Do your own pre-delivery inspection of new car
Rating right up there with “admin fee” as the most questioned — and despised — item on your new car’s invoice, pre-delivery inspections (PDI) vary with each automaker and can sometimes leave out crucial items. To be fair, some companies cover the cost of a final vehicle inspection and reimburse retailers for the task, but no matter who pays for it, it needs to be done thoroughly.
Smart consumers are wise to obtain a copy of the PDI checklist and take the small amount of time to complete a walkaround to verify the surface items — those that don’t require a hoist or special equipment. They’re written in fairly plain language and usually involve operating switches, doors, seatbelts, and a variety of controls to ensure proper operation.
Duplicating the technician’s road test is a great way to detect any unusual noises, vibrations, or any glitches in performance.
The first problem with a PDI is when they’re performed. Some retailers complete them as soon as the vehicle is delivered, but that vehicle can remain in stock, sitting stationary for months until it’s sold and delivered. Some, but not all, retailers will pay for an additional inspection if the car sat for too long, but even these seldom cover all the details of the factory-supplied checklist, and they’re usually performed by unlicensed staff. If a car has been on the lot for too long, here’s what can sometimes be missed:
Overinflated tires: Most automakers recommend their retailers inflate tires on vehicles to be stored in inventory to their maximum pressure, even if it’s above the vehicle specs. This is to reduce the risks of tires developing flat spots from sitting for too long. Of course, the tires are to be returned to normal pressures before you take delivery, but this can often be missed and riding on overinflated tires can lead to premature wear.
Wheel alignment: Wheel alignments are never verified. When you consider the stress most vehicle suspension systems endure during transport — being chained down tight to carrier platforms, whether it’s on a truck or a train — it’s no wonder alignment specs can be out even before you hit your first pothole. Automakers are loathe to pay for an alignment inspection without a recorded customer complaint, so it’s not going too far to ask for an alignment check before taking delivery. If dealership and factory processes dictate the vehicle must be delivered first, then make an appointment in a few weeks.
Windshield wipers: Wipers can suffer from lot-rot. When wiper-blade edges are stuck on hot windshield glass, they can quickly lose their streak-free cleaning ability. It’s important to check them in wet and dry conditions because most carmakers only cover wipers for the first year or 20,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.