1 more week to wait - I'm Chompin' @ the bit..!
I'll be picking my car up next week from a distant (~3hr away) dealer.
From your experiences, what areas should I pay close attention to before signing on the bottom line?
Which areas deserve a closer look (interior items, engine compartment, paint, undercarriage, etc.)?
All comments are welcome.
For instance, what items caused you to return to your dealer w/i the first few weeks for service?
I can hardley wait...

 

Here is a list I got from somewhere. This list is supposedly what Honda checks to certify a used vehicle. It's very comprehensive and you could probably skip over much of it, but it's a good start. I bolded things I would check.

Required Manuals & Documentation (In glove box or provided upon delivery)
• Owners manual
• New Car Warranty manual
• Certified Warranty Booklet
• Vehicle History Report copy (Title History Check)
• Copy of HCUC 150-pt. Inspection Checklist in Glove Box (Once completed)
• Radio Security Code
• Navigation Code (if applicable)

VIN Inspection
1. Vehicle VIN plates match, engine compartment, door jambs and dash
2. VIN/FMVSS label on door jamb
3. Perform VIN Status Inquiry check and perform applicable recall or campaign repairs

Minimum Replacement Items
4. Engine oil & filter — with genuine Honda filter
5. Air filter — if dirty or at service interval
6. Brake fluid — if dirty/discolored or at service interval
7. Floor mats — replace mats, unless in good condition
8. Wiper blades — replace unless they wipe windshield clean
9. Coolant — replace if dirty or at service interval with genuine Honda fluid
10. Tires — minimum tread depth 5/32 across tread width
11. Disc brake pads — replace if wear is greater than 50%
12. Brake shoes — replace if wear is greater than 50%
13. Antenna mast — replace if bent or sticking (if applicable)
14. Automatic transmission fluid — replace if discolored or at service interval
15. Differential fluid — replace if discolored or at service interval (if equipped)
16. Rear differential fluid — replace if discolored or at service interval (if equipped)

Scheduled Maintenance
17. Nearest scheduled maintenance must be performed if within 3 months or 2500 miles of service interval, or if no record of service exists

Road Test (Nearly everything is worth checking)
18. Starting — cold/hot
19. Idle vibration — cold/hot
20. Engine noise — cold/hot & high/low speeds
21. Acceleration — power
22. Engine operating temperature
23. Drive-ability — smoothness
24. AT shift quality/AT shift points
25. MT shifter operation
26. MT clutch — smoothness, effort, slippage
27. Transmission/transaxle noise — cold/hot
28. CV joint/drive axle noise — full lock turn r/l
29. Braking — noise, vibration, effort
30. Parking brake operation
31. Steering effort — drifting right or left
32. Steering wheel free play/steering wheel centered
33. Cruise control operation, including resume
34. Horn operation
35. Wind noise/squeaks/rattles
36. Speedometer/odometer operation
37. Heater/defroster operation
38. A/C cooling performance/vent outlet temperature
39. Tire or steering wheel vibration
40. Body/suspension — performance/noise/rough road test

Under Hoodcheck for unacceptable aftermarket modifications
41. Battery — condition, fluid level, load test
42. Alternator — belt condition/tension, charging
43. Starter operation
44. Distributor — cap & rotor condition, shaft looseness
45. Ignition system operation
46. Fuel system operation — connections/leakage
47. Fuel filter — replace per maintenance schedule
48. Radiator — leaks, road-hazard damage
49. A/C condenser — corrosion, road-hazard damage
50. Cooling fan operation
51. Coolant — replace if discolored, insufficient protection
52. Coolant hoses — check condition
53. Power steering — fluid level, belt condition/tension
54. A/C compressor — proper cycling, belt condition/tension
55. Heater valve adjustment
56. Engine valve noise
57. Engine/transmission mount condition
58. Engine—verify adequate maintenance
59. Timing belt condition

Under Vehiclecheck for unacceptable aftermarket modifications
60. Tires — OEM size, speed and load rating
61. Tires — matching brand & type
62. Tires — no road hazard damage/proper tire pressure
63. Tires — check for uneven wear or sidewall cracking
64. Wheels/rims — check for damage
65. Valve stem condition
66. Wheel lug nuts — all present and properly torqued
67. Spare tire — condition/pressure
68. Engine — oil leaks, drain plug threads
69. Transmission leaks
70. Coolant leaks
71. CV joint/boots/drive-shaft/universal joint — cracks, leakage
72. Brake pad thickness
73. Brake rotor thickness and surface
74. Brake caliper free movement
75. Brake caliper leakage
76. Rear lining thickness (if applicable)
77. Rear-wheel cylinder leakage (if applicable)
78. Rear drum thickness and surface
79. Hydraulic hose/line leakage
80. Suspension — springs, proper ride height
81. McPherson strut/shock absorber leakage
82. Bushing condition
83. Ball joint tightness
84. Tie rod end tightness
85. Power steering rack leakage
86. Entire exhaust system — condition, leaks, damage, noise

Exterior check for unacceptable aftermarket modifications
87. Headlights — high/low operation and headlight aim, cracks, chips, scratches, pitting
88. Brake lights
89. Turn signal lights — operation, cracks, chips, scratches
90. Parking lamps
91. Fog lamps (if applicable)
92. Running lights (if applicable)
93. License plate light
94. Taillights — operation, cracks, chips, scratches, damage
95. Back-up lamps
96. Emergency flasher
97. Water leaks

Interior check for unacceptable aftermarket modifications
98. Fuel gauge operation
99. Temperature gauge operation
100. All warning lights illuminated with ignition ON
101. Dash light operation
102. Windshield wiper/washer operation
103. Audio system — radio/CD/cassette, speaker operation (audio steering wheel controls if applicable)
104. Navigation operation (if applicable)
105. Clock functions
106. Steering wheel tilt/lock
107. Sunroof operation (if applicable)
108. Headliner condition
109. Cigarette lighter/power outlets (if equipped)
110. Alarm/theft system operation — check remote
111. SRS airbags — exterior condition/check warning lamp self check
112. Outside mirror operation, left & right
113. Rearview mirror operation — day/night operation
114. Window operation — noise, speed and full travel
115. Door locks — check manual and/or power operation and child safety function
116. Seat belts — condition, proper latching and retraction operation
117. Seat upholstery/leather condition — front & rear
118. Power seat operation (if equipped)
119. Seat heaters (if equipped)
120. Headrest movement
121. Rear defrost operation
122. Inside mirror/vanity light operation
123. Interior lights — switch/door operation
124. Glove box/glove box light operation
125. Luggage compartment — jack & tool present
126. Truck lid release/trunk lid light operation
127. Fuel door release
128. Hood release operation

Exterior (Look for scratches or blemishes)
129. Under hood — clean engine compartment
130. Front bumper — facia, guards, finish
131. Grille — headlights, other lights, trim, emblems
132. Hood — emblems & finish
133. LF fender — finish, trim
134. LF door — finish, trim
135. LR door — finish, trim
136. LR fender — finish, trim
137. Truck lid — finish, trim
138. Rear bumper — facia, guards, trim
139. RR fender — finish, trim
140. RR door — finish, trim
141. RF door — finish, trim
142. RF fender — finish, trim
143. Roof — finish, trim
144. Windshield/glass — cracks, chips, scratches, pitting

Interior
145. Carpet & mats — condition
146. Dash & instrument panels
147. Console/center armrest/cup holders
148. Front doors — controls, trim condition
149. Rear doors/quarter trim — controls, trim condition
150. Luggage compartment — mat/trim/carpet condition

 

since you're ordering one, and your dealership is responsible for installing the front license plate (if required by state law), tell them not to install it! they will probably drill into your bumper.

as you check the exterior, look very closely and rub your hand along the edges, etc. my dealership forgot to remove a ton of the shipping plastic.

if you're a picky person, you may not want them to wash your car...dealerships are notorious for using dirty water that can actually scratch your car's paint.

look at the interior carefully for scratches caused by the dealership performing their PDI (pre-delivery inspection--described above). i missed a scratch on the parking brake that i see everytime i get in the car, it drives me crazy.

 

Hello again.
My delivery date got pulled in till tomorrow..
Thanks again (arush19) for the posts.
What I am looking for are things more specific to picking up your new Honda Fit.
1) What issues did you have when you took ownership of your Fit?
2) What items did you need to fix before you drove off the lot?
3) What defect / problem caused you to have to return to your dealership for repair?
4) What's the most important thing learned about your car in the first 48hrs?
Thanks for your feedback... I'm pretty "jazzed.."

 

The front license plate holder is plastic and is held to the bumper by three fasteners. Two on the bottom of the holder are short bolts that go into metal clips that have been snapped onto holes on the underside of the bumper. You can remove them without any problems.

But the top of the holder is held by a single screw, into a hole drilled into the front of the bumper itself. If you remove the holder for a clean appearance (as I have) you will need to fill and paint that hole or possibly cover it with a small plastic screw that matches the bumper color. I have a white bumper and the internal bumper material that shows from the screw hole is black, so it was pretty obvious.

 

Agreed, Old Thread . . . and I have not seen the PDI. Any hints on where it may be found online?

I should have mentioned that my experience was on a 2009 model which might be different than earlier cars. I bought the car from a dealer in a state that uses front and rear plates, but titled and licensed it in a state that only has the rear plate. In any case, it may be worth trying to get your dealer either to not put on the extra front plate holder, or to only use the lower two bolts for attachment.

 

Sorry for the newb question, but what is the "PDI"? Some sort of "Pre delivery inspection" document? Is it incorporated into the sales agreement? And, yes, I too would love to see a copy if anyoen has a link.