Car Diagnostics in Buckfastleigh

Buckfastleigh drivers deal with moorland roads, hills and a steady flow of tourist traffic, all within reach of the A38. Cold, damp mornings and short climbs are hard on batteries and starter motors, and damp can find its way into old wiring.

Our garage, Automaster at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, offers full vehicle diagnostics and auto electrical repairs for petrol and diesel cars and vans. If you are searching for an auto electrician in Buckfastleigh, this is what we do.

Where do I start when a warning light comes on?

Note which light it is and whether it is steady or flashing, and whether the car feels different to drive. A red light for oil pressure, engine temperature or brakes means stop safely and do not carry on, especially with moorland hills ahead.

An amber engine management light is less urgent but should not be ignored. We read the stored fault codes and then test the circuit behind them.

• Note the colour and the symbol
• Note if it flashes or stays on
• Tell us if the car feels different
• Mention any recent repairs or jump starts

What does a scan show and what does it leave out?

A diagnostic scan reads fault codes from the car's control units. It cannot tell us which component has failed, only which circuit or system has reported something odd. We treat the code as a starting point and carry out further testing.

Some faults, such as a tired battery or a corroded earth lead, may not be logged at all, so a clear scan does not always mean a clear bill of health.

Why won't my car start on a cold Dartmoor morning?

Cold weather exposes weak batteries, but it can also reveal a worn starter motor or a poor connection at the battery terminals. We test the battery under load, check charging output and look at the starter circuit.

If the car has been jump-started more than once, mention it. Repeated flat batteries often point to something draining power or an alternator that is not charging.

Wiring, sensors, alarms and parking aids

We carry out wiring repairs, replace faulty sensors and look after alarms, immobilisers, reversing cameras and parking sensors. Wiring problems on older cars often come from age, vibration or moisture, and tracing them can be slow work.

That is why intermittent faults take longer: the problem has to be found before it can be mended.

Do you cover Buckfastleigh and the villages around it?

Yes. Drivers from Buckfastleigh, Buckfast, Holne and South Brent bring their cars to us at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL, as do people from Totnes itself.

When you ask for a quote, give us the registration or the make, model and year, plus a plain description of what the car does.