Answers, straight from
the shop floor.

Five years of hands-on mechanical experience across domestic and European platforms. The shop is in Manchester, NH, and the same hands that work on a daily-driver Civic are the ones that handle a timing chain on an Audi.

Pro for professional, Tech for technician. The work is the work — diagnose it right, fix it once, and explain what we did. We aren't a chain, we aren't a quick-lube, and we aren't a dealership upsell counter.

61 Elm St, Unit 5, Manchester, NH 03101. We're a local independent shop — the address, the hours, and the phone number all reach the same people who'll be working on the car.

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. After-hours drop-off is available if you arrange it ahead of time when you book.

An appointment is strongly preferred — it lets us schedule the diagnostic time and parts properly. If something urgent comes up (you smell exhaust in the cabin, the car won't start, brakes feel off), call us first; we'll find a way to fit you in.

We have a small clean waiting area for short jobs like an oil change and inspection. For anything that needs diagnostic time or parts ordering, dropping the car off is the better play — and we'll call before doing any work beyond what we agreed on.

Modern engines on synthetic oil typically run 5,000–7,500 miles between changes; some manufacturers go longer. We check your manual and your actual driving — short trips and cold New Hampshire winters shorten the interval — and give you an honest answer, not a quick-lube 3,000-mile pitch.

Most modern vehicles require synthetic. Older engines (typically pre-2000s) and some specific applications can still run conventional. We use the weight and specification your manufacturer calls for — getting the friction modifiers, viscosity, and additive package right is what makes the oil actually protect the engine.

Twenty-plus items across the engine bay, brakes, suspension, fluids, tires, lights, and undercarriage. We document what we find — what's fine, what's worth watching, and what needs attention now — before any repair conversation starts. No surprise upsells on the back end.

Yes, on the schedule the manufacturer specifies — usually 30,000–60,000 miles depending on the fluid and the vehicle. Skipping these is one of the most common causes of expensive failures we see come in from shops that only do oil changes.

Engine air filters typically every 15,000–30,000 miles depending on driving conditions; cabin filters every 15,000–25,000 miles. We check both at every visit and only recommend replacement when they actually need it — not as a default upcharge on the invoice.

Yes. We'll work from your owner's manual or maintenance schedule — including the longer European service intervals (10,000-mile oil with full synthetic, for example) where the manufacturer specifies them. Schedule maintenance documented in writing keeps your service history clean if you ever sell.

Pricing depends on oil type and vehicle (a 5-quart conventional change is different from a 7-quart European-spec full synthetic). We'll quote it before you commit — call (603) 270-5456 or send the booking form for an estimate based on your specific car.

Almost never. The most common cause of sudden exhaust noise is a broken hanger or a leak at a flex pipe, gasket, or muffler weld — all repairable without replacing the entire system. We diagnose where the failure is and fix that, not the whole assembly.

Sometimes, but often not. P0420 means the cat's efficiency reading is low. The actual cause is frequently an upstream issue — a failed O2 sensor, an exhaust leak ahead of the cat, or a misfire that's damaging the cat. We test upstream conditions before recommending the expensive part.

No. Pro Tech focuses on exhaust repair — mufflers, hangers, leaks, sensors, and catalytic converters. If you want a custom cat-back fabricated or a performance system installed, you'll want a dedicated performance shop with mandrel-bending capability.

If the issue is exhaust-related — a leak, a failed cat, an O2 code, or noise above the legal limit — and the repair restores the system to compliant condition, yes. We diagnose and repair the failure so the vehicle passes on re-test.

Yes. Exhaust in the cabin means a leak in the system is feeding fumes into where you breathe — that's a carbon monoxide risk. Don't drive it any further than you have to; call us at (603) 270-5456 and bring it in.

Hanger or gasket repair is often same-day. Muffler replacement same-day in most cases. Catalytic converter or sensor work depends on parts availability — typically one to two days once the correct part is in hand.

Modern European cars won't accept a replacement control module until it's been adapted to the vehicle — told what car it's in, what equipment the car has, and which features to run. That's coding and programming. Skip it and the new module throws faults, runs half its features, or does nothing at all. We do it in-house on Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes.

Component protection (Komponentenschutz) is VW Group's anti-theft system — it locks infotainment units, instrument clusters, and certain other modules to the original vehicle. A swapped-in module, used or new, stays restricted ("component protection active") until it's cleared through factory-level online authorization, normally a dealer-only visit. We handle that clearance on replacement modules for Audi and Volkswagen.

For the work itself — no. We source the OEM module, install it, code it to your VIN, and clear Audi/VW component protection in our Manchester bay, typically well below dealer pricing and without the service-department wait. The honest exceptions are active warranty work, recalls, and manufacturer software campaigns: those belong at the dealer because the manufacturer pays for them, and we'll say so when that's your situation.

Module work has its own terms, stated in writing before you pay: no warranty on the module itself, a 30-day warranty on our labor, and the part's own warranty is whatever its manufacturer offers, passed through to you. It's the specific exception to our standard parts-and-labor coverage — which is exactly why it's spelled out on the estimate and the invoice, not discovered later.

Often a used OEM module is the smart buy — significant savings on headlight, comfort, and body modules. But a used module comes married to its donor car: on Audi and VW it sits in component protection until cleared (we handle that), and some modules, depending on brand and type, aren't viable used at all. Tell us the car and the module before you buy the part and we'll give you a straight answer.

Usually, yes. Headlight and adaptive-headlight failures on Audi and BMW are often quoted by dealers as full-assembly replacements at dealer labor rates. We diagnose which module actually failed, source the OEM unit — new or used where viable — install it, and code it to the car. Same OEM part, independent-shop labor, and a written quote you can put next to the dealer's.

Diagnostic time is quoted upfront before we start. Repair work is quoted in writing after we've identified what's actually needed — parts and labor itemized. We don't run shop-wide flat-rate inflation or hidden surcharges. The number we quote is the number you pay (unless something changes and we call you first).

Yes, every time — for any repair work beyond the original diagnostic. You see the scope, the parts, and the price before we touch the vehicle. No "we'll figure it out as we go" arrangements that turn into a surprise bill.

No. Approved work is the only work that happens. If during the repair we find something else that needs attention, we stop and call you with the finding — what it is, why it matters, what it would cost — and you decide whether to add it now, defer it, or skip it.

Cash, all major credit and debit cards, and personal checks from established customers. Payment is collected when the repair is complete and you've reviewed the invoice. Ask about financing when you book if you're planning a larger repair.

Yes. Financing is available for qualifying repairs through a third-party automotive financing partner — quick application, decision in minutes, terms based on credit. Ask about it when you book or when we present the repair estimate, and we'll walk you through the options.

We stop and call you. You hear what we found, why it matters, and what the additional cost would be — before any extra work happens. No after-the-fact surcharges. If the estimate stands, we honor it; if it changes, the change is approved before it goes on the invoice.

We're based in Manchester, NH and regularly serve Bedford, Hooksett, Goffstown, Auburn, Litchfield, Londonderry, Derry, Candia, Pinardville, and the surrounding southern New Hampshire region. Drivers come from farther out for European work — distance isn't usually the deciding factor.

We don't operate a tow truck, but we work with local tow companies regularly. If your vehicle can't drive in, call us at (603) 270-5456 and we'll recommend a local tow operator we trust. AAA tows directly to our shop on member request.

Yes. Out-of-state plates don't matter for the mechanical work — the diagnosis and repair are the same. If you're new to the area and getting NH state inspection done, we can help diagnose any faults the inspection will flag.

AAA-towed vehicles arrive here regularly. AAA members can request a tow to our shop directly. We're not an official AAA-approved service center for member discounts, but the tow and service flow works smoothly — just tell the dispatcher you want it brought to Pro Tech Auto on Elm Street.