Scotty Kilmer has worked as a mechanic for more than 50 years and regularly shares his expertise on YouTube – he recently shared a top tip to spot a used car that has been in an accident
One of YouTube’s top car gurus has spilled the beans on how you can spot a dodgy used car like a pro.
Scotty Kilmer, who boasts over 50 years of experience as a mechanic, is a hit on YouTube for his savvy tips on saving cash and getting to grips with your motor. In his latest clip, Scotty reveals a clever trick to check if a used car has hidden crash damage. He explains: “Today I’m going to show you how you can tell if a car has been in a wreck because it’s not always as obvious as this [panel damage].
“Now, people often do bad bodywork with Bondo [self-adhesive filler], but Bondo isn’t magnetic. So, if you stick on a magnet and, instead of sticking on like this, it just falls off, you know it’s been wrecked.” It’s common for repairs on things like dents to involve slapping some self-adhesive filler into the crevice and painting over it, reports the Express.
This might make the car look mint, but crafty sellers use it to mask serious damage, duping unsuspecting buyers. But fear not, because these fillers aren’t magnetic, so by gently placing a magnet on the cars surface, you can easily spot any sneaky patches where it wont stick.
Later in the video, Scotty pointed out that drivers should also keep an eye on the gaps between panels, explaining that uneven spacing often indicates past damage. He elaborated: “Another one is checking body gaps. Look at the gap here, the car key fits right in here. Then, check the other side of the trunk [boot]. In this case, the key doesn’t get anywhere near the size of the hole, so we know it’s been smashed.”
Scotty demonstrated using a car key to gauge the gaps around a vehicles boot lid, highlighting a significant discrepancy in size from one side to the other. Uneven gaps are typically seen on vehicles with replacement parts, as aligning panels to factory precision can be challenging. Such discrepancies not only suggest previous accidents but also pose a risk of water ingress, potentially leading to rust issues over time.
