Gearbox Repairs in Holne

Holne is a Dartmoor village on the edge of the National Park, with narrow lanes, moorland roads, steep hills and cattle grids. A car that lives here takes constant gear changes on gradients and jolts over grids, a mix that can loosen mounts and wear selector parts.

At Automaster, Longcombe Cross near Totnes, we diagnose and repair manual gearboxes and the driveline components around them. This page covers the symptoms to listen for, how we decide between repair and replacement and what to tell us when you ask for a quote.

What does hill driving do to a manual gearbox?

Steep gradients keep the gearbox under load and make you change down often. Worn synchromesh then shows as crunching, and tired bearings show as a whine under load that quietens when you ease off.

Heavy loads such as trailers or a boot full of luggage add to the strain. Tell us how you use the car, because it helps us understand what failed and why.

Why does my car jump out of gear after a cattle grid?

Knocks over grids and rough surfaces can reveal loose engine or gearbox mounts and worn selector parts. A car that jumps out of gear on the overrun, or after a bump, should be looked at promptly.

Do not keep driving it on steep moorland roads. Losing a gear on a hill is dangerous, so get it inspected before the problem gets worse.

Are CV joints and driveshafts a problem on Dartmoor roads?

Tight lanes and sharp bends mean plenty of steering on full lock, and that is when a worn outer CV joint clicks. A torn gaiter, perhaps cut by debris, lets grease out and grit in.

Vibration through the car when accelerating can mean an inner joint or driveshaft problem. We inspect the whole shaft, both joints and the gaiters before recommending which parts to replace.

• Clicking on full lock
• Split gaiters
• Vibration under power

Could it be the clutch, not the gearbox?

Quite often. A clutch that will not release makes gears crunch, and one that slips lets the revs rise on hills without the car pulling. Oil leaking from the gearbox onto the clutch can cause slipping too.

We test the clutch operation as part of the diagnosis. If both need attention we explain why, and whether it makes sense to do them together.

Do you cover Holne, and what should I tell you?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Holne, Buckfastleigh, Buckfast, Dartington and South Brent come to us.

When you ask for a quote, give the make, model, engine and registration, then describe the noise or feel, which gear it affects and whether it happens hot, cold, turning or climbing. Cost depends on the fault, the parts and the labour involved.