Car Servicing in Salcombe

Salcombe is an estuary resort with very steep, narrow streets, limited parking and heavy holiday traffic. A car here spends its life on hill starts, hand-brake holds and slow manoeuvres, which wear brakes, clutches and tyres faster than easy open-road miles.

Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Salcombe drivers, along with people from Kingsbridge, Thurlestone, Loddiswell and Bantham, bring their cars to us for servicing, MOT testing and repairs.

What should a service check on a car that lives on steep streets?

Brakes come first. Frequent hill descents heat and wear pads, discs and fluid, and a service or health check should look at all of them. Tyres, suspension joints and the handbrake also deserve attention after long use in tight turns and kerb contact.

If your brakes judder, squeal, pull to one side or feel soft, do not keep driving. Have them inspected promptly because this is a safety matter.

• Pad and disc condition
• Brake fluid level and condition
• Tyre sidewalls and tread
• Handbrake operation

Do I need an interim, full or major service?

An interim service is a lighter service, typically oil and filter plus a set of checks, and it suits drivers who cover plenty of miles. A full service is broader, and a major service goes further by covering items that fall due at longer intervals.

Because the exact content depends on the vehicle, we work from the manufacturer's schedule and explain what applies to your car when we quote.

If the car is used mostly for short trips around the town, an interim service between annual services keeps the oil fresher, and we can talk through what makes sense.

Why follow the handbook and change oil on time?

The handbook sets out when the maker wants servicing done, by time or mileage. Town cars with lots of short trips reach the time limit quickly, so do not assume low mileage means no service is due.

Oil lubricates and cools the engine, and the filter keeps dirt out. Both wear out, and neglect shortens engine life. If you use your car for short, hot, slow journeys, oil does a lot of work.

What is a health check, and what is a pre-purchase inspection?

A health check is a look over the main safety and wear items with a report on the result. It is useful before the busy season or a long journey.

A pre-purchase inspection is for a second-hand vehicle you may buy. We check the underside, brakes, tyres, engine bay and general condition for problems, so you can negotiate or avoid a poor choice. Holiday-let owners and second-car buyers often find it worth doing.

Can Salcombe drivers book with Automaster?

Yes. Our garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL, and we serve Salcombe, Kingsbridge, Thurlestone, Loddiswell and Bantham. We are an RAC Approved Garage for petrol and diesel vehicles.

Ask for a quote with a service and MOT combined, and mention any noises or warning lights so we can plan fault finding.

Parking in Salcombe is limited, so planning a visit to the garage around your own diary is easier with a quote request made in good time.