Car Repairs in Buckfast

Buckfast is the village beside Buckfast Abbey, close to the A38 and to Buckfastleigh on the edge of Dartmoor. Visitors arrive all year, which means plenty of cars parked up, started cold and driven off again, sometimes a long way from home.

Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. We repair petrol and diesel cars for residents of Buckfast and for people who find a problem developing on a day out. This page sets out the engine repairs we do and how to ask for a quote.

My car is leaking oil in Buckfast, what now?

Look at where the car has been parked. Dark spots on the ground, a burning smell after a run or a low dipstick all suggest a leak. The usual culprits are the rocker cover gasket, sump gasket, oil filter housing or crankshaft seals, though a turbo oil feed can also leak.

Check the level before any long journey and top up if needed. If the oil warning light comes on, stop and switch off rather than driving to a garage, since running low can wreck an engine.

Visiting Buckfast and the engine is running hot?

Overheating is common on busy summer days when traffic crawls and the engine fan has to do the work. If the gauge climbs or you see steam, pull over safely, switch off and wait. Do not open the coolant cap while it is hot.

Possible causes include a radiator that is blocked or leaking, a failed fan, a stuck thermostat or a water pump on its way out. We inspect to find which.

Which engine and fuel repairs do you carry out?

We cover engine diagnostics and servicing, engine repairs, rebuilds and engine replacement and fitting, cambelt and timing chain replacement, water pump replacement, turbo repair and replacement, cooling system and radiator work, oil leaks and injector and fuel-system repairs.

If your car hesitates, judders at idle, smokes or smells of fuel, tell us. Injectors, the fuel pump or filters could be involved and we would test before recommending anything.

• Smoke colour and when it happens
• Warning lights and whether they stay on
• Any recent fuel or oil top-ups

Why does the cambelt matter so much?

A cambelt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft in step. If it snaps on an engine where the valves and pistons can collide, the damage can be severe, and an engine replacement may be the result. Because the water pump is often driven by the same belt, we usually discuss changing both together.

Intervals vary by maker and engine, and age counts as well as mileage.

Where is your garage and do you cover Buckfast?

Yes, Buckfast is part of the area we serve. Our garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL. Drivers from Buckfastleigh, South Brent, Holne and Totnes come to us as well.

If you live in Buckfast, you can describe the problem by phone and we will say what we would look at first. If you are a visitor, tell us where the car is and whether it is safe to move.