Exhaust Repairs in Milber

If you live in Milber, you probably join the A380 several times a week, whether for work on the nearby industrial estate or for a trip further afield. That mix of short hops out of the estate and faster runs on the main road is hard on an exhaust, and it shows up as noise, fumes, warning lights or a failed emissions reading.

At Automaster we repair and replace exhaust parts, and we diagnose catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter faults on petrol and diesel cars and vans. This page explains the symptoms to watch for, what the work involves and what to tell us when you ask for a quote.

Why is my exhaust loud or blowing?

A sudden roar when you pull away usually means a hole or a failed joint somewhere along the system. Rust is the common cause, but a cracked flexible section or a failed manifold gasket can do the same.

Rattles are different. A thin heat shield that has come loose, a bracket that has snapped or a broken internal part in the silencer or catalytic converter will buzz or clank over bumps. A part hanging low can drop off, so do not leave a rattle for long.

• Roaring or blowing noise when accelerating
• Rattle or clank over bumps
• Exhaust hanging lower than it should
• Visible rust holes or black soot around joints

Is the smell of fumes in the car dangerous?

Yes. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell on its own, and a leak that lets fumes into the cabin is a genuine health risk. If you notice fumes inside the car, open the windows, stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so and have the system checked before you use the car again.

A leak near the front of the system is the usual culprit, because it sits close to the bulkhead. We look for the source, which may be a cracked manifold, a failed gasket or a rotted pipe.

What is wrong when the DPF light comes on?

Many diesel cars have a diesel particulate filter that traps soot. It cleans itself by burning the soot off, which needs the exhaust to get properly hot over a sustained drive. Constant short journeys, such as a quick run from a Milber street to a nearby workplace and back, never give it the chance, so the filter slowly clogs.

An amber DPF light means the filter is filling up. If it is ignored, the engine may drop into limp mode with reduced power, and a badly blocked filter becomes harder and more expensive to put right. Your handbook may suggest a longer steady drive, but if the light stays on or returns, bring the car in.

Can you diagnose catalytic converter and emissions faults?

Emissions faults are rarely just an exhaust problem. Oxygen sensors, temperature and pressure sensors, the fuel system and the engine itself all feed into what comes out of the tailpipe. A misfire, for example, can send unburnt fuel into the catalytic converter and ruin it, so replacing the converter without finding the cause would only repeat the failure.

We read fault codes and live data, then check the physical system.

Do you cover Milber, and where do I bring the car?

We do. Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Milber, Newton Abbot, Abbotskerswell, Stoke-in-Teignhead and Teignmouth bring their cars to us for exhaust and emissions work. Because the cost depends on whether you need a section of pipe, a complete system or a converter or filter, it is quickest to ask for a quote, and an MOT emissions failure sheet helps if you have one.