Advice centre
Car Advice from a Devon Garage
Plain-English guides to MOTs, servicing, repairs, clutches, gearboxes, brakes, tyres, exhausts, diagnostics and air conditioning.
MOT Testing
- What is checked in an MOT test?
- Common reasons cars fail an MOT and how to avoid them
- How to prepare your car for an MOT
- Class 4 and Class 7 MOT explained: cars and vans
- MOT dangerous, major and minor defects explained
- When is my MOT due and how early can I test?
- What happens after an MOT failure: repairs and retests
- Which dashboard warning lights can cause an MOT fail?
- How does the MOT emissions test work for petrol and diesel cars?
- Is it legal to drive without an MOT?
Car Servicing & Maintenance
- Pre-purchase inspection: what to check when buying a second-hand car
- What to expect at a car service
- Engine oil grades explained
- Why does a car's service history matter?
- Is my car overdue a service? Signs to look for
- Interim, Full and Major Service: What Is the Difference?
- How Often Should a Car Be Serviced?
- Manufacturer-Schedule Servicing Explained
- Why Do Oil and Filter Changes Matter?
- What Is a Vehicle Health Check?
Mechanical Repairs
- Timing belt or timing chain: which does your car have?
- What are the signs your cambelt needs changing?
- Water pump failure: symptoms and causes
- Why is my car overheating?
- Turbo failure: symptoms and causes
- Engine Oil Leak: Causes and What to Do
- Diesel Injector and Fuel System Problems: Signs and Fixes
- Why Is My Engine Misfiring?
- Repair, Rebuild or Replace: Choosing What to Do With a Failing Engine
- What Blue, White and Black Exhaust Smoke Means
Gearbox & Transmission Repairs
- How do you know if a CV joint is failing?
- Why is my car vibrating or making noise from the driveshaft?
- What does a differential do and how do you know it has a fault?
- Is it better to repair or replace a manual gearbox?
- Clutch or gearbox: which one is causing my problem?
- What are the signs of a failing manual gearbox?
- Why is my gearbox whining?
- Why does my car jump out of gear?
- Why is my gearbox hard to change gear?
- Do I need a manual gearbox oil change?
Clutch Repairs & Replacement
- Why Does My Clutch Judder When I Pull Away?
- How Can I Make My Clutch Last Longer?
- Clutch Master and Slave Cylinder Faults Explained
- What Does a Clutch Replacement Actually Include?
- Is My Clutch Bite Point Too High or Too Low?
- Signs your clutch needs replacing
- How long does a clutch last?
- Dual-mass flywheel explained
- Clutch pedal sinking to the floor: causes
- Slipping clutch: causes and what to do
Brakes, Suspension & Steering
- Why are my brakes squealing or grinding?
- What is the clunking noise from my suspension?
- How do I know if my shock absorbers are worn?
- What does a failing wheel bearing sound like?
- Why is my steering pulling to one side or heavy?
- What are the signs your brake pads need replacing?
- Warped or worn brake discs: what are the symptoms?
- Why does my brake pedal feel spongy or soft?
- ABS warning light on: what does it mean and can I drive?
- Brake fluid changes explained: when and why they matter
Tyres & Wheel Alignment
- Tyre tread depth and the legal limit
- How to read tyre age and date codes
- When can a puncture be repaired?
- Signs you need wheel alignment
- Wheel balancing and steering wheel vibration
- Why are my tyres wearing unevenly?
- Why do tyre pressures matter?
- Is it safe to drive with a bulge or cut in the tyre sidewall?
- Do I need to rotate and match my tyres?
- How do I choose the right tyres for my car?
Exhausts & Emissions
- EGR valve problems explained
- Exhaust rattle: causes
- Exhaust fumes smell in the car: why it matters
- Short journeys and diesel particulate filters
- Oxygen (lambda) sensor faults
- DPF warning light: what to do next
- How does DPF regeneration work?
- Catalytic converter failure: how to spot it
- Why is my exhaust blowing or suddenly loud?
- Why do cars fail the MOT emissions test?
Diagnostics & Auto Electrics
- Engine management light: what it means and what to do
- What can a diagnostic scan tell you about your car?
- How do you know if your car battery is failing?
- Alternator failure: symptoms, causes and what to do
- Starter motor problems: why does my car just click?
- Car Won't Start: A Checklist of Causes and What to Check
- Intermittent Electrical Faults Explained
- Immobiliser and Key Problems: Why Your Car Won't Recognise the Key
- Parking Sensor and Reversing Camera Faults: Causes and Fixes
- What Do the Common Dashboard Warning Lights Mean?
Air Conditioning & Heating
- Why should you run your air con in winter?
- Car heater not working: what causes it and what to check
- Why are my car windows misting up and how do I stop it?
- What does a pollen or cabin filter do and when to change it?
- What does that car air con noise mean?
- Why Is My Car Air Con Not Blowing Cold?
- How Often Should You Re-gas Car Air Con?
- What Are the Signs of a Car Air Con Leak?
- Why Does My Car Air Con Smell?
- Air Con Compressor Faults: How Do You Know It Is Failing?
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Automaster, Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL, United Kingdom