Posted on 8/26/2014
A while back, the Cash for Clunkers program was all over the NH news. Wilmot people could trade in their old vehicle for a new one that got better gas mileage and receive a government rebate. A lot of Wilmot motorists had so-called clunkers that they wanted to keep. They're good commuters, grocery getters or toy haulers. They enjoy that fact that they're paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their vehicles for 200,000 miles (320,000 kilometers) or more – as long as it's economical to do so. There are plenty of Wilmot drivers whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles (240,000 or 320,000 kilometers). We can learn from what they're doing to keep our own vehicles on the road in NH.The Wilmot drivers of high-mileage cars often report a common denominator of never skipping an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it's real ... read more
Posted on 8/21/2014
If you're gonna drive around the Wilmot area, you've got to be able to see! So having a good set of windshield wipers is extremely important. We've all experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm or when our windshield is just dirty.It seems like your wiper blades are always at their worst when you need them the most. But windshield wipers are like most other vehicle parts– they require regular attention in order to work their best.You really ought to replace your wiper blades twice a year; in the spring and the fall. If it's going to be a particularly harsh winter in NH, you may even want to get special winter blades in the fall. Winter blades are designed to resist freezing.Speaking of winter and freezing conditions, if your car has been sitting for a long time and the windshield becomes frozen, don't use your wipers to clear off snow and ice. That'll just ... read more
Posted on 8/15/2014
Some Wilmot vehicle owners wonder why Walker Automotive and other Wilmot auto repair shops charge a fee for vehicle diagnostics. Receiving a diagnostic charge at Walker Automotive for a tricky automotive problem shouldn't be a surprise. In the Wilmot area, automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range. If you hear a noise in your vehicle brakes when you slow down in rush-hour traffic on a busy NH road, you pull off at the next off-ramp and take a quick visual check. That is usually enough to know what needs to be done. If you're having an intermittent problem with your vehicle engine, however, a Walker Automotive diagnosis may be much more involved.Much of the Wilmot driver's confusion comes when the problem involves the Check Engine light. The Check Engine light comes on when the engine management computer has sensed a problem. There's a common misconception among NH drivers that the trouble code tells the Walker Automotive technician exactly what's wrong. They wonder why there ... read more
Posted on 8/6/2014
It's important for Wilmot drivers to know battery basics. First, let's talk about which is harder on a battery – hot or cold NH weather. Most Wilmot area drivers think it's cold weather because that's when we call on our batteries to have enough power to start a cold vehicle engine. However, heat does more damage to a battery than cold. Truth is, our batteries start to die a little from day one. Keeping a full charge slows the process, which is hard with short Wilmot trips because the alternator doesn't have time to fully recharge the battery from starting the engine. Wilmot drivers can top off the charge with a computer controlled battery charger – say, once a month in the summer and every three months during the winter.As far as how long a battery will last, statistics show that 70% have given up the ghost within four years. By that time, they aren't capable of taking a full charge like they used to, and your veh ... read more