Gearbox Repairs in Brixham

Few places ask more of a gearbox than Brixham. You have the steep roads climbing away from the harbour, the constant first-and-second-gear work around the fishing port, and a heavy build-up of holiday traffic in summer. All of that means a lot of gear changes and a lot of clutch use.

If you have noticed crunching, a stiff gearstick or a car that will not stay in gear, the sooner it is looked at the better. Automaster is a garage that does manual gearbox repairs, transmission diagnostics, differentials, CV joints and driveshafts, and we come at every job by working out the cause first.

Why does my gearbox crunch when I change gear?

A crunch or graunch on a particular change normally means the synchromesh is no longer matching the speed of the gears smoothly. If it happens on every change, the clutch may not be fully releasing instead. A gearbox that feels fine cold but graunches once warm is another useful clue.

Driving up and down hills with a faulty synchro can cause more wear, as the gears are forced together. If it is getting worse, do not leave it for months.

• Crunch on one gear only
• Crunch on every gear
• Worse when warm
• Gearstick stiff or notchy
• Whine under load or on the overrun

Hill starts, harbour parking and clutch confusion

Steep hill starts put a lot of load through the clutch, and a tired clutch is often blamed on the gearbox. Slipping on a hill, a high or low pedal, or difficulty finding first gear can all start in the clutch or its hydraulics.

We check the clutch and the gearbox together so you are not paying to fix the wrong thing. If both are involved we say so clearly.

Gearbox repair or gearbox replacement: how is it decided?

After inspection, the choice usually comes down to how much internal wear there is and what parts are obtainable for your model. A leaking output seal or worn selector linkage is a very different job from a gearbox with damaged bearings and gears.

Labour time, parts and whether a replacement unit is available are the main things that move a quote up or down. We tell you what we found and explain the choices in plain terms.

Do you work on Brixham cars, and how do I get a quote?

We do. Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Brixham, Churston, Paignton, Dartmouth and across Torbay bring their vehicles to us for gearbox and transmission work.

To get a quote, tell us the vehicle, the symptoms and when they appear, for example only on lock or only when pulling away uphill. It helps us give you a sensible steer before you book.

What about clicking noises and vibration from the wheels?

Tight turns around the harbour car parks are where a worn outer CV joint tends to announce itself with a click. A vibration when you accelerate can mean a worn inner joint or a bent driveshaft. A torn rubber gaiter is often the starting point, because dirt gets in once the grease escapes.

We also check differentials for noise and leaks while the car is up on the ramp.