Back to all

What to Do After You Buy a Used Vehicle in Kentwood

October 10, 2022

So you've bought a used vehicle in the Kentwood area. Do you know what you're getting? It is hard to know what you're getting because people in the Kentwood area sell vehicles for different reasons. Think about why you've sold vehicles. 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 vehicles in Michigan with 25,000 to 35,000 miles/40,000 to 55,000 km on them are often lease returns, corporate program cars or rental fleet vehicles. Most Kentwood buyers feel pretty confident about these because they're newer and may still be under warranty. But how well have they been maintained?

Kentwood drivers who are planning to own a vehicle for a long time will keep up on auto maintenance so that they can avoid repairs down the road. But, if you know you're only going to have the vehicle 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 Kentwood drivers to skip the 30,000 mile/50,000 km 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, Kentwood used vehicle 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 Tuffy Kentwood (Kalamazoo Ave SE) may be in order.

You'll want Tuffy Kentwood (Kalamazoo Ave SE) to check the A/C, battery, engine air filter, serpentine belt and hoses. A used vehicle inspection at Tuffy Kentwood (Kalamazoo Ave SE) is well worth the cost.

And if your “new” used vehicle has been driven an even longer distance, an inspection is even more important. Check your owner's manual or talk with your service advisor at Tuffy Kentwood (Kalamazoo Ave SE) about what should have been done. Please don't forget the timing belt; that can be very expensive if it fails.

Tuffy Kentwood (Kalamazoo Ave SE) will help you with a plan to take care of 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 maintenance records. They'll help you get top dollar on the Michigan used vehicle market when it's time for you to sell.

Tuffy Kentwood (Kalamazoo Ave SE)
4384 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Kentwood, Michigan 49508
616.301.1436

More articles from Tuffy Kentwood (Kalamazoo Ave. SE)

Don't Do It Yourself (Perils of DIY Vehicle Repair)

March 30, 2025

Your vehicle is a complicated machine, and yes, it would be nice if you could take care of all of its problems yourself. There was a time when vehicles were simpler and it wasn't too hard for a weekend mechanic to replace brakes, adjust a carburetor or perform a tune-up. But vehicles are far mo... More

Smooth Operator (Shocks and Struts)

March 23, 2025

Few of us ever drive somewhere without encountering some pretty rough roads, and it's amazing how well our vehicles are able to smooth out the ride. Thank your shocks and struts. The two parts are similar. Some cars have shocks in the rear, and struts in the front. Others have struts all around... More

How Cool is That! (Coolant level sensor replacement)

March 16, 2025

Your vehicles engine runs hot. It should, since its a series of little explosions that create the power that gets you going where you want to go. To keep the engine cool, engineers have designed wonderful cooling systems that use liquid coolant, hoses, and a radiator to transfer the heat from t... More