Car Diagnostics in South Brent

South Brent is a Dartmoor-edge village by the A38 and the River Avon, and it is a natural stopping point between Exeter and Plymouth, with hills climbing towards the moor. Cars here work hard, whether they are long-distance or local.

Automaster at Longcombe Cross near Totnes handles full vehicle diagnostics and auto electrics for drivers from South Brent, Ivybridge, Buckfastleigh, Totnes and Modbury, covering batteries, alternators, starters, sensors and wiring.

My car has lost power on the A38. Could it be electrical?

It could be. A failing alternator can leave the battery supplying everything until it runs flat, and a sensor fault can put the engine into a reduced-power mode. Neither is something to ignore on a fast road.

If a red light shows or the car feels unsafe, stop in a safe place. For anything less urgent, we scan the car and test the likely circuits.

It also helps to say whether the fault started after a service, a battery change or a long drive. Those clues can narrow the search a good deal, and a photo of the dashboard when the light is on is always welcome.

How do warning light diagnostics work?

We connect a scan tool to the diagnostic socket and read the stored codes from the engine, ABS, airbag and other systems. A code tells us which circuit or system raised the alarm, not which part to buy.

We then check live readings and test the wiring and components. This stage is what separates a proper diagnosis from guesswork, and it is a big part of the time on the job.

• Read codes from each system
• Check live data
• Test circuits and connectors
• Confirm the fault before repair

Battery, alternator and starter faults for long-distance and local drivers

Drivers who cover long distances on the A38 tend to see alternator wear, while local short-trip use leans on batteries and starters. A battery that dies after a few days of not being used might have a drain somewhere.

Tell us how the car is used and how it fails to start. It gives us a quicker route to the answer.

Sensors, immobilisers, cameras and parking aids

Sensor faults on engine, ABS and parking systems are common. We test the sensor and its wiring before replacing it. We also look at immobiliser and alarm problems, and at reversing cameras that show a blank or flickering picture.

Intermittent faults are slower to trace, as we have to wait for them to happen under test.

Do you cover South Brent, and where are you?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL. Drivers come from South Brent, Ivybridge, Buckfastleigh, Totnes and Modbury as well as the countryside in between.

Ask for a quote with the car's make, model and year, plus a description of the fault and any lights on the dash.