Gearbox Repairs in Teignmouth

Teignmouth sits where the River Teign meets the sea, with its harbour, seafront and the bridge across to Shaldon. Climb away from the water and you meet steep hills, and in summer the visitors fill the roads.

A manual gearbox deals with a lot of stop-start driving in a town like this, and sea air is not kind to the underside of a car either. We explain the faults to watch for and how Automaster diagnoses and repairs them.

How do I know my gearbox is on its way out?

A gearbox seldom fails without hints. You may hear whining that rises with speed, feel a graunch as you change down for a hill, or find the car hopping out of gear. Oil on the floor, or a tired, loose-feeling lever, are further warnings.

Do not wait for it to stop completely. Early checks cost less time and trouble than a failure miles from home.

Corrosion matters more than people expect. A gearbox casing, driveshaft gaiter or linkage that has sat in salty air for years can seize, split or leak. When we inspect the car we look at the condition of these parts as well as listening for noise, because a small defect found now can prevent a bigger repair later. Hills out of the town also mean that a fault you can ignore on the flat becomes obvious as soon as the car is working hard.

• Whining with speed
• Graunch on downshifts
• Hopping out of gear
• Oil underneath
• Loose or stiff lever

What about the seafront, the bridge and the hills?

Crawling along the front in holiday traffic and then pulling away on a gradient is hard on both clutch and gearbox. Clutch trouble often gets reported as gearbox trouble, such as juddering away or a lever that fights you.

We look at everything that could cause the symptom before suggesting work.

Salt air, CV joints and driveshaft boots

Coastal conditions can encourage corrosion, and a split CV boot lets dirt and moisture into the joint. A click on full lock is the usual symptom, while vibration when accelerating points to the inner joint or a driveshaft.

We also check differentials for leaks and noise. Replacing a boot or joint promptly is far better than waiting for a failure.

Gearbox repair or a replacement unit?

If the fault is limited, a repair is likely. When internal parts are badly worn, a replacement gearbox may be more practical. It depends on the vehicle and which parts are obtainable.

We explain the options and what is driving the time and cost. Nothing is carried out until you agree.

Do you look after Teignmouth drivers, and where is the garage?

We do. Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Teignmouth, Dawlish, Stoke-in-Teignhead, Newton Abbot and Milber come to us. Ask for a quote and tell us about the car.

Mention the make, model and year, what the car does and when, and any warning lights.