DIY inspection guide
POTENT DYNAMICS
Complete Guide On
PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION
DIY Pre-Purchase Inspection Guide - Save KES 10,000+ on professional inspections! Learn the same techniques our experts use. Unlock the TOP SECRET section for advanced diagnostic methods you can do yourself.
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DIY Inspection Guide
Save KES 10,000+ on Professional Inspections
Learn the same professional inspection techniques our experts use. This DIY guide gives you the knowledge to inspect any vehicle like a pro - no expensive equipment needed!
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Professional inspections cost KES 6,500-15,000. Our DIY guide costs only KES 1,000 and teaches you everything!
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Advanced Diagnostic Techniques
- - Fake Mileage Check/Verification
- - OBD-II scanner usage (KES 2,000-5,000 investment)
- - Engine blow-by testing methods
- - Turbo system inspection
- - Coolant system analysis
Professional Body Inspection
- - Accident damage detection
- - Paint quality assessment
- - Frame alignment checks
- - Undercarriage corrosion
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Vehicle Information
Engine Compartment Inspection
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check engine oil level and quality. | ||||
| Check top cover for oil leakages. | ||||
| Check timing cover for oil leakages. | ||||
| Check engine sump for leakages. | ||||
| Check windscreen and wiper tank area for leakages. | ||||
| Check toothed/serpentine belt condition and tension. | ||||
| Check belt tensioner for leaks. | ||||
| Check idle pulleys for axial play. | ||||
| Check alternator for play and abnormal noise. | ||||
| Check AC compressor functionality. |
Engine Tamper/Integrity Checks
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check engine oil cap and dipstick for sludge. | ||||
| Research and check known model-specific mechanical issues. | ||||
| Check for missing security seals and tamper-evident features (for example rubber seals, timing belt cover, timing chain cover). | ||||
| Check for tampered nuts and bolts on valve cover. | ||||
| Check for tampered nuts and bolts on timing cover. | ||||
| Check for tampered nuts and bolts on oil pan. | ||||
| Check for tampered nuts and bolts on intake manifold. | ||||
| Check for fresh tool marks. | ||||
| Check for fresh or uneven silicone application on oil pan edges where the pan meets engine block. | ||||
| Check for fresh or uneven silicone application on valve cover. | ||||
| Check for fresh or uneven silicone application on timing cover. | ||||
| Check for missing plastic clips, broken harness retainers, or zip-tied harnesses (possible disassembly indicator). | ||||
| Engine bay should not be excessively washed before inspection (a super-clean engine bay can be a red flag for hidden leaks). | ||||
| Check for mismatched or unusually new bolts. | ||||
| Check timing belt last replacement record/date. | ||||
| Check for random excess silicone squeezed out at corners/joints. | ||||
| Carry out compression test. | ||||
| Check old service stickers/labels for consistency. |
Cooling System Inspection
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check coolant expansion tank for sludge or oil contamination. | ||||
| Check coolant hoses for leaks. | ||||
| Check coolant level. | ||||
| Check expansion tank for leaks. | ||||
| Check water pump for leaks and operation (electrical pump via diagnostic tool and mechanical pump). | ||||
| Check radiator for leaks and dirt blockage. | ||||
| Check operation of cooling fan. | ||||
| Check air-conditioning functionality (both hot and cold). |
Electrical System Inspection
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check condition of wiring harness and fuse box. | ||||
| Run diagnostic test before and after test drive; save reports and confirm if diagnostic trouble codes appear/reappear. | ||||
| Check vehicle warning lights for correct operation with ignition ON and engine OFF. | ||||
| Check warning lights clear after engine start (except active faults). | ||||
| Check instrument cluster illumination. | ||||
| Check operation of interior and exterior lights. | ||||
| Check operation of horn, indicators, wipers, and washers. | ||||
| Check headlight alignment. | ||||
| Carry out battery test to determine battery condition. | ||||
| Check battery for damage and leaks. |
Steering System Inspection
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check steering assembly for damage, leaks, and wear. | ||||
| Check power steering fluid level and condition. | ||||
| Check steering stiffness. | ||||
| Check for steering-related error codes on diagnostic tool. | ||||
| Check steering alignment. | ||||
| Check steering assembly boots for leaks and damage. | ||||
| Check steering ball joints and universal joints for axial play. |
Wheels & Tyres Inspection
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check wear pattern on all tyres. | ||||
| Check tyre pressure. | ||||
| Check tread depth. |
Braking System Inspection
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check brake fluid level. | ||||
| Check pedal operation, pedal travel, and braking efficiency. | ||||
| Check brake lines for leaks and damage. | ||||
| Check operation of electronic parking brake. | ||||
| Check operation and adjustment of manual handbrake. | ||||
| Check wear and tear of front brake pads. | ||||
| Check wear and tear of rear brake pads. | ||||
| Check condition of front discs. | ||||
| Check condition of rear discs. |
Transmission System Inspection
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check transmission fluid level. | ||||
| Check quality/condition of transmission fluid. | ||||
| Check clutch fluid level. | ||||
| Check gearbox for damage and leaks. | ||||
| Check condition of drive shafts. | ||||
| Check drive shaft boots for wear and tear. |
Suspension System Inspection
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check ball joints and wheel bearings for axial play; listen for abnormal noise. | ||||
| Check/listen for stabilizer link noise, play, and looseness. | ||||
| Check shock absorbers for leaks. | ||||
| Check coil springs and rubber boots for wear and tear. | ||||
| Check tie rods for worn rubber boots and excess play. | ||||
| Check suspension bushes for wear and tear (front and rear). | ||||
| Check suspension mounts for wear and tear. |
Engine Running Checks
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check idle speed stability. | ||||
| Listen for abnormal engine sounds: rattling, whistling, knocking, clunking, and rumbling. | ||||
| Check if engine revs are smooth and continuous. | ||||
| Confirm rev gauge does not fluctuate abnormally. | ||||
| Press and release accelerator; revs should rise and return to stable idle. | ||||
| Verify VIN consistency across chassis, windshield, and ECU/module data. |
Hybrid Vehicle Checks (General)
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check battery compartment area is intact and has no damage. | ||||
| Check high-voltage orange cables are intact. | ||||
| Check high-voltage cables, connectors, and protective shields for damage/corrosion. | ||||
| Check corrosion on high-voltage wiring. | ||||
| Research and check known model-specific hybrid issues (for example battery and inverter failures). | ||||
| Check hybrid system warning lights. | ||||
| Check odometer reading consistency across modules. | ||||
| Check for accident or flood damage signs. | ||||
| Check for recall campaigns for that exact model/variant. |
Hybrid Battery/ECU/Module Health Checks
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check hybrid battery coolant level and condition (clean vs cloudy/contaminated). | ||||
| Carry out 12V battery test (weak 12V battery can mimic hybrid faults). | ||||
| Check hybrid battery cooling fans for blockage and dust build-up. | ||||
| Check hybrid battery air duct for blockage. | ||||
| Run full health check using diagnostic tool on Hybrid Control ECU. | ||||
| Run full health check using diagnostic tool on Battery ECU. | ||||
| Run full health check using diagnostic tool on inverter. | ||||
| Run full health check using diagnostic tool on motor generators. | ||||
| Run full health check using diagnostic tool on ABS regenerative braking module. | ||||
| Confirm there are no pending diagnostic codes. | ||||
| Confirm there are no recently cleared diagnostic codes. | ||||
| Confirm there are no communication errors. | ||||
| Check individual battery block voltages are uniform. | ||||
| Check voltage deviation between cells. | ||||
| Check internal resistance of cells. | ||||
| Check state of health (SoH) / battery capacity. Voltage pack variance target: <= 0.3V between blocks. | ||||
| Check state of health (SoH) / battery capacity. SoH target: > 80%. | ||||
| Watch for rapid SoC swings. | ||||
| Watch for module imbalance warning [unclear from source image]. | ||||
| Watch for battery fan running constantly. | ||||
| Check maintenance records for hybrid battery coolant service. | ||||
| Check maintenance records for inverter coolant service. | ||||
| Check maintenance records for previous hybrid battery replacement history. | ||||
| Check maintenance records for service history using manufacturer-specified fluids and parts. |
Important Inverter Checks
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check inverter coolant leaks. | ||||
| Check for inverter overheating codes via diagnostic tool. | ||||
| Inspect inverter coolant reservoir turbulence (used as indicator that pump is circulating coolant). | ||||
| Listen for abnormal buzzing/whining from inverter area. |
Hybrid Transmission Checks
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check for smooth acceleration. | ||||
| Inspect for vehicle jerking. | ||||
| Inspect for whining under load. | ||||
| Check for seamless transition between EV mode and engine mode. | ||||
| Jerking during transition may indicate motor or inverter issues. |
Regenerative Braking Checks
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check ABS/brake warning light status on scan tool. | ||||
| Listen for excessive pump clicking/over-activity. | ||||
| Check transition quality between regenerative braking and friction braking. |
Hybrid Test Drive Checks
| Check Item | OK | Not OK | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm EV mode operation at low speed. | ||||
| EV operation should be smooth, with no hesitation or reduced power. | ||||
| Acceleration should be responsive with strong electric assist. | ||||
| Dashboard should show no active warnings. | ||||
| Battery charge level should remain stable during normal driving. | ||||
| Check for seamless EV/gas transition. | ||||
| Start engine and listen for abnormal noise. | ||||
| Confirm engine engagement is smooth. |
Notes
LOCKED: TOP SECRET DIY INSPECTION TECHNIQUES
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What You'll Get (Value: KES 10,000+):
- •DIY Diagnostic Testing: Save KES 5,000+ on professional diagnostics
- •Engine Health Assessment: Avoid KES 10,000+ engine rebuilds
- •Professional Body Inspection: Detect hidden accident damage
- •Complete PDF Report: Professional inspection report with all findings
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This guide is provided by Potent Dynamics. For advanced diagnostics and full reports, unlock premium or contact our team directly.