Ruben Fidalgo
January 17, 2023
The low emission zones imposed in most Spanish cities are boosting the sales of used cars with the Eco label. These tips are for you if you are thinking of buying a second-hand hybrid car.
Although for now most of the city councils are in a phase in which they do not sanction and simply recommend not using the car in low emission zones to avoid disastrous results in the elections that are due in a couple of months, the limitations on access to urban center of most Spanish cities is a reality that directly affects almost four million vehicles and users in Spain.
This fact is triggering the demand for models with Eco and 0 labels from the DGT, since they are the ones with the least limitations to access the cities. The idea is not bad and hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars are a viable alternative for most users, while pure electric cars continue to have many limitations for a large part of the population, without a garage space in which to install their car. charging point, for example.
In general, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are usually very reliable and it is normal that they do not have more problems than those that we already know from any car. After all, they are basically a car like the one we have known all our lives to which an electric motor or a gas supply system is added as fuel to turn it into a hybrid. Therefore, we must not neglect the basic tips for buying a used carbut, in addition, we must consider the aspects that we indicate below.
What you should look at before buying a used hybrid car
The 48v battery is in the trunk.
In hybrid-electric cars there are mechanical elements that suffer less than usual, such as the brakes or the combustion engine, which works fewer hours to be able to “rest” when the electric motor works. It is also true that the continuous starts and stops of the combustion engine mean that what is saved on the one hand in working hours is lost on the other in terms of lubrication in the starting phase, for example. On the other hand, they also tell us that the greater holding power of the electric motor extends the life of the brake pads, but the greater starting torque of the electric motor and the greater weight of the car in general accelerate tire wear. . All this must be taken into account and the weak points of hybrid-electric cars on a mechanical level and to which we should pay more attention are:
- tie rod ends: the greater torque and weight on the front axle accelerates its wear, check that there are no gaps or wear in the steering.
- transmissions: again the torque submits more effort to the constant velocity jointsto check its condition, you should check that the dust covers are not broken and that making circles with the steering turned fully to one side and the other does not hear a cla-cla-cla in the wheels, which is usually the most obvious symptom of a Worn CV joint.
But, without a doubt, The most important thing to check in a hybrid or micro hybrid car is the battery.. The batteries of the micro hybrid models are usually very expensive because they are lithium ion or at least AGM type and their price is much higher than that of conventional lead batteries. In the case of pure hybrids, with much larger and more expensive batteries, this aspect is even more important. Unfortunately, to check the level of capacity and the state of the batteries of the hybrids and mild hybrids, we will have to resort to a specialist with the appropriate diagnostic equipment. Always ask for a certified report on the state of the battery of a hybrid car before buying it, because changing a lithium-ion battery is very expensive or even more expensive than the value of the used vehicle in the case of pure hybrids .
What you should look at before buying a used LPG car
The LPG tank and the installation need to be checked periodically.
In LPG and bifuel cars, what we actually have is a normal gasoline car to which an additional supply system with another fuel is added, and that is precisely what we must take into account, that the gas installation will have to pass a series of periodic reviews to avoid problems. The gas filter must be changed annually or every 20,000 km, while the liquid filter must be carried out every 4 years. They are cheap parts and their review and replacement does not normally exceed 60 or 80 euros.
Before buying an LPG car, it is advisable for an expert to review and certify the state of the gas pipes, fuel tank, expansion valve, filler nozzle, etc.. As a general rule, in a car that is close to 10 years old, it is likely that the lines and some valves will need to be replaced.
What to look for before buying a used PHEV
The recharging system is the one that usually gives the most breakdowns in plug-in cars.
Simplifying a lot, we could say that a plug-in hybrid is basically a hybrid to which an external battery recharging system is added because its batteries are larger and its electric motor is more powerful than in a conventional hybrid. For this reason, As a base we have to start from the advice mentioned in the section on hybridsbut, in addition, another element must be added, the recharging system.
It also coincides that It is precisely the charging system that usually gives the most problems in electric cars and plug-in hybrids, mainly due to poor handling.. To avoid having the car unplugged while charging and finding that nothing has been charged all night, the car charging sockets have a lock so that no one can remove the plug while it is charging. Sometimes, in a hurry or due to our mistakes, we jerk the cable and damage those locks. Other times the problem is that we let the cable fall to the ground and the cable plug breaks.
Before buying a plug-in hybrid car, check that it charges correctlywhich locks and unlocks the car socket and, above all, the condition of the cable, which is an expensive replacement.
