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It's really quite amazing how an ignition coil can continually transform the alternator's meager 13 or 14 volts into a staggering 25,000 to 40,000 volts for the spark plugs. This high voltage is required to ignite each combustion chamber's fuel-air mixture several times a second. So if one of your ignition coils falters, your engine will struggle too. Here are six signs you have a faulty ignition coil and should visit your local Chevy dealer to repair or replace it. Does Your Chevy Have a Faulty Ignition Coil? You're Idling Roughly When an ignition coil stops providing the spark plug with sufficient voltage, that spark plug will begin misfiring. This causes the engine to cough and shake, especially when you slow down at traffic lights or while parking. If your engine starts to struggle while idling, consider having both your spark plugs and ignition coils checked by a technician. You're Losing Acceleration power The steady electrical flow provided by your ignition coils allows your engine to power happily along. So when one or more coils stop doing their job, you'll notice a sudden reduction in acceleration power. The normally responsive gas pedal of your car will be packing a little less punch than usual. Your Exhaust Is Backfiring Misfiring inside the combustion chambers can lead to a variety of other problems. As the bad ignition coil fails to provide the proper sparking voltage, an excess of unburned fuel builds up inside the chamber. This excess fuel might begin igniting in a delayed manner, just as the cylinder is opening. This off-beat explosion will be heard as a loud bang. The unburned fuel can also begin to escape through the exhaust system, where it might ignite inside the catalytic converter, causing an even louder backfire and costly damage to your car. You Notice Smoke Behind You As the excess of unburned fuel escapes through the exhaust system, it often emerges in the form of black smoke. So if you ever notice thick smoke coming from your car's tailpipe, pull over and check your spark plugs and ignition coils. Your Check Engine Light Warns You When ignition coils fail, the sensors inside your engine will usually quickly pick up the ensuing engine problems. And you'll soon see the check engine light come to life on your instrument panel. Your Chevy Dealer Finds a Fault Regular checkups at your local dealership are a crucial part of good car maintenance. While servicing your vehicle, the technicians will often find problems that you might not yet have noticed. So if your technician shows you how one of your ignition coils is on its last legs, request to have it cleaned or replaced before it causes any of the problems outlined above. Visit Crain Chevrolet to have experienced professionals examine your engine's ignition coils today. We provide personalized customer service and top-notch vehicles to the region's Chevy drivers.

A healthy catalytic converter is important for your car. It allows your engine to operate efficiently while preventing toxic chemicals from being released into the atmosphere from combustion. Over time, the converter can become damaged or fail, and you'll need to visit your Chevy dealer. These are some of the signs that your converter is failing. Signs You Need a New Catalytic Converter From Your Chevy Dealer Check Engine Light Illuminates An illuminated check engine light is always a sign of trouble. The light connects to your car's computer, and it's activated if one of your engine sensors detects a problem with a component. If your converter develops a problem, a sensor will inform our computer of the problem, and the light will illuminate. Your computer logs this problem with an error code to speed up diagnosis. If your converter is blocked or failing, this will create problems. A blocked converter forces combustion gases back into the engine instead of into the exhaust system. These gases increase the pressure in the engine and can cause it to shut down. A failed converter will trigger the light by allowing toxic gases to escape the exhaust. We'll connect your car to our diagnosis system to identify the problem and then we'll repair it. Rotten Egg Smell Hydrogen sulfide is a corrosive and toxic chemical that's created during combustion. It has a strong stench of rotten eggs. When your converter is working correctly, hydrogen sulfide is converted into harmless sulfur dioxide. If you smell rotten eggs when you're driving, the only possible causes are a failing car battery or a damaged converter. A damaged converter will cause the exhaust to emit black exhaust smoke. This smoke is filled with harmful chemicals and will cause your car to fail an emissions test. There are several reasons for a damaged converter, including a high fuel-air mixture in the engine, failed oxygen sensors, or simply due to age. We'll examine your converter and install a new one to fix the problem. Rattling From the Converter Converting harmful gases requires a large surface area. The converter isn't a large component, but it has a honeycomb interior that maximizes its space. A honeycomb is strong, but it can become damaged due to age. The constant high pressure and temperature in the converter can take their toll on this structure, and it can develop cracks. The pressure and heat will cause cracks to expand, and pieces of the honeycomb can break off. These pieces will rattle around inside the converter as your car moves. This situation will get worse as the missing sections weaken the remainder of the structure. We can't repair a damaged honeycomb, but we can replace the converter to fix this problem. If your converter seems to be failing, call us at Crain Chevrolet.