Car Repairs in Milber

If you live in Milber, you probably use your car for short hops across Newton Abbot and longer runs out along the A380. That mix is hard on an engine. Short trips never let the oil and coolant settle at working temperature, while faster main-road driving shows up any weakness in the cooling system, the turbo or the fuel system very quickly.

At Automaster we repair petrol and diesel cars from the ground up, from tracing a fault with diagnostics through to timing belt jobs, water pumps, turbo work and engine rebuilds. This page explains the symptoms we see most often, what each repair involves and what to tell us when you ask for a quote.

Is my engine fault worth a diagnostic check?

Almost always, yes. A warning light, a rough idle, a loss of power or a smell you cannot place are all reasons to have the car looked at before a small fault becomes a large one. We connect diagnostic equipment to read stored fault codes, then use those codes as a starting point rather than an answer. A code usually points to a circuit or a system, and a mechanic still has to test the parts and wiring involved to find the real cause.

Engine servicing sits alongside this, with fresh oil and the right filters.

Why are the cambelt and water pump often replaced together?

On many engines the timing belt (cambelt) drives the water pump as well as keeping the crankshaft and camshaft in step. Reaching the belt means taking much of the front of the engine apart, so changing the pump at the same visit avoids paying for the same labour twice. A pump that fails later can also let go of coolant onto the belt or stop it turning, and either can lead to serious damage.

Some engines use a timing chain instead. A rattle on a cold start tells us the chain, guides or tensioner need attention. Which parts are replaced depends on the engine.

What should I do if my car is overheating?

Pull over somewhere safe, switch the engine off and let it cool. Do not open the radiator or expansion tank cap while it is hot, because the system is under pressure. Driving on with the temperature gauge in the red can warp the cylinder head or blow the head gasket, which turns a modest cooling repair into an engine rebuild.

Causes include a leaking radiator, a split hose, a stuck thermostat, a failing water pump or a fan that is not switching on. We pressure-test the cooling system to find the leak, then repair or replace the radiator or the failed part.

Do you cover Milber and where do I bring the car?

Yes. Drivers from Milber, the wider Newton Abbot area, Abbotskerswell, Stoke-in-Teignhead and Teignmouth come to Automaster. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL, so you drive to us rather than the other way round.

If the car is overheating, losing oil badly, or the brakes or steering feel wrong, please do not risk it. Tell us when you call.

What do turbo, oil leak and injector faults look like?

A failing turbo often whistles or whines under load, loses power, blows blue or grey smoke, or uses oil. Oil leaks can come from a rocker cover gasket, sump gasket, crank seal or oil cooler, and a smell of burning oil or spots on the drive are the usual clues. Dirty or worn injectors cause hard starting, uneven idle, poor economy and black smoke on diesels, while a failing fuel pump or blocked filter can make the engine cut out.

Each repair starts with inspection, because the same symptom can have several causes.