Car Repairs in Buckfastleigh

Buckfastleigh is a small town on the edge of Dartmoor, beside the A38, and its roads punish a car's engine. Climbs towards the moor, steam railway visitors on busy days and long runs along the A38 all add load to turbos, cooling systems and belts.

At Automaster we repair petrol and diesel cars from Buckfastleigh, Buckfast, Holne and the countryside nearby. Here is what the work involves, what the warning signs look like and what we need from you for a quote.

Why do Dartmoor hills show up engine faults?

Long climbs ask the engine for sustained power and generate plenty of heat. A cooling system with a partly blocked radiator, a tired water pump or a low coolant level may cope on the flat and then fail halfway up a hill. A turbo that is wearing will feel flat and noisy when you ask for more.

Oil matters here as well. Oil that is low or leaking is more likely to starve a hard-working engine, so a dip in oil pressure on a moorland road is a warning you should take seriously. If the oil light comes on during a climb, ease off, find a safe place to stop and switch off rather than hoping it clears. Tell us if it happened more than once, because patterns help us diagnose.

What engine repairs can you do near Buckfastleigh?

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

A rebuild or replacement is a big decision, so we explain what we have found first and let you choose.

• Diagnostics before parts
• Cooling system pressure checks where relevant
• Clear explanation of options

What if my engine overheats on the moor?

Stop in a safe place, switch off and let it cool. Do not open the cap while it is hot and do not drive on with the gauge high. Steam, a sweet smell or a warning light all mean the same thing.

An engine that has overheated once may have a damaged head gasket, so it is worth having it checked even if it seems to run normally afterwards.

Can you find an oil leak or fuel fault with my symptoms?

Oil on the drive, blue smoke, burning smells and a dropping dipstick reading all point towards seals, gaskets or turbo trouble. Rough running, smoke from the exhaust, hard starting and poor economy suggest injectors or the wider fuel system.

We start with a proper inspection. Guessing at parts is the quickest route to a bigger bill, and we would rather tell you exactly what is wrong.

Do you work on cars from Buckfastleigh?

Yes. Buckfastleigh drivers, along with people from Buckfast, South Brent, Holne and Totnes, bring their cars to us at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL.

If you are a visitor whose car has started to misbehave on the way to the abbey or the railway, call and describe it. We will tell you what to check first.