your “new” used vehicle has more miles on it, an inspection is even more important. Check your owner’s manual or talk with your cheerful Sanderson Auto tech (call 507.377.3320) about what should have been done. Please don’t forget the timing belt; that can be very expensive if it fails.
Sanderson Auto will help you with a plan to take care of important 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 important maintenance records. They’ll help you get top dollar on the MN used car market when it’s time for you to sell.
Sanderson Auto
131 West College Street
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507.377.3320