Car Servicing in Dartmouth

Dartmouth is a historic port on the River Dart, with steep narrow streets, ferries, the Britannia Royal Naval College above the town and heavy visitor traffic. Cars here do plenty of low-speed climbing, queueing and tight turning.

Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. We service cars for Dartmouth drivers, and for people from Churston, Brixham, Kingsbridge and Totnes. You can also ask about an MOT at the same visit.

How should I plan a service in Dartmouth?

Think about when you can do without the car and when you need it most. Before a busy season, a service or health check helps to find problems early, while a car left too long can leave you stuck at the worst time.

Tell us how you use the car, whether daily commuting, short hops or occasional long trips, and we can suggest the right level.

Visitor traffic means parking spots are scarce and kerbs are close, so wheels and tyres often take knocks. Mention any vibration or pulling and we will look at it as part of the work.

Interim, full or major service: what is the difference?

An interim service is typically oil and filter plus checks on the main wear items. A full service goes wider and replaces more parts. A major service includes items that only fall due after longer intervals.

Content varies by vehicle, so we follow the maker's schedule rather than promise one list.

If you are unsure which level your car is due, bring the handbook details or service history and we will compare it with the manufacturer's schedule.

How do hills and queues wear a car?

Steep climbs load the engine and clutch, descents heat the brakes, and queues keep the engine idling. A service and health check should look at pads, discs, tyres and cooling system fluid.

Overheating, soft brakes or a slipping clutch are not things to drive on with. Stop and get advice.

Ferries, queues and slow crawls behind visitors mean the engine often idles and works at low speed, which is demanding on the cooling system as well as the oil.

• Brake wear
• Coolant level
• Clutch feel
• Tyres

Why do oil and the manufacturer schedule matter, and what about buying a car?

Oil and filter changes protect the engine, and the handbook tells you when. Following the schedule keeps a service record that helps resale.

A pre-purchase inspection helps if you are buying a second-hand car. We look for leaks, wear and missed maintenance and report what we find.

For anyone buying a car in a tourist town, a pre-purchase inspection offers an independent view that is not tied to the seller's account of how the car has been used.

Can Dartmouth drivers use Automaster?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL, and drivers from Dartmouth, Churston, Brixham, Kingsbridge and Totnes come to us. We are an RAC Approved Garage for petrol and diesel cars.

Ask for a service and MOT quote and mention any faults so we can allow for fault finding.

We take enquiries about Dartmouth cars like any other, so ask for a quote and tell us the registration, mileage and any symptoms.