Exhaust Repairs in Deancombe

Deancombe is a small hamlet in the South Devon countryside, reached by narrow lanes. Life out here usually means a car for everything: the school run, the shop, the station. Many of those journeys are short, and a lot of the road is rough or lined with hedges.

Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the surrounding countryside and nearby towns such as Buckfastleigh, Holne, South Brent and Dartington come to us. We repair exhausts and look into catalytic converter, DPF and emissions problems on petrol and diesel vehicles.

Does driving on rural lanes damage the exhaust?

It can. Potholes, raised edges and the odd scrape on a grassy centre strip hit the underside of the car. Exhaust pipes hang low and the silencer boxes are thin metal, so a knock can dent a pipe, loosen a joint or tear a rubber mount.

Frequent short trips add rust from the inside. If the exhaust has started to roar or rattle, that is the moment to have it looked at.

• Dents or scrapes underneath
• Rattles on rough ground
• Roaring when you pull away

Why does my country diesel get a DPF warning?

A diesel particulate filter cleans itself only if the car runs at a steady speed for long enough. A mile to the road and a few more to the village will not do it, and that pattern is common in a hamlet.

A warning light is the first message; reduced power or limp mode comes next. Treat it as something that needs prompt attention, because a filter left to clog gets harder to recover. We diagnose whether it is simple soot loading or a fault with a sensor, a leak or the engine, then talk through cleaning, repair or replacement.

What does an emissions fault mean?

It means a reading or sensor is outside what the car expects. Causes range from a worn oxygen sensor to a misfire, a leaking exhaust joint or a clogged catalytic converter.

Fume smells, poor economy, sluggishness and dashboard lights go with it. A tired catalytic converter often announces itself through reduced pull and a sulphur smell from the back of the car. Fumes inside the car are dangerous, so open the windows and get it checked rather than driving on.

Can I get to Automaster from a hamlet like Deancombe?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL. Rural drivers depend on cars that start reliably and pass the MOT, and a sound exhaust is part of that.

If your exhaust is hanging low or very loud, tell us when you ask for a quote so we know how to treat it.

What do I need to tell you for a quote?

Costs vary with the damaged part, the state of the fixings and whether the vehicle has a catalytic converter or DPF in the system. We cannot judge by guesswork.

Give us the basics and we will say what the work is likely to involve.

• Make, model and year
• Petrol or diesel
• Dashboard lights
• Sounds, smells or power loss