Car Diagnostics in Ellacombe

If you live in a district of steep terraced streets close to the harbour and town centre, your car may do mostly short journeys, or sit for days between uses. Neither is kind to a battery, and both can lead to starting trouble.

We run Automaster as an independent garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Ellacombe drivers come to us for full vehicle diagnostics and auto electrical repairs on petrol and diesel cars.

Why do short trips cause electrical problems?

Starting the engine takes a lot of power from the battery. A short run may not give the alternator long enough to put it back, so over weeks the battery runs down. Lights, heated screens and fans make it worse.

A battery that has been repeatedly drained can be damaged for good. We check its condition, test the charging system and look for anything pulling current while the car is parked.

If the car lives on the street, remember that locking it with the alarm armed for long periods also draws a small current, which adds up over several days of non-use.

What do I do when a warning light comes on?

Note which light it is, whether it is steady or flashing, and how the car is behaving. A steady yellow light on a car running normally can usually wait for a check. A flashing light, or any red one, is more urgent.

Do not keep driving if the car is overheating, if braking feels wrong or if it is losing power. Bring the car in and tell us what the light did.

Photographing the dash with your phone when the light is on can help us a great deal, especially if the symbol clears itself before you reach us.

• Note the colour and symbol
• Steady or flashing
• Any change in how the car drives
• Whether the fault came on after a specific event

Can you find a battery drain?

Yes, though it takes methodical work. We measure the current draw with everything switched off, then isolate circuits one at a time until the drain disappears. Culprits include faulty modules, stuck relays, aftermarket accessories and alarm units.

This is why electrical fault finding is quoted on what it involves, not a fixed idea of the time. Some drains are found quickly, others take longer.

Do you cover Ellacombe, St Marychurch and Torbay?

Yes. Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Ellacombe, St Marychurch, Paignton, Newton Abbot and all around Torbay come to us.

We also do MOT testing, servicing and mechanical repairs, so if diagnostics show a mechanical cause, we can usually deal with it ourselves.

Do you replace batteries, alternators and parking sensors?

We do car battery replacement, alternator and starter motor work, and we repair or replace parking sensors and reversing cameras. Those last two help on narrow streets, and a faulty one can be frustrating.

Parts depend on the vehicle. When you ask for a quote, give us the make, model and engine, and tell us if the car has stop-start.