Engine & driveline
- Cold start: arrive before the seller warms it up. Smoke color, rattle, and slow cranking all show cold.
- Fluids: oil level and color, coolant clarity, transmission fluid smell (burnt = walk).
- Leak map: look under the bus after it's sat: oil, coolant, or ATF spots.
- Highway pull: ten minutes at 60+ mph; watch temp gauge, feel for shudder on shifts.
- Exhaust: hangers, soft spots, and (diesels) DPF warning history.
Body & structure
- Floor structure: from underneath, probe the frame rails and floor supports; surface rust is normal, flaking scale is not.
- Entry steps: flex and corrosion at the stepwell, the first place shuttles rot.
- Roof seams and windows: water stains on headliner and top corners of window frames.
- Doors: power entry door cycles smoothly through 10 open/close cycles.
- Body mounts: cracked or shifted mounts show as uneven body-to-frame gaps.
Wheelchair lift & interior (if equipped)
- Cycle the lift five times: not once. Watch for hesitation, drift, or pump strain on cycles four and five.
- Manual backup: have the seller demonstrate the hand-pump or manual release.
- Securement stations: tie-down track unbent, retractors extend and lock, belts uncut and unfrayed.
- Seats and floor covering: lifted flooring around the securement track lets water into the plywood beneath.
- Interior lights, stop signals, and PA: everything a passenger or regulator sees.
Brakes, tires, and chassis
- Tire dates, not just tread: sidewall DOT codes over 6 years old mean budget for replacement regardless of tread.
- Brake wear: pad thickness through the wheels; pulsation on the test drive.
- Suspension: bounce test each corner; listen for clunks over the test route's worst pavement.
- A/C, both units: rear systems fail first and cost real money; verify cold air at the back roof vents.
Paperwork
- Vehicle history report: accidents, title brands, odometer. Every TESCO pre-owned listing includes a free AutoCheck report; demand the equivalent anywhere else.
- Maintenance records and open recalls: fleet service history is worth real money; check the VIN for unresolved recalls before signing.
What to do with the results
A few worn items are negotiating points; structure, lift hesitation, or paperwork gaps are exits. For the fuller buying process, covering pricing, mileage judgment, and when to walk, read the smart way to buy a used shuttle bus.
Every unit on TESCO's pre-owned lot has already been through this list once. Come run it yourself, or ask us for the walk-around video on any unit.