Car Repairs in Newton Abbot

Newton Abbot is a market town at the head of the Teign estuary, with a racecourse, a railway station and busy A380 and A382 junctions. It is also a gateway to Dartmoor and Torbay, so cars here do commuting, school runs and weekend trips.

That mix of mileage is why engine repairs matter. Automaster, at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, repairs petrol and diesel cars, including engine diagnostics, cambelts and chains, water pumps, turbos, radiators, oil leaks and fuel injectors.

Why get engine diagnostics before a repair?

Modern engines are controlled by sensors and a computer, and a warning light does not name the faulty part. A reader gives fault codes, but a mechanic must interpret them and test the part.

We use diagnostics to separate injector, sensor, turbo, fuel and mechanical problems, so we replace only what is needed and explain why.

We would rather tell you the fault is minor than sell a larger job. Diagnostics is what lets us be honest about that.

• Fault codes read and tested
• Real-world test of suspect parts
• Clear explanation before work

When is a cambelt and water pump replacement due?

Check the manufacturer's interval in your service book. High-mileage commuters reach it by distance, and low-mileage drivers reach it by age.

The pump normally comes with the belt because it shares the labour. We also fit tensioners and idlers where needed. Chain engines need checking if they rattle.

How do you deal with overheating on a busy dual carriageway?

If the gauge rises, ease off, pull over where it is safe and switch off. Never open the cap on a hot system. Driving on may wreck the engine.

Causes include coolant loss, a failing pump, a stuck thermostat, a blocked radiator or fan failure. We pressure test and repair what has failed.

Fans, thermostats and hoses are small parts compared with an engine, but they are often the cause. Checking the coolant level when the engine is cold is a habit worth having.

• Gauge in the red
• Steam
• Low coolant

What about turbo, oil and fuel-system faults?

A failing turbo whines, smokes and loses power. Oil leaks show as drips or burning smells, and injector trouble causes misfires and poor economy.

Higher mileage cars see these more often. We find the cause, then explain whether repair, cleaning or replacement is sensible, and whether a rebuild or replacement engine would ever come into it.

Is Newton Abbot covered by Automaster?

Yes. Drivers from Newton Abbot, Milber, Abbotskerswell, Bickington and Heathfield come to our garage at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes.

Tell us the make, model, year and engine when you ask for a quote, plus the symptoms and whether it happens at motorway-style speeds, in town or on a cold start.

Many Newton Abbot drivers need the car for work, so when you ask for a quote tell us how you use it. We will explain what is urgent and what can wait.