Wilmot Auto Repair

Pop quiz: What is a cabin air filter? A. A filter for your Wilmot house?B. A fresh, piney scent?C. A filter for the passenger compartment of your car? Clever you, it's C.A cabin air filter cleans the outside air before it comes into the passenger compartment of your vehicle. It filters out common NH air particles like dust, pollen, spores, bacteria, pollutants, exhaust gas, odors and even sparrows.These high tech filters can block particles larger than 3 microns. By contrast, a grain of sand is about 200 microns.Not all Wilmot vehicles have cabin air filters. They are fairly new on the scene in NH. Last check, about 40 percent of new vehicles sold in Wilmot come with cabin air filters, but the number is growing every year. Cabin air filters make driving a lot more pleasant for people in Wilmot. Your vehicle can be a haven during our NH allergy season with very little dust and pollen getting into the cabin. Of course, like all filters, the cabin air filter eventually gets clo ... read more

High gas prices in Wilmot increase the cost of living for NH drivers. You've probably budgeted a certain amount for vehicle related expenses. Increased fuel costs now consume a larger portion of our incomes, causing some Wilmot vehicle owners to skimp in other areas – like scheduled maintenance.According to NH news reports and automotive industry studies, this is becoming increasingly more common. In fact, nine out of ten personal vehicles on the road have at least one maintenance or repair item that hasn't been done. Some of these items pose serious safety risks. Others are just more likely to make it more expensive to drive. In this area, we can take a lesson from professional Wilmot vehicle owners. I'm talking about fleet owners and operators. You know, Wilmot folks like the trucking companies and delivery services. Because their livelihood depends on it, they have gotten scheduled maint ... read more

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

There are some things drivers should know about Wilmot car service and repair. First and foremost, Walker Automotive cares about you and your family's safety. And we really appreciate your business. Walker Automotive in Wilmot wants to build a trusting relationship that becomes the foundation for a mutually beneficial experience for years to come.Building on that foundation, there are some things that would help you understand the auto service and repair business better. First, it can be really hard to fix vehicles. The days of shade tree mechanics are long gone. The majority of automotive systems are computerized. It takes a lot of training and very expensive equipment to diagnose and repair modern vehicles. The pros who work for Walker Automotive need extensive computer training – not just how to run the diagnostic systems, but also searching for the right parts, networking with other technicians to help them with a difficult problem and pulling ... 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 about a system in our vehicles – the cooling system. It's one of those things that Wilmot auto owners don't give much thought to until it fails and then they're stranded by the side of a road in NH.Cooling systems fail more often than any other mechanical system – usually because of neglect. Don't you hate it when something breaks and you could have done something to prevent it?The good news is that if Wilmot drivers take care of their cooling systems, they can keep working for the life of their car.Here at Walker Automotive in Wilmot, we emphasize preventive maintenance services like replacing your coolant according to the factory schedule. But the various parts that make up the cooling system need attention too. The major components of the cooling system are the water pump, freeze plugs, the thermostat, radiator, cooling fans, the heater core, the pressure cap, the overflow tank and the hoses.It sound ... read more

Tires do a lot of work for Wilmot drivers. They transfer engine power and braking forces to the road; they handle steering control; and they cushion all those bumps and jolts while driving around Wilmot. They also support the entire weight of the vehicle, including you and your passengers. With such important work to do, you want your tires to do their job well. And since replacing tires is fairly pricey, you want them to last as long as possible. There are three keys to long, even tire wear for Wilmot driving: Proper tire inflation Proper wheel alignment Regular tire rotation and balancing The front tires on a car take the brunt of the steering forces. As they push through turns, the shoulders of the front tires wear down more quickly than the rear tires. Rotating front and rear tires allows them to all wear at about the same rate. That's especially true of front-wheel-drive vehicles whose front tires steer and put the power to the road.SUVs and pick-u ... 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