Exhaust Repairs in Ermington

Ermington is a South Hams village in the River Erme valley, reached by narrow country roads. Plenty of residents head for Ivybridge and Plymouth each day, which means a short stretch of lane, then a main road, then a long wait in traffic.

Our garage at Longcombe Cross, near Totnes, repairs and replaces exhausts and diagnoses catalytic converter, DPF and emissions faults on petrol and diesel vehicles. Automaster is a one-stop garage, so exhaust work sits alongside MOT testing and the rest of the mechanical side.

What is wrong when the exhaust note changes?

A change in sound is usually the first honest report an exhaust gives. A harsh bark from a split pipe, a hollow boom from a corroded box, a rattle from a broken mount: each points somewhere different.

On lanes with raised centres and rough verges, the underside takes a beating, so hangers and joints may have been loosened long before you hear anything. We examine the whole run of the system rather than only the part that is loudest.

It also helps to say whether the car lives mostly on the lanes or on the main road, as that tells us what kind of wear to expect.

• Bark or boom
• Metallic rattle
• Exhaust sitting low
• Smell of fumes

Why would a valley diesel have a blocked particulate filter?

Because the valley journey is short. A few minutes on country roads and a crawl on a congested main road do not keep the exhaust hot long enough to burn off the soot. The filter fills and the dashboard light comes on.

The light needs prompt attention. Beyond it lie limp mode and a filter that may not clean out. We find out whether soot loading is the whole story or whether a sensor, a leak or an engine fault is involved. Only then do we discuss cleaning, repair or replacement, which depends on the vehicle.

How do emissions faults connect to the engine?

The exhaust is the engine's output, so what comes out tells the story of what goes in. A worn oxygen sensor reads wrongly, a sticking injector sends too much fuel, and a leak lets in air that skews the readings. The catalytic converter then works harder or fails.

A warning light, rough running, sulphur smell or an MOT emissions failure are all prompts to diagnose before replacing anything.

Can Ermington drivers book exhaust work with Automaster?

Yes. The garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL, and drivers from Ermington, Ivybridge, Modbury, South Brent and Kingston use it. Tell us whether the problem started on the valley lanes or on the main road.

Mention anything you noticed first, such as noise, smell or a light.

What affects the price, and what should I say when asking?

Parts, the amount of corrosion, how many sections are involved and whether a catalytic converter or DPF is part of the job all change the price. Diagnosis comes first for lights and smells.

Ask for a quote, and give the car details.

• Make, model and year
• Petrol or diesel
• Dashboard lights
• What changed and when