Wilmot Auto Repair

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

If you are a driver in Wilmot and you aren't currently using synthetic motor oil in your vehicle, maybe now's the time to consider it. Need more information? Well, synthetic motor oil is a substitute for petroleum based oil. Synthetic oil doesn't gel or gum-up like petroleum based oil and it doesn't vaporize as easily. It protects better in severe driving conditions like stop and go driving around Wilmot, as well as in very hot or very cold conditions. More and more new vehicles are being delivered with full synthetic motor oil, with the recommendation to use synthetic for the life of the vehicle. Why is this? Synthetic motor oil maximizes engine power and fuel economy. To see why, we'd need a microscope, so we'll have to settle for using our imaginations. The molecules of conventional motor oil are long hydrocarbon chains. Synthetic motor oil, on the other hand, has uniform, round molecules. Which is more slippery, a pile of pencils or a p ... 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

Here's a question for Wilmot, NH : How long have you been enjoying the romantic glow of your Check Engine light? Hey, it's not there to create ambiance; it's a warning that something's wrong. (And, by the way, Homer Simpson's fix of covering it with tape is not a good idea.) Many conditions that trigger the Check Engine light can hurt your vehicle. A lot.If your date's eyes are smoldering in the soft glow of the Check Engine light, try to think of all the gas money you'll save by getting it fixed. Give Walker Automotive a call when you are ready. Walker Automotive3 Deerwood DriveWilmot, NH 0328760

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