Car Repairs in Dartington

Dartington sits just outside Totnes on the A384, and the traffic reflects it. Commuters share the road with people heading to the Dartington Hall estate, the gardens and the arts events, so a lot of cars here do a mix of rush-hour crawling and relaxed country driving.

We are Automaster, a garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and we repair petrol and diesel cars for Dartington residents. Below you will find the symptoms we see most, how the main jobs work and what to have ready when you ask for a quote.

Which mechanical faults can you repair for Dartington drivers?

We deal with engine diagnostics, engine servicing, engine repairs and, where it is needed, engine rebuilds or engine replacement and fitting. We also fit cambelts and timing chains, replace water pumps, repair or replace turbos, work on radiators and cooling systems, trace oil leaks and repair injectors and fuel systems.

Because it is one garage, a single inspection can often tell us whether a symptom is a cooling fault, a fuel fault or something internal, rather than sending you to several places.

Cambelt and water pump: why replace both?

Where the cambelt drives the water pump, the pump sits behind the same covers. Fitting a new belt around an old pump is a false saving, because if the pump bearing fails later it can shed the belt or leak coolant, and the whole job has to be repeated.

Interval rules differ between manufacturers and are set by time as well as mileage. A car that covers few miles in a year can still be due, so look at the handbook or ask us.

• Check the service history for a belt change
• Ask about tensioners and idler pulleys at the same time
• Do not stretch a belt past its limit

My temperature gauge is rising. Should I carry on?

No. Overheating means the engine is making more heat than the cooling system can shift, and metal can distort quickly. Pull over safely, switch off and let the engine cool before you touch anything under the bonnet.

Causes include a low coolant level from a leak, a stuck thermostat, a blocked radiator, a failing pump or a fan that has stopped working. Please do not top up and drive off repeatedly; that only hides the leak.

What does a failing turbo or injector look and sound like?

A tired turbo may whistle or whine, lose its pull on hills, blow blue or grey smoke and drink oil. Injector trouble tends to appear as juddery idling, a hesitant start, black smoke and a drop in economy, and sometimes a fuel smell.

Oil leaks are a different matter: they leave spots under the car, make a burning smell from hot manifolds and can drain the sump if ignored. We diagnose before replacing anything, because several of these faults look alike.

Where do I take my car if I live in Dartington?

Bring it to our garage at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL. Drivers from Dartington, Totnes, Buckfastleigh, South Brent and Ivybridge are all part of the area we look after.

If the car is not safe to drive, tell us when you call so we can advise on how to get it to us safely.