Exhaust Repairs in Dartington

Dartington sits on the A384 just outside Totnes, and its roads carry a steady mix of commuters in the week and visitors heading for the Hall estate, the gardens and the arts events. A car that spends much of its life crawling through that traffic is exactly the sort that develops exhaust trouble without any dramatic warning.

Automaster handles exhaust repair and replacement, catalytic converters, DPF diagnostics and emissions faults on petrol and diesel vehicles.

Is my exhaust the reason the car sounds different?

Often, yes. Exhaust trouble creeps in. First a slight roar on pulling away, then a drone at motorway speed, then a rattle that appears only on rough lanes. Each of these usually has a simple cause: a corroded joint, a perished rubber hanger, or a pinhole in a silencer box that has been filling with condensation for months.

Fumes are a separate matter. Any smell of exhaust in the cabin means gases are getting somewhere they should not, and driving on with it is a health risk.

• Roar or drone under load
• Rattle over bumps
• Fumes or soot smell
• Reduced power

Why do commuter and short-trip cars get DPF problems?

Diesel owners are often surprised to learn that a few miles to work and back can be worse for the car than one long drive. The particulate filter needs sustained heat to burn off the soot it collects. Short, cool journeys never deliver it, so the filter loads up until the dashboard light comes on.

Do not ignore that light. Carrying on may lead to limp mode, poor fuel economy and a blocked filter. We diagnose the cause, which may be the driving pattern, or may be a faulty pressure sensor, a leaking pipe or an engine fault that is making extra soot. Cleaning or repair is considered once we know.

What happens when emissions readings fail?

A failed emissions reading is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The catalytic converter, the oxygen or lambda sensors, the injectors, the ignition system and even a small air leak can all affect what leaves the tailpipe.

We scan for fault codes, look at live data and inspect the exhaust from manifold to tailpipe. If the catalytic converter really has reached the end of its life we will say so, and explain why it failed so the replacement lasts.

Can Dartington drivers use Automaster for exhaust work?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, and drivers from Dartington are welcome at the garage, as are those from drivers from Buckfastleigh, South Brent and Ivybridge. If you are not sure whether your problem is the exhaust, the engine or a sensor, describe the symptoms and we will point you the right way.

It helps to tell us whether the problem shows up on cold starts, on the A384 at speed or only in slow traffic.

How should I ask for an exhaust quote?

The price of exhaust work moves with the parts and the time. Rusted sections and seized bolts take longer, and some vehicles have long, complicated systems with the catalytic converter built into the manifold.

So the more detail the better. Tell us what you drive and what it does, and any message on the dashboard.

• Registration or model and year
• Fuel type
• Warning lights
• Where the noise seems to come from