Car Servicing in Liverton

Liverton is a village on the edge of Dartmoor, near Newton Abbot and Bovey Tracey, on the A382 side of the area. It is the sort of place where a car is not a luxury, and one that will not start or throws up a warning light can disrupt the whole week.

That is why we treat servicing as a way of catching problems before they become bigger repairs. Automaster is a garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and we welcome Liverton drivers along with those from Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Bickington and Hexworth.

Is it worth servicing a car regularly?

Yes, because wear is gradual and rarely announces itself. Oil thins out, filters clog, brake pads wear and fluids age, and none of that is obvious from the driver's seat. A service is how those things are checked and replaced before they cause a breakdown or a more involved repair.

Regular servicing also leaves a record that matters when you sell, and it keeps you in line with the manufacturer schedule for your car.

What does an interim, full or major service include?

Interim services usually mean fresh engine oil, a new oil filter and a set of checks, suited to drivers who rack up miles. Full services add further replacement items and more detailed inspection, and major services bring in the longer-interval work the manufacturer sets down.

Because every model differs, we cannot give a universal list. We look at your handbook details, the age and mileage of the car, and recommend a level, explaining each recommendation.

• Interim: oil, filter, key checks
• Full: wider replacements and checks
• Major: longer-interval items
• Always tailored to the car

What happens if I skip the manufacturer schedule?

Skipping services does not usually cause trouble overnight, which is why it is tempting. But belts, filters and fluids have set lives, and running past them raises the chance of failures that are inconvenient and sometimes expensive to put right.

The handbook is the reference point. If yours is missing, we can work from the manufacturer information for the model and ask what has been done before.

When should I ask for a health check or fault finding?

A vehicle health check is ideal when nothing is wrong but you want reassurance, for instance before a long trip. Fault finding is for when something is wrong: a warning light, a rough idle, a strange noise or a smell.

If a fault affects brakes, steering or temperature, treat it as urgent and avoid driving until it is checked. We will tell you what we find before suggesting further work, and we do not promise a repair is possible until the car has been inspected.

Do you work on cars from Liverton, and what about pre-purchase checks?

We do. Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers come to us from villages round Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey and the Dartmoor edge. We carry out MOT testing as well as servicing.

Thinking of buying a second-hand car? A pre-purchase inspection looks at the condition of the mechanical parts, hunts for leaks and wear, and gives you a report to help you decide whether the car is worth what the seller wants.