Car Diagnostics in Hexworth

Hexworth is a small rural hamlet in Dartmoor-edge country, reached by narrow lanes. For most households here the car is not a luxury but the only practical way to get to work, shops and appointments, so an electrical fault that leaves it dead on the drive matters.

Automaster is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes. Drivers from the surrounding countryside and from Heathfield, Liverton, Bickington and Caton bring their petrol and diesel cars to us for diagnostics and auto electrical work. This page explains the common faults and how to describe yours.

My car will not start: battery, starter or something else?

When the engine will not fire, listen. Rapid clicking and dim dashboard lights suggest a weak battery. A single loud click or a whirring sound suggests the starter motor. A car that turns over well but does not catch may have a fuel, ignition or immobiliser problem rather than anything to do with the battery.

Jump-starting can get a car going, but it hides the cause. If the battery goes flat again within days, there may be a charging fault or something drawing current while the car is parked.

• Fast clicking: battery likely weak
• One click or whirr: starter suspected
• Cranks but no start: fuel, ignition or immobiliser
• Flat again after a jump: charging or drain

What is car diagnostics and what does it not do?

Diagnostics means connecting equipment to the car, reading the fault codes stored in its control units and checking live data. It gives a direction. A fault code points to a circuit or a system, and it is not a list of parts to fit.

The real work is testing: following the circuit, checking power, earth and signal, and finding the actual cause. Skipping that step is how perfectly good parts get replaced.

Cars that sit for a while: batteries and electrical drain

A car used only occasionally loses charge faster than one used daily, especially on short trips. Alarms, trackers, dash cameras and aftermarket fittings can all draw a small current when the car is parked. A battery that is already ageing then gives up.

If a new battery has gone flat quickly, a drain test finds out whether something is running when it should be asleep. Faulty door switches, boot lights and control units are common culprits.

Warning lights, sensors and wiring

An amber engine light, ABS light or airbag light means a fault has been stored. A red oil, temperature or brake warning means stop safely and do not keep driving. Out on narrow lanes, find a safe place to pull in rather than carrying on.

Sensors and wiring cause many faults. Intermittent ones take time, as the problem must be present to be found. Tell us when it happens, such as cold starts, after rain or on rough surfaces.

Do you cover Hexworth, and where is the garage?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL, and welcome drivers from Hexworth and the countryside around it.

Alternators, starter motors, battery replacement, alarms, immobilisers, reversing cameras and parking sensors are all covered. Ask for a quote and tell us the make, model, year and symptoms.