Car Diagnostics in Bickington

Bickington is a village on the road between Newton Abbot and Ashburton, close to the A38 on the edge of Dartmoor. Moorland weather means damp, mist and cold mornings, all of which find the weak spots in a car's wiring, connectors and battery.

We are Automaster, a garage at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes. This page covers car diagnostics, auto electrics and the faults we are most often asked about, written for drivers who want to know what is going on before they pick up the phone.

What does damp Dartmoor-edge weather do to car electrics?

Moisture is a common cause of electrical faults. Water finds its way into connectors, switches and sensor plugs, and corrosion builds up slowly until a signal drops out. Faults caused this way often come and go with the weather, which is why a car can behave on a dry afternoon and throw up a warning light on a wet morning.

Cleaning or repairing a corroded connector, replacing a damaged section of wiring or renewing a sensor are all routine jobs, but they have to be found first. That is what diagnostic testing is for.

Car diagnostics near Bickington: what the scan shows

We connect diagnostic equipment to the car and read the fault codes stored by its control units, along with live data such as sensor readings. This tells us which system is complaining. It does not tell us the exact failed part. A fault code points to a circuit or system, and the real cause could be a sensor, a wire, a connector or something mechanical.

Warning light diagnostics cover engine management, ABS, airbag, power steering and other systems. If you can note which light came on and what the car was doing at the time, that is useful information.

• Which light and what colour
• What the car was doing when it appeared
• Whether it was wet, cold or after a long drive
• Any recent repairs or battery changes

Battery, alternator and starter motor faults

Cold, damp mornings are hard on starting systems. A battery that is getting old may turn the engine over slowly, then give up altogether. If a new battery fails soon after fitting, suspect the alternator or a drain somewhere in the car.

The alternator charges the battery and runs the electrics while the engine is running. Warning signs include a battery light, dim headlights, a whining noise or electrical items behaving oddly. Starter motors fail with a click, a grinding sound or complete silence. We test the whole circuit so the right part is replaced.

Sensors, wiring, alarms and parking aids

Sensor faults are behind many warning lights: wheel speed sensors, temperature sensors, crankshaft and camshaft sensors and others. Replacement is usually simple once the fault is confirmed, but the surrounding wiring needs checking too, or the new part may fail the same way.

Immobiliser and alarm problems, reversing cameras and parking sensors are part of the work. Tell us if a key is not recognised, an alarm triggers by itself or a camera image is missing.

Do you cover Bickington, and where are you?

Yes, Bickington drivers are welcome, along with those from Newton Abbot, Liverton, Heathfield and Buckfastleigh. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL.

If a red warning has lit up, or the car is cutting out, stop somewhere safe rather than pressing on. Describe what happened when you ask for a quote.