Gearbox Repairs in Abbotskerswell

Driving out of Abbotskerswell means country lanes, tight bends and plenty of slow-speed manoeuvring before you even reach the main roads to Newton Abbot. For a commuter that adds up to hundreds of gear changes a week and a lot of turning on lock.

Both of those wear a car's transmission. Automaster, at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, repairs manual gearboxes and the parts that carry the power to the wheels, including CV joints, driveshafts and differentials.

Why does my gearbox crunch or jump out of gear?

Crunching on a change usually means the synchromesh that matches gear speeds is worn, or that something earlier in the chain, such as the clutch, is not releasing properly. A car that jumps out of gear, especially on the overrun, can have worn selector parts or gearbox internals.

Stop-start lane driving can hide the problem for a while. It tends to show itself on a longer run, or when you hold a gear up a hill.

• Crunch or graunch on certain gears
• Lever feels loose, stiff or notchy
• Car pops out of gear on the overrun
• Gearbox whine in one gear or all gears

Is clicking on tight turns a CV joint problem?

On narrow lanes you turn the wheel a long way, and that is exactly when a worn outer CV joint announces itself with a regular click or knock. The joint wears fast once its rubber gaiter splits and grease escapes, so a torn boot found early can save a bigger repair.

A vibration that builds when you accelerate may instead come from an inner joint or the driveshaft itself.

How do you decide between gearbox repair and replacement?

We start with diagnosis, because a gearbox fault, a clutch fault and a driveline fault can feel alike from the driver's seat. Once the cause is clear, we explain whether the unit can be repaired, whether a replacement is more sensible, and whether the clutch should be done at the same time.

The final cost depends on the car, how much labour it takes to get the gearbox out, and what has failed inside. We will give you the options in plain words and a quote to match.

Can a worn clutch be mistaken for a gearbox fault?

Yes, and it happens a lot. Difficulty selecting gears, a graunch into reverse or a pedal that feels odd can all come from the clutch. If the gearbox is perfectly sound, there is no need to replace it.

That is the main reason we will not promise a gearbox repair over the phone. We need to see and test the car.

Do you cover Abbotskerswell and the surrounding villages?

We do. Drivers come to Automaster from Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbot, Milber, Bickington and Liverton, and the garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes. If you are unsure whether your problem is one we handle, just describe it.

Mention the make, model and the noise, and tell us if it only happens on lock or only on the move.