Car Diagnostics in Heathfield

Heathfield lies between Newton Abbot and Bovey Tracey, beside the A38 and A382, with an industrial estate and busy through traffic. Cars here do varied work: faster-road runs, queues, local deliveries and plenty of starts and stops.

Automaster is a garage at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes. We provide diagnostics and auto electrical repairs for petrol and diesel vehicles. Here is how the work goes and what is worth knowing before you ask for a quote.

Why do busy-road cars get electrical faults?

Electrical loads add up. Headlights, heated screens, a stereo, a phone charger and a blower fan all draw from the alternator, and in slow traffic the engine is turning slowly, so the alternator produces less. An ageing battery and a tired alternator then show their weaknesses together.

None of this is unusual, and it is no reason to panic. It is a reason to have a charging system tested when you see symptoms such as dimming lights, a flickering dashboard or a battery warning.

Heathfield car diagnostics: from scan to cause

We start by connecting diagnostic equipment and reading fault codes and live data from the engine and other systems. This tells us where to look. A fault code points to a circuit or system and is not a parts list, so the scan is followed by testing: wiring, connectors, voltage, signals and the component itself.

This is why we do not name a part or a price before looking. Two cars with the same warning light can have entirely different causes.

• Scan for stored codes
• Check live sensor data
• Test wiring and connectors
• Confirm the failed part
• Repair and recheck

Which warning lights matter most?

Red lights first: oil pressure, coolant temperature and brake warnings mean stop safely and do not keep driving. On a fast road, pull into a safe place as soon as you can and switch off.

Amber lights cover engine management, ABS, airbags, power steering, tyre pressure and glow plugs on diesels. A steady amber light usually allows a drive to the garage, but if the car is running badly or losing power, take it more seriously. A scan finds out what has been logged.

Sensors, wiring repairs and parking aids

Sensors tell the engine computer what is happening, and when one reads wrongly the car can run badly or set a light. Sensor replacement is quick once the fault is proven, but wiring damage nearby is a common cause and needs fixing at the same time.

We also repair wiring faults, alarm and immobiliser problems, reversing cameras and parking sensors. Intermittent faults need time, since they have to be caught in the act.

Where do Heathfield drivers bring their cars?

To us at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL. Drivers from Heathfield, Liverton, Newton Abbot, Bickington and Hexworth use the garage for diagnostics, batteries, alternators and starter motors.

Ask for a quote with a note of the symptoms. If your car is running a work route and cannot be left unreliable, say so.