Exhaust Repairs in Holne

Life in Holne means narrow lanes, long climbs, cattle grids and open moorland on the edge of the National Park. Cars here are shaken, scraped and asked to haul uphill, then driven short distances to the next village or the shop.

Our garage at Longcombe Cross, near Totnes, deals with exhaust repair and replacement, catalytic converters, DPF problems and emissions faults on petrol and diesel vehicles. At Automaster we want you to know what to look out for before a small exhaust fault becomes a roadside problem.

Can cattle grids and rough lanes damage an exhaust?

Repeated jolts fatigue the metal. Hangers split, brackets crack and welds around the joints open up. The system then vibrates against the underbody, which you hear as a rattle, or blows at a joint, which you hear as a rasp.

Moorland roads also bring mud, standing water and winter grit that attack the underside. If your exhaust has gone louder or you can hear something knocking below the car, have it looked at before the fixing gives way.

If the system has been patched before, tell us. Earlier repairs, clamps or sealant can hide the real extent of the corrosion, and we would rather know what has already been done.

• Rattle over grids
• Rasping or blowing note
• Pipe hanging lower
• Visible corrosion

Why does my diesel lose power on a Dartmoor climb?

A diesel needs to breathe out as well as in. If the particulate filter is clogged with soot, back pressure rises and the engine runs out of puff on steep gradients. You may see an orange warning light first, then limp mode, where power is cut to protect the engine.

Short trips between the moor and the village stop the filter burning itself clean. A long steady run sometimes helps a half-loaded filter, but if the light stays on, or comes back soon after, the cause needs finding. It may be soot, a pressure sensor, a leak or an engine fault. Prompt attention keeps more options open.

What should I do if I can smell fumes in the car?

Open the windows and stop driving it. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell, and a leak under the floor can send it into the cabin, particularly with the vehicle stationary or the windows shut.

Fumes alone are enough to need a check, even when the engine sounds quiet. A leak near the manifold, a cracked flexible joint or a rotted floor seal can all be the source.

Where do Holne drivers take their cars for exhaust work?

Our garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL, and drivers from Holne, Buckfastleigh, Buckfast, Dartington and South Brent come to us. If you are not sure what the symptom means, ask.

A short description helps: whether the noise changes on hills, on the A38, or from cold.

How do I get a sensible quote for exhaust or emissions work?

The amount of work depends on the vehicle and the damage. A simple clamp is quick. A corroded section, a seized joint or a catalytic converter or DPF replacement is a bigger job. Diagnosis comes first when a warning light is involved.

Tell us about the car and symptoms when you ask for a quote.

• Make, model and year
• Petrol or diesel
• Lights showing
• When it happens