Car Diagnostics in Buckfast

Buckfast is a village beside the Abbey, close to the A38 and the neighbouring town of Buckfastleigh, and the visitor traffic is a constant feature. A car that dies on the way out of a busy car park is a headache for everyone.

Drivers from Buckfast come to Automaster at Longcombe Cross near Totnes for diagnostics, battery, alternator and starter work and fault finding on the wiring that ties it all together. We work on petrol and diesel vehicles.

What is my car telling me with that dashboard light?

Warning lights fall into rough groups. Red lights are about safety or damage risk, such as oil pressure, temperature, brakes and the charging system, and mean you should stop. Amber lights cover things like the engine management system, ABS and airbags and mean the system needs attention.

Because the same light can come from many different faults, we plug in a scan tool, read what the car has logged and then test the circuit concerned.

Can a scan tool tell you exactly what to replace?

No. A fault code names a circuit or system. For example, a code about a throttle position signal could be a failing sensor, damaged wiring or a connector that is not seating properly.

A part swapped on the strength of a code alone may not cure anything. We would rather test first, which is what drives the time a diagnostic job takes.

Start-up problems: battery, alternator or starter?

If the car clicks and does nothing, cranks slowly or starts then dies, the cause can be a flat battery, a charging fault or a failing starter. Lights that dim when you turn the key suggest a battery or connection issue.

Cars used for short journeys in and around the village may never fully recharge. Tell us how the car is normally used when you ask for a quote.

• Battery testing under load
• Alternator output check
• Starter motor and cable inspection

Reversing cameras, parking sensors and key problems

Parking aids that behave strangely are usually a sensor, camera or connector problem, and we can diagnose and replace the faulty part. Alarm and immobiliser faults, such as a car that will not accept its key, are tested at the key, receiver and wiring.

We do not guess at these. Each is checked in turn until the cause is clear.

Do you cover Buckfast, and how do I find you?

We do. Automaster is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL, and we see drivers from Buckfast, Buckfastleigh, Holne, South Brent and Totnes.

If you are visiting the Abbey area and have trouble with the car, you are welcome to ask us about a quote for fault finding.