Something wrong with your car? We'll find it, show you, then fix it.
Tell us the symptom — you don't need to know the fault. We diagnose it, photograph what we find and send an itemised quote for your approval.
Tell us what's happening
We've got it — thanks
Your reference is . Keep it handy if you call.
What happens next
- The team reads your description and texts you to arrange a time to bring the car in.
- A technician inspects it, photographs what they find and you get an itemised quote on your phone.
- Nothing is done until you approve it.
Tap the light that's on
Tap the light that's showing. Colours follow the usual rule: red = stop when safeamber = get it checked soongreen/blue = information
General guidance for common lights — symbols and meanings vary by make, so check your handbook. Not sure which light it is? Photograph it and ask Lois.
What we fix most
Diagnostics
Dealer-level code reads and proper fault-finding for engine, ABS, airbag, DPF and AdBlue lights.
Book a diagnostic →Brakes
Pads, discs, calipers, hoses and fluid — free brake check first, then a fixed quote.
Brakes, batteries & exhausts →Suspension & steering
Knocks, clunks, pulling to one side or uneven tyre wear: springs, shocks, ball joints, bushes, bearings.
Tell us the symptom →Clutch repair
Most clutch replacements £400–£900, flywheel checked and quoted before any work starts. Symptoms, what's fitted, how long it takes.
Clutch repair Millbrook →Tyres, punctures & TPMS
Free tyre check, tyre pressure warning lights diagnosed and fixed, new tyres arranged through our local partner.
Tyres Millbrook →Engines & gearboxes
Gearbox repairs and engine replacements, with new, used or reconditioned options and honest advice on what's worth doing.
Engines, gearboxes & clutches →Timing belts
Cambelt kits with tensioners and, where sensible, the water pump — before it snaps, not after.
Timing belts →MOT failure repairs
Failed with us or elsewhere? Send the certificate and we'll quote every item. Retest is free when we do the repairs.
Understand your fail first →Also exhausts, batteries, alternators and starters, cooling systems, electrical faults, air conditioning, welding for MOT, and the odd job you can't put a name to.
Find your job
Tap a job to see the usual symptoms, what we do and how it's priced. Not sure which one? Tell us the symptom and we'll work it out.
🦶Clutch replacementSlipping, biting point high, judder, burning smell
Symptoms: revs rise but the car doesn't pull, the biting point has crept up to the top of the pedal, judder pulling away, a hot-brake smell after a hill start, or a pedal that's gone heavy or soft.
What we do: confirm it's the clutch (not the hydraulics or a cable), then fit a full kit — plate, cover and release bearing, with the concentric slave cylinder where it's built in. The dual-mass flywheel is checked at the same time, because a worn one wrecks a new clutch.
Price: most clutch replacements fall between £400–£900. Where the dual-mass flywheel also needs replacing, we'll tell you before any work starts — everything is photo-quoted first, always. Parts carry the manufacturer's warranty. Clutch replacement in Millbrook →
Book a clutch check⚙️Dual-mass flywheelsRattle at idle, vibration, clunk on take-up
Symptoms: a rattle at tickover that goes quiet when you press the clutch, vibration through the pedal, a clonk as the drive takes up, or a clutch that's just been replaced but still judders.
What we do: measure the free play in the flywheel and replace it with the clutch kit in one job, so you don't pay the labour twice. Solid-flywheel conversions are available on some cars where they make sense.
Price: quoted per job; it's always shown as a separate line so you can see exactly what the flywheel adds. Clutches & flywheels in detail →
Book it in🛢️Wet belts (belt-in-oil timing belts)Ford 1.0 EcoBoost, Peugeot / Citroën / Vauxhall 1.2 PureTech and others
Why it matters: on these engines the timing belt runs inside the engine in oil. As it ages it sheds rubber into the sump, blocks the oil pick-up and starves the engine of oil. The first warning is often a low-oil-pressure light, and by then it can be too late. Manufacturers have shortened the change interval on most of them; we recommend it by age as well as mileage.
What we do: replace the wet belt and tensioner, the oil pump belt where the engine has one, fresh oil and filter, and clean the pick-up strainer. We photograph the old belt so you can see the state it was in.
Price: quoted per engine, and we'll tell you the interval that applies to your car. Wet belt replacement in detail →
Book a wet belt⏱️Timing belts, chains & water pumpsCambelt kits done before they snap, not after
Symptoms: usually none — that's the problem. A snapped belt bends valves and usually writes the engine off, so it's done by age or mileage. A rattling timing chain on a cold start is the chain version of the same warning.
What we do: full kit with tensioners and idlers, and the water pump where it's driven by the belt (doing it later means paying the labour twice). Timing chains, guides and tensioners on chain-driven engines.
Price: quoted per engine. Timing belt repair →
Book a cambelt🛑BrakesPads, discs, calipers, hoses, handbrake, fluid
Symptoms: squeal or grinding, a pulsing pedal, pulling to one side, a brake warning light, a handbrake that won't hold, or a spongy pedal.
What we do: a free brake check first — pads, discs, calipers, hoses and fluid measured and photographed — then a fixed quote for exactly what's needed. Pads and discs are usually same-day.
Price: free check, then quoted per axle. Brake fluid change £84. Brakes, batteries & exhausts → Brakes in detail →
Book a free brake check💨Exhausts, catalytic converters & DPFsBlowing, rattling, smoke, emissions fails
Symptoms: a louder note or a blow under acceleration, rattling underneath, an emissions or DPF warning light, or an MOT emissions fail.
What we do: replace the section that's gone rather than the whole system, refit hangers and clamps, and diagnose catalytic converter and DPF problems properly before recommending a part — a blocked DPF can often be cleaned or regenerated rather than replaced.
Price: quoted per section. DPF, cats & exhausts in detail →
Book it in🔋Batteries, alternators & starter motorsSlow crank, won't start, battery light on
Symptoms: a slow, laboured crank, a click and nothing, dim lights at idle, a battery or charging light while driving, or a car that's fine after a drive but flat next morning.
What we do: test the battery, the charging rate and the drain before replacing anything — most "dead battery" calls are an alternator or a drain. Batteries fitted while you wait, with the car's registration and coding where it needs it (start-stop cars).
Price: battery test free; batteries, alternators and starters quoted per car. Batteries in detail →
Book a battery test🔩SuspensionSprings, shock absorbers, ball joints, bushes, drop links, top mounts
Symptoms: a knock or clunk over bumps, a rattle at low speed, the car sitting lower on one corner, bouncing after a bump, uneven tyre wear, or a suspension advisory on your MOT.
What we do: put it on the ramp and find the noise — anti-roll bar links and bushes are the usual culprits and cheap; springs and shocks are done in pairs where it matters. Every worn part is photographed on the quote.
Price: quoted per part. Coil springs, shock absorbers and drop links are usually same-day. Suspension repairs in detail →
Book a suspension check🎯SteeringTrack rod ends, racks, power steering, steering knocks
Symptoms: play in the wheel, a knock when turning, heavy steering or a power-steering warning light, a whine when turning, or the car wandering on the motorway.
What we do: track rod ends, rack ends, steering racks, power steering pumps and pipes, and electric power steering faults diagnosed properly. We'll tell you when the geometry needs checking after the work.
Price: quoted per job after inspection. Steering repairs in detail →
Book it in🛞Wheel bearings, CV joints & driveshaftsHumming that changes with speed, clicking on full lock
Symptoms: a hum or drone that rises with speed and changes when you steer (bearing), clicking when turning on full lock (CV joint), or grease flung inside the wheel from a split boot.
What we do: bearings pressed in with the correct tooling, CV boots replaced before the joint fails where we catch them early, complete driveshafts where we don't.
Price: quoted per side. Bearings & CV joints in detail →
Book it in🔍Car diagnostics & warning lightsMillbrook diagnostics from £48/hr — engine management, ABS, airbag, DPF, AdBlue, limp mode
What we do: read the codes with dealer-level equipment, then test the circuit, the sensor and the live data so we fix the cause rather than clear the light. You get the findings and a photographed quote before any repair.
Price: £48 per hour inc VAT; most checks are under an hour. Car diagnostics in detail →
Book a diagnostic🔧Engine repairsMisfires, oil leaks, head gaskets, timing chains, replacement engines
Symptoms: rough running or a misfire, oil on the drive, coolant disappearing, white smoke, mayonnaise under the oil cap, rattles, or an engine that's simply done.
What we do: everything from a rocker cover gasket to a head gasket, timing chains, injectors and coil packs, through to engine replacements with new, used or reconditioned units — with an honest conversation first about whether the car is worth it.
Price: quoted per job. Engines & gearboxes in detail →
Book a diagnostic🕹️GearboxesManual and automatic, gear selection, whines, oil changes
Symptoms: crunching into gear, popping out of gear, a whine that changes with road speed, an automatic that hunts, slips or goes into limp mode, or a gearbox warning light.
What we do: gear linkages and selector bushes, gearbox oil and filter changes (often forgotten and often the fix), clutch-related faults, and repair or replacement gearboxes where needed.
Price: quoted per job. Engines & gearboxes in detail →
Book it in🌡️Cooling system & overheatingRadiators, thermostats, water pumps, hoses, fans
Symptoms: the temperature gauge climbing, a coolant warning, a sweet smell, coolant topping up more than it should, or a heater that's gone cold.
What we do: pressure-test the system to find the leak, then radiators, hoses, thermostats, water pumps, expansion tanks and cooling fans. Coolant renewed with the correct spec for your engine.
Price: quoted per job. Coolant change £84. Cooling & overheating in detail →
Book it in🌀Turbos, DPF & EGRDiesel limp mode, black smoke, loss of power
Symptoms: loss of power or limp mode, a whistle or whine, black or blue smoke, a DPF light that won't clear, or poor economy with an EGR fault code.
What we do: diagnose before parts — boost leaks, actuators and sensors are often the real fault. DPF forced regenerations and cleaning, EGR valve cleaning or replacement, turbo replacement with the oil feed and breathers checked so the new one lasts.
Price: quoted per job after diagnosis. Turbos & EGR in detail →
Book a diagnostic❄️Air conditioningRe-gas, leaks, compressors, smells
Symptoms: air that's not cold, a system that works then fades, a musty smell, or a noisy compressor.
What we do: recover, vacuum-test and recharge with the correct gas and oil, find leaks with dye, replace condensers, compressors and pipes, and deodorise the system.
Price: re-gas £84 (R134a, up to about 2017) or £144 (R1234yf, newer cars); repairs quoted per job. Air conditioning →
Book a re-gas⚡Electrical faultsLights, wiring, sensors, windows, locks, wipers
Symptoms: a light that won't work with a good bulb, windows or locks with a mind of their own, intermittent faults, blown fuses, or a warning light with no obvious cause.
What we do: trace wiring and connectors properly with a wiring diagram and a scope, not by swapping parts. Bulbs fitted while you wait.
Price: diagnosis at £48 per hour; repairs quoted per job. Electrical repairs in detail →
Book it in🔥Glow plugs, injectors & fuel systemDiesel cold-start trouble, smoke, misfires, fuel smells
Symptoms: a diesel that struggles or smokes on a cold morning, a flashing glow-plug light, a knocking injector, a petrol misfire, or a fuel smell.
What we do: glow plugs (including seized ones), injector testing and replacement, fuel pumps, filters and lines, and fuel-system cleaning.
Price: quoted per job. Fuel system treatment from the servicing add-ons. Glow plugs & injectors in detail →
Book it in🧰Welding & MOT corrosion repairsSills, floor pans, chassis legs, exhaust brackets
Symptoms: a corrosion fail or advisory on the MOT, rust bubbling on sills, or a broken bracket.
What we do: structural welding to MOT standard on sills, floors, chassis legs and suspension mounts, sealed and protected afterwards. We'll be straight with you if the car isn't worth it.
Price: quoted after we've seen it on the ramp. Welding & corrosion repairs in detail →
Book a look🔵MOT failure repairsFailed with us or elsewhere — every item quoted
What we do: work through the certificate item by item — tyres, brakes, bulbs, suspension, emissions, corrosion — and quote each one with a photo so you can choose what to fix. Retest included when we do the repairs; a partial retest is £10 if the work was done elsewhere.
Price: per item, from the certificate. Not sure what your fail means? Ask Lois → MOT failure repairs in detail →
Book the repairs🛞Tyres, punctures & TPMS faultsFree check; tyre pressure warning lights fixed; tyres through our local partner
What we do: a free tyre check — tread, pressures, sidewall damage and uneven wear (which usually points at a suspension or alignment problem we can fix). Tyres themselves are supplied and fitted through our local tyre partner so you still only deal with us.
Price: check free; tyres quoted per size; TPMS faults diagnosed at £48 per hour. Tyres, punctures & TPMS →
Book a free tyre check❓Something not on the list?If it's on a car, ask
Wipers, mirrors, door locks, handbrake cables, heater blowers, boot catches, towbars, headlight restoration, pre-purchase inspections — if it's on a car we either do it or know the right local specialist and arrange it for you.
Tell us what's happeningWhatsApp usFour steps, no surprises
Tell us
Use the form above, WhatsApp or the phone. What it does and when — that's enough.
We inspect and photograph
A technician checks the car and photographs what they find. You get an itemised quote on your phone: parts, labour and VAT shown for each job.
You approve
Tick the jobs you want done — or none. No work begins without your approval.
We repair
Parts ordered, work done, and a text when it's ready. Pay by card link, at the counter, or spread it with Payment Assist.
Parts and guarantees
We fit OE-quality parts as standard, which carry the manufacturer's warranty, and our workmanship is guaranteed. We'll happily discuss budget options — used or reconditioned units on a bigger job, for instance — and tell you straight what we'd do if it were our car. Parts you supply yourself can usually be fitted, but they're not covered by our parts or labour warranty.
Over 60 years of combined experience
Our technicians have been fixing cars in Millbrook since before most of the current models existed. We're an independent, so we work on everything — Ford to Mercedes, Toyota to Land Rover, hybrids included — and we keep the modern diagnostic kit to do it properly.
Diagnostics are £48 per hour including VAT and cover the inspection time only; repairs are quoted per job once the fault is confirmed. Quotes are valid for the period shown on them and parts prices can change. Same-day repairs depend on parts availability. Payment Assist is subject to status.
Before you bring it in
How much does a diagnostic check cost?
£48 per hour including VAT. Most fault-code reads take under an hour. You get the findings and a photographed quote for any repair before anything is done — and no obligation to go ahead.
Do I need to know what's wrong?
No. Tell us what you see, hear or feel and when it happens. A technician confirms the fault before anything is quoted or started.
Can I spread the cost?
Yes, with Payment Assist — interest-free instalments on repair bills. Ask when you receive your quote and we'll send the link.
Are repairs guaranteed?
Parts we supply carry the manufacturer's warranty and our workmanship is guaranteed. Parts you supply yourself are fitted at your own risk and aren't covered.
Do you do same-day repairs?
Often, yes — brakes, batteries, exhausts, bulbs, most suspension parts and many MOT failures are done the same day where parts are available locally. Bigger jobs we'll give you an honest timescale for up front. We can't promise same-day until we've seen the car.