SUMMARY

2013 Forest River FORESTER 3011DSF

I observed that the tires were matched by brand and had appropriate tread depth. However, all wheels displayed curb rash. The awnings showed no visible damage and functioned as designed, and the jacks also worked properly. The roof was in good condition. While the seal of the slide-out on the driver's side showed wear, there were no signs of leaks. Minor surface rust was evident on the LPG regulator tank. Glitches were detected with the backup camera. Additionally, there were minor miscellaneous scratches around the vehicle, typical for its mileage, with most being too small to see in photos. The vehicle also displayed minor miscellaneous dings on the body. The paint showed some wear and tear consistent with its age and mileage. Both the decals and exterior graphics were fading and cracking. Surface rust was also observed on some parts in the engine bay.

Upon inspecting the interior, I found no signs of leaks, and the interior appeared clean. There were no traces of smoke or unusual odors. All electrical features, including climate controls and stereo, operated properly as designed. Interior lights and accessories were also functional. Appliances and water systems functioned correctly. No floor issues were observed. The steering wheel exhibited some wear and tear, as depicted in the pictures, which is normal for its mileage. The inner door panels showed wear consistent with the vehicle's age and mileage, as did the interior trim.

Undercarriage components were visually examined for leakage, deterioration, and damage. Undercarriage components were noted with no issues. The underside shows areas of surface rust. See pictures.

Under the hood I observed that all fluids were at recommended levels. I noted no visual leaks.

On the road test I noticed good acceleration and braking. The transmission and transfer case worked as designed. The vehicle handled well. I noted no odd noises or vibrations. I hooked up my Scan Tool to the computer system and did not detect any error codes but four monitors showed incomplete. More diagnosis needed.

I scanned the onboard diagnostics and found the diagnostic monitoring system to be not ready. This is evidenced by one or more sensor statuses being incomplete. Diagnostics codes that would have been generated by a sensor, for any potential problems, and stored in the computer memory, are unfortunately no longer available. It is not unusual for a dealership to clear the computer memory as part of prep. Individuals can also perform the same procedure via an inexpensive device as well as simply disconnecting the battery. In a perfect world, there were no previous diagnostic codes stored in the computer memory. However, there is no method to confirm whether or not any codes previously existed. The only method, moving forward, is to allow the computer to communicate with all of the sensors and ascertain their current status. Modern vehicles often have a plethora of sensors. The computer typically requires several miles, and several engine cycles (cold to operating temperature and back to cold) for all sensors to accurately report their status back to the computer. This can take several days. If a sensor reports an abnormality back to the computer, the check-engine light may illuminate. We recommend that you bring this to the attention of the seller and inquire as to why the computer memory has been erased. Proceed with caution if you believe nefarious intentions were involved.

Please see below for pictures and more info.