Car Dealers Probably Don’t Want You to Know This Magnet Trick When Buying Used

It can be nearly impossible for an untrained eye to know if they’re getting a safe and reliable car when shopping at a dealership or from a private seller. Bringing a magnet when buying a used car can give shoppers one quick way to spot signs of previous body repair.

Cosmetic repairs can make a used car look better than its condition suggests. A fresh coat of paint can make an older vehicle look surprisingly clean. There’s one simple trick shoppers should be aware of to help check for signs of previous repair work: bring a magnet.

The test takes only a few minutes, but it works best when shoppers understand its limits. Learn how the magnet test can reveal signs of hidden bodywork, where the trick can mislead, and what else deserves attention before purchase.

How a Magnet Can Reveal Body Filler and Past Repairs on a Used Car

Many car body panels contain steel, so a small magnet should stick to them. Body filler isn’t magnetic, however, which means the magnet may feel weaker or fall away over an area with a thick repair.

“Bondo® Body Filler shapes in minutes and will accept as many reasonably applied applications as required to fill holes and deep scratches or dents,” according to 3M, the manufacturer that makes Bondo.

Finding filler doesn’t necessarily mean the car has serious damage, but it does show that the panel has been repaired. In a YouTube Short, mechanic Scotty Kilmer demonstrates the test by moving a magnet across a repaired panel. He also checks the gaps between body panels, since uneven spacing can point to previous bodywork.

Shoppers can gently place it against a steel section of the car, then move it across the same panel to compare how strongly it sticks. It can also help to compare matching panels on opposite sides of the vehicle. A noticeable change in the magnet’s pull may be a reason to look more closely at the paint, panel gaps, and repair history.

The magnet should only touch clean paint, and shoppers should get the seller’s permission before placing anything against the car.

Why the Magnet Test Can’t Find Every Type of Used-Car Repair

A magnet can’t reveal every repair. Some vehicles use aluminum, fiberglass, or plastic body parts, so a magnet won’t stick to those areas even when they’re original. 3M also makes body fillers that work on several materials, including steel, aluminum, and fiberglass.

A thin layer of filler over steel may still attract a magnet. A replacement steel panel may also pass the test even if the car has been in a collision. Repainted panels and repaired plastic parts may not show up at all. For that reason, the magnet test works best as an early warning sign. A weak or missing magnetic pull can prompt shoppers to inspect that area more closely.

A magnet can point out areas that deserve questions, but it can’t show the quality of a repair or the car’s mechanical condition. A vehicle history report also has limits.

“A vehicle history report is not a substitute for an independent vehicle inspection,” according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The agency recommends having a used vehicle checked by a mechanic before purchase. “That’s why it’s always a good idea to pay for an independent mechanic to conduct a mechanical inspection of a used car,” according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Paint differences, uneven panel gaps, unusual magnet results, or unclear repair records can all give shoppers a reason to request a professional inspection before buying.

Sources

• Scotty Kilmer, “YouTube Short”
• 3M, “Bondo Original Filler”
• U.S. Federal Trade Commission, “Buying a Used Car From a Dealer”

The post Car Dealers Probably Don’t Want You to Know This Magnet Trick When Buying Used appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Car Dealers Probably Don’t Want You to Know This Magnet Trick When Buying Used