Wilmot Auto Repair

Power steering is standard on nearly every vehicle in Wilmot, NH, these days. Now there are some exotic, new types of power steering systems, but for the most part, the general setup is a pump that's driven by a belt powered by the engine. Contact the automotive professionals at Walker Automotive in Wilmot for questions about your power steering. The pump generates power that assists drivers as they steer their vehicle around Wilmot, NH. Power steering systems use hoses to move pressurized fluid back and forth. These hoses can develop leaks so it's a good idea to have Walker Automotive inspect them at every oil change. A check of the power steering fluid level is on the list for every full service oil change at Walker Automotive because low fluid can damage the power steering pump. And the fluid needs to be compatible with the hoses and seals, so it's important to use the correct type – just ask your service advisor at Walker Aut ... read more

Something you're going to be hearing a lot about around Wilmot, NH, is diesel engines. We're not talking about semi-trucks and buses; we're talking about diesel engine cars, pick-ups and SUVs.Most people in NH are surprised to learn that around half the cars on the road in Europe have diesel engines. Nearly all import brands offer a range of diesel engines abroad – even the ultra-luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. For the most part, these diesel engines haven't been available in Wilmot, NH. But that's about to change.In the past, North American diesel fuel has had a much higher sulfur content than European fuel. Recent environmental laws have required changes in diesel formulation and emissions standards here in Wilmot, NH, so we are now ready to start seeing more diesel options offered over the next few years.Why are so many Wilmot drivers interested in diesel engines? Well first off, diesel fuel is more energy dense. There's more power in a barrel of diesel f ... read more

Wilmot residents' vehicles have to operate in a wide range of NH temperatures which requires the engine coolant to be able to perform 'no matter what.' Think for a moment about the environment where the coolant does its thing. Very hot, high pressure, corrosive...And all the while, it has to protect the components of the cooling system from corrosion. These components are made from steel and aluminum, plastics and rubber. The coolant has to be formulated to protect against corrosion for all of these different materials. That's why vehicle manufacturer’s recommend different types of anti-freeze for our Wilmot, NH, vehicles.There are several different 'families' of anti-freeze available to us here in Wilmot. Your owner's manual will tell you what kind you should use. Of course, the automotive professionals at Walker Automotive will know the right kind for your vehicle.It's important to stay on top of this because coolant system failure is the most common mechanical ... read more

At Walker Automotive we get a lot of Wilmot drivers asking about vehicle trip preparation. That's a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas around NH, so it's important to know that the vehicle is up to the task and won't leave you stranded.Smart Wilmot drivers plan ahead for a major road trip – and there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Take a quick test drive around Wilmot to see if you can feel any vibrations: Are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok? Come to Walker Automotive for a peace-of-mind trip inspection.3 Deerwood Drive Wilmot, NH 03287 603.526.4848 The next thing is a full service oil change to make sure all of your fluids are topped off and you have fresh oil ... read more

Today we want to talk to Wilmot drivers about timing belts. They're something that many drivers don't know much about and yet your vehicle won't run if it's broken – and it could cause many thousands of dollars damage if it does break. A broken timing belt is usually a tale of woe. Even though timing belt replacement is scheduled in the owner's manual, it's not the kind of thing that most Wilmot area auto owners remember because it's not well understood.Let's review what a timing belt does. As most know, the engine's power is generated in the cylinders. A piston rides up and down in the cylinder. During the first down stroke, an intake valve at the top of the cylinder opens and air and fuel is drawn into the cylinder. Then the piston returns to the top, compressing the fuel and air mix. At the top, the spark plug fires, igniting the fuel, pushing the piston down in the power stroke. As the piston once again returns up in the final stroke of the cycle, an exhaust valve opens at t ... read more

Today in the Walker Automotive auto care blog, we're going to talk to Wilmot drivers about oil change intervals. It seems that as engine technology advances, oil change intervals become longer for Walker Automotive customers. For example, recently four of the world's largest vehicle manufacturer's shortened the published intervals for several of their engine models. They originally published intervals that extended out to a much as 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers).In real world Wilmot driving, the oil started to sludge up before the recommended change interval. Oil sludge is a thick jelly-like substance: quite literally petroleum jelly – like Vaseline. This goop was clogging vehicle small engine passages so the oil wouldn't flow to some parts of the engine. This resulted in engine damage. We see it too often at Walker Automotive in Wilmot.The vehicle manufacturers began to offer an extended warranty to cover sludge damage. But there was a catch: the vehicle owner ... read more

The government mandates a lot of equipment on cars in Wilmot, NH: emission devices and control computers, safety equipment like airbags and crash worthiness requirements. All of this is great for the Wilmot motoring public, but it does add quite a bit to the price of a new vehicle.Because new vehicles are more expensive, people in the Wilmot area are driving their old vehicles longer. The average vehicle is now over nine years old. Two thirds of vehicles on the road in NH have more than 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on them. As cars age, their performance drops, they have difficulty idling for long periods and are more sensitive to weather extremes. Fortunately today's cars are up to the challenge – but they need a little help to keep on goin'.Give Walker Automotive a call at 603.526.4848 to schedule your next maintenance.Some owner's manuals don't specify service requirements at higher mileage. That doesn't mean it doesn't have to be done. In fact, it ... read more

  It seems like everywhere you go in the Wilmot area you see custom wheels. Big trucks, little cars, mini-vans - it doesn't matter - are expressing themselves with custom wheels. Some NH auto owners want smaller tires and wheels - some want larger - and some want them enormous. So where do you start if you want new wheels? At Walker Automotive, we suggest you start with your budget. We know, that sounds so practical. But if the look you're after goes beyond just new tires and wheels and enters into the world of suspension modifications, you need to be prepared for the additional cost.Let's start with something easy - you want to give your ride a unique look and the stock wheel size is just right for you. One of the concerns you will have is that the new wheels have the same offset as your vehicle factory wheels.Your tire and wheel professional at Walker Automotive in Wilmot can help you find the right size wheel or install adapters to make your new wheels fit. All you ha ... read more

We live in such a disposable society. It's amazing all the stuff we throw away. New stuff comes out so fast, we just toss the old and move on. In the old days, NH folks were real sticklers about taking care of their things. If something got lost or ruined by neglect, tough - they had to do without. Most Wilmot drivers couldn't afford new vehicles very often, so they had to make them last as long as they could.It's a good thing that vehicles are more reliable these days. They just don't break down as often. And the good news for us NH penny pinchers is that a modern vehicle can easily go 200,000 miles/320,000 km with proper care. The engineering and the manufacturing quality is tremendous. The missing ingredient is us Wilmot vehicle owners making sure we follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedules.Every time you go a little farther between recommended oil changes, you have created an opportunity for sludge to be formed and for clogged pas ... read more

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Wilmot drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Wilmot drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around Wilmot?Are most of your trips less than 10 miles/16 kilometers in below-zero NH temps?Are most of your trips off-highway in NH?Do you drive often in dusty Wilmot areas?Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Wilmot?Do you drive in very hot or very cold NH weather?Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Wilmot on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on Wilmot surface streets? Let's suppose your owner's manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles/5,000 kilometers and the standard recommendation i ... read more