Car Diagnostics in Torbay

The English Riviera is Torquay, Paignton and Brixham around Tor Bay, with hills, seafront traffic and heavy visitor numbers in summer. That mix of climbs, queues and short trips puts a lot of strain on batteries, alternators and starters.

Automaster is an independent garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. We provide diagnostics and auto electrical repairs for petrol and diesel cars, and we welcome drivers from across Torbay, from Paignton and Brixham to St Marychurch and Ellacombe.

What can car diagnostics find in Torbay cars?

Modern cars have many control units sharing information, so a fault in one area can show up elsewhere. Diagnostics reads their stored codes and live data to show which system is reporting a problem, from engine management to ABS, airbags, lighting and comfort systems.

We then test to find the cause. Diagnostics cannot tell you which part has failed on its own, and it cannot find faults that the car has not detected.

Which lights and symptoms mean a visit is due?

Any light that stays on after starting deserves attention. Other signs include a slow crank, flickering headlights, a battery light, a gearbox or engine that feels different, and sensors that act up. If the car is overheating or the brakes feel wrong, do not carry on driving.

Do not wait for a light to turn into a breakdown. Hilly roads and summer traffic around the bay are the worst place to find out your alternator has given up.

• Engine management light on
• Slow or reluctant starting
• Flickering lights or fading power
• Sensors or cameras not working

How do you tell a battery fault from an alternator or starter fault?

We test the battery under load, measure what the alternator is putting out, and check the starter and its cables. These steps separate the three, because their symptoms overlap. A dead battery can be caused by a failing alternator, and replacing only the battery would not cure it.

Car battery replacement, alternator replacement and starter motor work are all part of what we do. Parts choice depends on the car, so give us its make, model and engine, and tell us if it has stop-start.

Do you cover all of Torbay?

Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from across Torbay, including Paignton, Brixham, Churston, St Marychurch and Ellacombe, bring cars to us. We do diagnostics, electrical fault finding and wiring repairs, as well as MOT testing, servicing and mechanical repairs, so a diagnosed fault can often be dealt with in one place.

If you want to know whether we can look at your particular fault, ask for a quote and describe it.

What about wiring, alarms, immobilisers and parking aids?

Wiring faults cause some of the most baffling problems: chafed looms, corroded connectors and loose earths. We repair wiring where it is practical to do so and replace sensors that have failed.

We also deal with alarms, immobilisers, reversing cameras and parking sensors. Intermittent faults take longer, since they must be caught in the act. Tell us when it happens, and whether the weather, temperature or road surface seems to matter.