Car Repairs in Paignton

Paignton is a Torbay seaside resort with a pier, a harbour, a zoo and a busy seafront, and in the holiday season the traffic can barely move. Engines that idle for long spells in queues build up heat, and a cooling system that is marginal in March can fail in August.

Automaster looks after petrol and diesel cars from our garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Our repair work covers engine diagnostics and servicing, engine repairs, cambelts and timing chains, water pumps, turbos, radiators, oil leaks and injectors.

Can you find out why my car is overheating in traffic?

Heat building in slow traffic usually means the cooling system is not moving enough air or coolant. The usual culprits are a low coolant level, a leaking hose or radiator, a water pump that is no longer circulating properly, a thermostat stuck shut or a radiator fan that is not cutting in.

If the gauge is high or a warning light shows, stop in a safe place and switch off. Driving on can cause a blown head gasket or a warped head. Bring it to us and we will pressure test the system, trace the loss and repair or replace what has failed.

• Gauge rising when stationary
• Sweet smell or white steam
• Coolant level dropping with no visible puddle

What does a cambelt service involve?

The belt is removed and replaced along with the parts that work with it, usually the tensioner, idlers and often the water pump. The engine is then timed correctly and turned over by hand before it is run.

Work time depends on how buried the belt is on your engine, which varies a lot between models. Some engines use a chain instead and are checked for noise and stretch. Ask for a quote with your registration and engine size to hand.

How do I tell if the turbo is on its way out?

Look for a whine or siren noise that rises with revs, a loss of pull when you overtake, smoke from the exhaust and sometimes oil in the intake pipes. A warning light or limp mode may follow.

Before replacing a turbo we want to know why it failed, whether through oil starvation, dirty oil, a blocked filter or a leak in the pipework. Fixing the cause matters as much as the part.

• Whistling or siren-like noise
• Power drops off on acceleration
• Blue or black smoke

Why is oil on the drive or the engine running rough?

Oil on the ground normally comes from a gasket or seal, such as the rocker cover, sump or crank seal. Quality of repair depends on finding the real source, since oil spreads and often looks like it is coming from lower than it is.

Misfires, black smoke or heavy fuel use point toward injectors or the fuel system. We test the injectors and check the pump, filters and sensors before replacing anything.

Do you serve Paignton, and where is the garage?

We do. Drivers from Paignton, Brixham, Churston, Totnes and the wider Torbay area use Automaster. The garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes.

To get a quote, tell us the make, model, year and engine, and describe what the car is doing, including if it only misbehaves when hot or in slow traffic.