Car Repairs in St Marychurch

St Marychurch is a suburb of Torquay with a historic village centre on a hill above Babbacombe, and steep residential roads in every direction. Moving off on a gradient, climbing in low gears and parking on a slope all put extra strain on a car.

Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and we repair petrol and diesel cars. Engine diagnostics, cambelts and timing chains, water pumps, radiators, turbos, oil leaks and injectors are all part of that, and the sections below explain how we approach each.

Why does my car feel weak on steep St Marychurch roads?

A hill is an honest test of an engine. If yours loses pull, hesitates or feels flat, the cause may be clogged or worn injectors, a tired fuel pump or filter, a leaking intake pipe or a turbo that is no longer building pressure.

We run diagnostics, check fault codes and then test the suspect parts, so you know why before work begins. If an engine warning light is on, mention it when you ask for a quote.

• Flat spots on gradients
• Warning light on the dash
• Black smoke when pulling hard

What are the signs a cambelt is due?

There are not always warning signs, which is why the interval matters. Check your service book for the time and mileage limit. A ticking or rattling from the front of the engine, or coolant at the water pump, should never be ignored.

A snapped belt can wreck valves and pistons on many engines. We replace the belt with the tensioner, idlers and usually the water pump, as they share the same labour. Chain-driven engines are a different job, but noise on start-up needs checking.

Is it overheating or just hot?

Hills in low gears and stop-start traffic build heat. A healthy cooling system copes. If the gauge climbs, steam appears or the heater blows cold, stop and let it cool before opening anything.

Do not keep driving. We pressure test the system, check the thermostat, hoses and water pump, and repair or replace the radiator where it has failed. Whether a radiator can be repaired depends on its condition.

• Heater blowing cold
• Coolant smell
• Fans running constantly

What should I do about a leak or turbo noise?

Oil leaks come from seals and gaskets that harden with age. Whining and smoke from a turbo mean it needs inspecting. Both are far better handled early.

We trace the leak to its true source, and for a turbo we look at the oil feed and the intake before advising on repair or replacement.

Cars parked on slopes can show oil leaks as a trail rather than a puddle, so look at where the drips run when you move the car.

Do you cover St Marychurch and Torquay?

Yes. We see drivers from St Marychurch, Ellacombe, wider Torbay, Newton Abbot and Stoke-in-Teignhead. The garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes.

When you ask for a quote, give us the make, model, year, engine and what the car is doing, including whether the fault shows up when it is hot, cold or loaded.