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Image via Larsen Auto Center. AC not working? No matter what time of year it is, a malfunctioning air conditioning unit in your vehicle can be inconvenient. In the summer, no AC can mean miserable car rides as you battle the heat, while in the winter, no AC can make it harder for your vehicle to de-fog your windows. Fortunately, you can schedule AC service at your Chevy dealer. more Depending on your AC unit's specific issue, a repair at your local dealership can take less than a day most of the time. Some issues, like low refrigerant, are easy to fix. All your Chevy mechanic will have to do is top off the refrigerant in your vehicle or use a special recharging system to address the issue. If your mechanic finds any leaks, it can be repaired during your service appointment. Other issues may be more complicated to fix, like a faulty climate control sensor. These sensors are designed to maintain a preferred air conditioner temperature, but when the sensors fail, you might end up with hot air from your AC unit. Replacing defective parts may require ordering parts that are designed for your specific model. Ask Your Chevy Dealer: Why Is Your AC Not Working? There are several reasons why your vehicle's AC system might fail. While the most common reason is usually related to leaking or low refrigerant, the root cause of hot air from your AC system may be related to the AC compressor. Some compressors fail as a result of blown electrical fuses, while others may turn off because of built-in safety features related to the pressure switch that monitors the refrigerant level. Old Cabin Air Filter A clogged cabin air filter is another common reason for experiencing AC problems. When the air filter is old or clogged, it cannot adequately deliver air to the AC unit, which can limit how well the AC unit can cool the air passing through various vents. Damaged Condenser The condenser is a crucial part of your AC unit that works to cool the refrigerant in your vehicle. Your condenser should be replaced every 10 years or so, but it may need to be replaced if it is damaged. Since the condenser in your vehicle typically sits at the nose of your hood, it may be vulnerable to damage from road debris coming through the front grille. Whether it's simple issues like a clogged air filter or more complex electrical issues, your Chevy mechanic can quickly fix your AC unit so you can get back on the road in comfort. Drop by Larsen Auto Center in Frederic, WI for AC service today.

Image via Larsen Auto Center. When it comes to Chevy maintenance, there's nobody in the business who knows more about what your car needs than your Chevy dealer. And like every car, proper preventive maintenance is not only essential to keep your vehicle running smooth, but the right care at the right time can prevent costly breakdowns and extend your vehicle's life. Here's our guide to a long and happy partnership with your Chevy. more Oil Changes Perhaps the most frequent service your Chevy will need throughout its lifetime is the humble oil change. Motor oil lubricates the engine, helps remove debris and particulates that can cause wear and damage over time, and helps exchange excess heat when your Chevy revs hard. Your maintenance team can help you decide how often to change your oil, and what kind of oil to change it with. Battery Service Anyone who's lived through one will tell you that Wisconsin winters are no joke, but what you may not realize is that even the best car batteries tend to degrade their performance in hotter or colder conditions. Routine battery service allows your maintenance team to check your battery and ensure it will run well all year around, or to change it early so you never wind up trying to start a Chevy with a dead battery. Fluid Services Transmission fluid, motor oil, front and rear windshield washer fluid, and more are all crucial in keeping your vehicle operating smoothly and safely. Routinely having your fluid levels checked can make sure you never run into a situation where a critical fluid runs low and performance starts to take a hit, or worse, a safety feature like windshield washers doesn't work at all. Brake Service Your attention and your brakes are the two most critical safety features of all in preventing accidents and mishaps on the road, and while your mechanic team at your Chevy's home dealership can't help with your attention, they're experts at keeping your brakes tuned up so your Chevy can stop on a dime at a moment's notice. Air Filters Both you and your Chevy rely on fresh, clean oxygen to help run your best. And to keep you both in top condition, the cabin and engine air filters in your Chevy will need to be replaced every so often. Your manual will list suggested timeframes, but if you drive in dusty, sandy, or high-pollen environments, you may need to change your filters sooner than expected. Tire Rotation Even with robust and well-built vehicles like your Chevrolet, tires will wear unevenly, both from front to back and from left to right, usually due to uneven weight distribution. Rotating your tires not only ensures even wear but can prevent tires from wearing out prematurely. While your owner's manual will have a suggested maintenance schedule, if your oil is almost expired, performance starts to dip, or you notice a change in your Chevy's performance, it's time to bring it in for a check-up. So book your next maintenance appointment at Larsen Auto Center in Frederic, WI, and let our automotive experts help build you a custom maintenance plan to keep your Chevy in great condition.

Image via Pixabay. Not only is a faulty transmission costly to repair, but it's also dangerous. Slipping gears in a failing transmission can cause your car to suddenly pop into neutral while on the road. If you keep an eye out for the following four major signs of transmission trouble, you'll be able to have your transmission repaired before the problem worsens. And if you're in doubt, always visit your local Chevrolet dealer for a professional opinion. more Gear Slippage Whether you drive an automatic or manual shift, any reduction in the smoothness of your gear changes shouldn't be ignored. When a gearbox runs into problems, you might start finding it stiff when you try to shift gears. Your gears might suddenly move into neutral on their own, or they might even change to random other gears. When gears start misbehaving in this way, it often means your transmission is about to break down. So have a technician take a look right away. Grinding Gears Before things get so bad as to cause gear slippage, you're likely to hear strained grinding noises when you shift gears. This usually means your transmission fluid is old and diminished, so the gears are rubbing against each other with insufficient lubrication. Have your fluid flushed and refreshed and see if that solves the problem. Leaking Transmission Fluid Transmission fluid is vital to the health of your gearbox. It provides lubrication while also cooling and cleaning out the mechanism. If your transmission springs a fluid leak, your car will rapidly run into trouble. Look for reddish, sweet-smelling liquid puddling under your car. Transmission fluid can sometimes leak from an overworked fluid pump. It might also leak from one of the seals or lines, or even the transmission pan, if incorrectly installed. Change Fluid Often At Your Chevrolet Dealer It's important to have transmission fluid flushed every six months. Take this job to a trusted technician who will fasten and install everything properly and alert you if they suspect any developing transmission problems. Clutch Failure Even your clutch might occasionally develop a flaw. The most common experience of clutch failure is called clutch drag. This is where the clutch fails to disengage properly, leading to a jolting, noisy gear change. The cause of this is often a damaged clutch cable. Other clutch issues include the flywheel warping out of shape from overheating. The pressure plate, which clamps the flywheel, can also become damaged by overwork or low lubrication. If the friction between these two parts is reduced, they can no longer grip properly, which creates a dangerous disconnect between your engine and the wheels. Have your clutch, fluid, and gearbox inspected today at Larsen Auto Center. We have an extensive inventory and a team of helpful, knowledgeable professionals on hand.

Image via Pixabay. Many drivers don't know much about the alternator. When it comes to the electrical system, the battery seems to get all the press. The alternator is a mini generator that produces electricity for your car and recharges the battery. Over time, parts of the alternator can become worn or damaged, and you'll need an alternator repair. As your Chevy dealer, we'd like to tell you some signs that you need to visit us for that repair. more Damaged Rectifier The rectifier is a small component in your alternator that converts electricity. The heart of your alternator is a bundle of magnets bound with wire. As your alternator spins, the magnets generate magnetic energy. This energy is captured by the stator and turned into AC. Your car's electrical systems, however, require DC. The purpose of the rectifier is to convert this AC to DC. If your rectifier is damaged, it won't be able to convert the electricity produced by the magnets. Without this conversion, your electrical systems will instantly stop working. Our technicians can check your rectifier for damage and replace it if necessary. A new rectifier will continue the conversion, and your electrical systems will work normally again. Your Alternator Is Old An alternator is a relatively long-lived component, with an average lifespan of eight years. The alternator works continuously while your engine is running to produce electricity. As the alternator ages, parts will wear out or get damaged. This leads to reduced electrical production, which affects your car's electrical systems. Your car's systems have a fixed demand for electricity, and the gradually reducing power supply will cause electrical failures. These problems will eventually extend to the battery and prevent of from fully recharging. Our technicians can test your alternator and replace it with a new one if it's failing Strange Noises As a driver, you're familiar with the sounds of your car. Unusual noises from the engine are always a reason to worry. One of the signs of an alternator problem is strange noises like whining or grinding from the engine compartment. These noises will gradually become louder and louder as the problem progresses. The alternator belt, for example,  is responsible for powering the alternator. It does this by moving at speed over the alternator pulley, which then causes the pulley to spin to power the alternator. The belt can become damaged in time or can jam on a worn pulley. The whining sound you hear could be the fast-moving belt moving over the jammed pulley. Your alternator will always give you a variety of signs that it's failing. If something doesn't feel or sound right, call us right away at Larsen Auto Center.