Gearbox Repairs in Pounds Gate

Pounds Gate is a small hamlet on narrow lanes near the Dartmoor edge. Driving here means changing gear often and turning hard, and that wears gearboxes and CV joints in particular.

Our garage, Automaster, is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. People from the surrounding countryside and nearby Caton, Buckfastleigh, Bickington and South Brent bring us manual gearbox repairs and replacements, differential work, CV joints and driveshafts, and we always diagnose first.

Which gearbox symptoms should I not ignore?

Pay attention to crunching during changes, a lever that has become stiff, a whine in a specific gear, oil leaks and any tendency to jump out of gear. Each can get worse, sometimes quickly.

If the car will not hold a gear or you cannot select one, stop driving it.

Tell us if the problem is worse when the car is cold, on hills or when reversing out of a drive. Details like these narrow the search and save time on the inspection itself.

• Crunching during changes
• Stiff or notchy lever
• Whine in one gear
• Oil leaks
• Dropping out of gear

Can a worn clutch be mistaken for a gearbox fault?

It happens often. Poor clutch release can make gear changes hard and noisy. A worn clutch may also slip, which feels like a lack of power. In either case, the gearbox may be perfectly healthy.

We test and inspect first, so you do not pay for the wrong job.

When is gearbox replacement better than repair?

If the damage is confined, such as a leaking seal or a worn bearing, repair may be possible. If the gears, shafts or casing are badly damaged, a replacement may be a sounder choice. We cannot say until we have inspected it.

What you pay depends on the vehicle, the work needed to remove the gearbox, the parts and any clutch work done at the same time.

Constant turning on lock works the CV joints hard, and frequent changes through the gears work the synchromesh. Over time, small leaks and torn rubber boots add to it. Regular checks catch these early, which often keeps the repair smaller.

What does a CV joint or driveshaft fault feel like on lanes?

On lanes you steer well over, so a worn CV joint clicks loudly on tight corners. Torn gaiters leave grease thrown around the inside of the wheel. A shudder when you accelerate can come from a driveshaft or inner joint.

We inspect the whole driveline, including the differential if there are whines or clunks.

Do you work on cars from Pounds Gate?

Yes. Bring the car to Automaster at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes. We see drivers from Pounds Gate, Caton, Buckfastleigh, Bickington and South Brent.

Describe the symptoms and the vehicle when you ask for a quote, and we will explain how we would approach it.