3 Engine Problems You Shouldn't Wait to Get Repaired

Your Chevy's alternator generates the electrical energy for all your car's devices. It also maintains your battery at full charge. Generally speaking, your alternator will last for around eight years before it needs to be replaced. When an alternator is wearing out, it will show signs that it's experiencing problems. These signs mean that it's time to bring your car to your Chevy dealer for an alternator repair. more Electrical Problems A good alternator can easily supply all of your car's electrical needs and charge the battery without any problem. As the alternator gets older, parts of it start to wear out. A weak alternator won't be able to supply all of your car's electrical needs, and your car's computer has to try and resolve this shortfall. The computer is programmed to prioritize certain systems, for example, the spark plugs, that will always receive power. The remaining available power is supplied to the remaining components according to demand. The more components that need power at the same time, the greater the chance electrical problems will start. Your windows, for example, may refuse to close, or the CD player will suddenly stop working. These glitches are caused by the need to shift power between different devices. As your alternator becomes weaker, these problems will increase. Burning Smells Smells of hot metal and burning insulation wafting from the engine are signs of trouble. The worn alternator will try to produce more power to satisfy the demand, and this means the stator in the alternator must spin faster. The stator is a collection of magnets bound in copper wire that generates an electrical field as it spins. The stator won't be able to supply the necessary power, but it will heat up producing the hot metal smell. Buring insulation smells awful and is also dangerous and toxic. Damaged wiring in the alternator or that connects the alternator to the various electrical components can heat up and start to burn. The wires heat up as the alternator tries to push electricity through the damaged wires, and damaging wiring won't conduct electricity and it burns instead. A Damaged Battery A damaged battery can damage a healthy alternator by overstraining it. The alternator will kick in when your engine starts,  and begin charging your battery. The alternator will charge your battery at full power for about five minutes, and it with then switch to charging the battery at 10% of battery capacity. This is to prevent strain on the alternator and prevent overloading the battery. If your battery is damaged, it will register that it's at a lower charge than it is. This will cause the alternator to continue to charge the battery at full power. Since the battery level reading is wrong, the alternator will wear itself out trying to charge the battery. A damaged alternator can easily be repaired or replaced. Call us right away at Glassock Chevrolet, and our expert technicians will fix it.

If you start to notice that your car isn't running as smoothly as it used to or it's making a weird noise, you might need a new air filter. A clogged filter can cause all sorts of problems, including reduced fuel efficiency, poor performance, and even increased emissions. Check out these signs from your Chevy dealer that you might need a new car air filter. more 1. Less Horsepower When You Drive If you've been noticing that your car has less horsepower than usual, it might be because your engine air filter is clogged. A clogged-up air filter can restrict the amount of air that gets to the engine, which will decrease the amount of power it has. If you're struggling to reach high speeds or if your car periodically jolts, it might be time for a new air filter. 2. Your Engine Is Making a Weird Noise A dirty air filter can cause all sorts of weird noises, including rattling and knocking sounds. If you suddenly start hearing strange noises when your car runs, it might be due to a dirty engine air filter. 3. The Check Engine Light Is On If the check engine light is on, it means there's a problem with the engine, and you should take your car in for an inspection. There could be many reasons for a check engine light, but a dirty engine air filter is one of them. When your car's air filter is clogged, it can cause all sorts of issues, but the most common is an increase in emissions and poor gas mileage. When the filter is clogged or faulty, dirt and debris can accumulate, triggering the check engine light. 4. Your Gas Mileage Decreases If your gas mileage suddenly drops, it could be due to the filter. A dirty or clogged-up air filter reduces the amount of clean air that reaches the engine, causing it to work harder. Changing your filter on time will save you money. 5. You Smell Gasoline When the engine air filter becomes blocked, the excess fuel will burn off and cause a burning-gasoline smell. This is not only smelly but indicates that not enough air is entering the fuel injection system. If you notice that your vehicle has started to emit a gasoline scent when you start the car, it's probably due to an air filter that needs changing. 7. Your Air Filter Looks Dirty Air filters trap dirt, dust, and other debris so they can become clogged over time. An engine air filter may look dirty for many reasons, including normal aging, driving conditions, and the type of fuel used. If the engine air filter isn't replaced regularly, it will eventually become so clogged that it won't do its job properly. Replacing an old, clogged-up air filter with a new one is an inexpensive way to help improve gas mileage, get better performance, and reduce emissions. Schedule a service appointment at Glasscock Chevrolet to inspect your car and keep it running smoothly.

Your transmission is very strong and built to last. It operates continuously while you're driving, and it's subject to great internal heat and constant friction from hundreds of fast-moving components. Regularly scheduled maintenance can prevent the most serious problems, but it can still suffer wear. If you need a transmission repair in Big Lake, TX your Chevy dealer can help you. more Odd Sounds in Neutral One reliable way to teg if you have a transmission problem is to shift into neutral and listen. When your engine is in neutral, and the transmission is working correctly, you shouldn't hear any sounds. If you hear a repetitive bumping sound, this can mean that your transmission fluid needs to be topped up. Harsher sounds can be the sign of damaged gear teeth or a worn bearing. Our technicians can check this for you. Transmission Leak Transmission fluid provides the hydraulic power to move the gears in your transmission, and it also helps to lubricate the various components in the transmission. If your transmission is damaged, this fluid can quickly leak out and the temperature in the transmission will rise. Gear shifting will become nosier, and parts of the transmission can start to overheat. Noisy Transmission Under normal conditions, a transmission should work quietly and efficiently. Strange noises from the transmission are signs that something isn't right. Automatic transmissions tend to make humming or buzzing sounds, while manual transmissions make harsher grinding noises. One of the most serious sounds is a clunking from the transmission, as this can mean that one of the bearings has failed. Slow Shifting Response A transmission should easily shift gears. You may find a delay between shifting into gear and your car responding. This might not seem like a serious problem, but it can be extremely dangerous. When you shift gears, the response should be immediate, and any delay could potentially cause an accident. It's important to have your transmission checked by one of our technicians. Smell of Burning The acrid smell of burning rubber from your transmission usually means that your transmission fluid needs to be changed. Older fluid loses its heat-protection properties, and it becomes more sluggish due to the accumulation of debris from the transmission. This fluid can start to overheat and burn, and if it does we will need to replace the fluid and flush the transmission to fix the problem. Slipping Gears Your transmission is designed to remain in gear until either you shift in a manual transmission, or the engine's RPM's rise and the automatic transmission shifts it automatically. Slipping gears can randomly move you out of gear, and can also shift your transmission into neutral. This is dangerous, as it means that you no longer have full control over your car. If you have any trouble with your transmission, call our service center right away at Glasscock Chevrolet. Our technicians will have your transmission working perfectly again in no time.