Most shops do the bare minimum — change your oil, rotate your tires, send you on your way. Here's what a real inspection should cover that a lot of places skip:

1. Brake fluid condition — Not just pad thickness. Old brake fluid absorbs moisture and loses effectiveness. If it's dark or hasn't been flushed in 2+ years, it's overdue.

2. Coolant pH levels — Coolant doesn't just keep your engine cool, it prevents corrosion. When the pH drops, it starts eating your radiator and water pump from the inside.

3. CV boot integrity — Those rubber boots protecting your axle joints crack over time. Once grease leaks out and dirt gets in, you're looking at a $400+ axle replacement instead of a $30 boot.

4. Serpentine belt tension AND condition — Most shops glance at it. A belt can look fine but be glazed smooth on the underside. When it snaps, your power steering, AC, and alternator all go with it.

5. Battery terminal corrosion — A dying battery doesn't always show obvious symptoms. Corroded terminals cause slow cranks and weird electrical issues that mimic much more expensive problems.

At Iron Horse Auto, every one of these is standard on our Full Inspection + Tune-Up Package. No shortcuts, no guesswork — just honest work.