Buying a used GMC Acadia, what should I check on the gearbox before I pay?

[cody sutton]

I have been looking for a family car for two months, and last Saturday I found a 2016 GMC Acadia that looks very clean. The seller says it has 112,000 kilometers, one owner, and no accidents. My wife likes the third row because her parents sometimes travel with us. I took it for a short drive and most of it felt smooth. But when I pulled away from a red light, there was a small pause before it moved. The seller said that is normal for this car, but I am not sure. A friend who owns a Terrain told me not to pay anything yet. He said I should find a GMC transmission service near Industrial Area 10 and ask them to check the car first. He said a small check costs much less than a surprise repair later. I read a page about GMC gearbox repair online to learn what signs to look for. It talked about slipping, rough shifts and old oil in easy words. It helped a little, but I still feel lost. Is it normal to ask a seller to let a workshop check the car? What does it mean if he says no? What can they test in one visit, like the oil, the error codes and a road test? How can I tell if the oil is old, and is dark color always bad? Should I ask for service papers, and what should I look for in them? Also, if the gearbox was repaired before, is that good or bad? My budget is small, so I would rather walk away than buy a car that needs a big repair soon. If you bought a used GMC and had gearbox surprises later, please tell me what happened and what you wish you had checked. Thanks for reading.

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