Car Repairs in Thurlestone

With a beach, a golf course and a hotel close by, Thurlestone gets strong holiday traffic in summer, and the lanes around the village are narrow. Cars here tend to be used hard for a few busy months and then ease off over winter.

Automaster repairs petrol and diesel cars from Longcombe Cross near Totnes. If your engine is smoking, leaking, running hot or just not right, read on for the faults we see and how to describe yours when you ask for a quote.

Which engine repairs can I book as a Thurlestone driver?

We handle engine diagnostics and engine servicing, engine repairs, and where needed engine rebuilds or replacement engine fitting. We also deal with timing belt and chain replacement, water pumps, turbos, cooling systems and radiators, oil leaks and injector and fuel-system repairs.

Every job starts with an inspection, because the right repair depends on what is actually wrong, not on what the symptom suggests.

• Timing belt and chain
• Water pump and radiator
• Turbo repair or replacement
• Oil leak and injector work

How can I tell the cambelt is due, and what about the pump?

There is rarely a warning. The belt is replaced on a schedule set by the manufacturer, based on age and distance, so check your handbook and service record. Leaving it too long risks a failure that can destroy the engine on many models.

We replace the water pump with the belt when it sits in the same drive, because the extra part costs little compared with doing the labour again. A chain-driven engine needs a different check for noise and stretch.

What causes a car to overheat when the holiday queues build up?

Stationary or slow traffic reduces airflow, so a weak fan, tired thermostat, blocked radiator or low coolant quickly shows. If the temperature warning lights or the gauge rises, stop and switch off. Continuing risks head gasket and cylinder head damage.

We pressure-test the cooling system, check the fan operation and find any leak, then repair or replace the faulty part.

What does a failing turbo or leaking injector look like?

Turbo trouble announces itself with a siren-like whistle, hesitant power, blue smoke or an oily intake. Injector faults bring misfires, black smoke, a fuel smell, a lumpy idle or a car that fights to start. An oil leak, meanwhile, leaves drips and a burning smell.

Each can have more than one cause, so we test first. Fixing the cause matters, since a replacement turbo will fail again if oil supply is the real problem.

Do you take cars from Thurlestone, and where do I find you?

Yes. Thurlestone drivers, along with those from Bantham, Bigbury, Kingsbridge and Salcombe, bring cars to Automaster at Longcombe Cross, near Totnes.

If your car is unsafe, perhaps overheating or losing oil fast, do not drive it. Phone the quote line, explain the symptoms and we will say what to do next.