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About CAA membership and Inspection on a used car:
If you are driving an old car especially it is more than 8-year-old Japs or 5 year-old Americans, I suggest you to join CAA with annual membership fee about $ 71, which allows you to have your car towed 4 times a year.
My car broke down on highway last weekend (the first time in my driving expereinces of more than a decade) and it cost me $ 75 (flat rate regulated by Transport Quebec). CAA has no right to tow on highways in certain sections of Montreal however CAA will reimburse you this cost if you are a member.
The problem on my car is the alternator (an alternator regulates the distribution of electric power and it is like a control center. If it fails, your car will lose power and engine will install... you will need to call a towing company then. There is no way to pre-determine the running quality of an alternator. "If it fails, it fails". Otherwise keep on driving.
Phil Bailey changed an alternator for me today (cost $ 250/unit + about one hour labor) and he explained to me that car inspection can not detect the problem of an alternator because it is made of wires after wires, that is impossible to take apart (it will be useless if you take it apart). Bear in mind $ 250 is for a rebuilt alternator. A brandnew one will cost $ 500 (of course +labor charge) - so good luck to everyone driving.
The other area that can not be fully inspected is the engine - because it is impossible to take it apart with the current inspection fee.
What he does is to test drive your car and feel it -- this method is the industry standard. Of course, an experienced test driver can sense a lot more than the freshmen. |
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