At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, we know that transmissions are witchcraft to most people. More often than not, if major damage has occurred, it’s a lot more time and cost effective to just replace the entire unit and get a fresh start. Here’s what to look out for, from CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA.

Losing a belt on the road can turn a small problem into a big one instantly. At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we know efficient and cost-effective operation begins with preventative maintenance.

On all modern vehicles, electronic engine controls have truly changed the game in terms of performance, efficiency, and reliability. On diesel trucks, whether you drive a Chevy, Dodge, or Ford, this innovation has been particularly revolutionary. The gains diesel engines have made in the past couple of decades are impressive by any standard, and electronic engine controls are a huge contributor to those developments.

A huge part of what the hydraulic system in your transmission does is tell the mechanical components what to do and when to do it. Even if you don't understand how that works, our technicians at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA have trained with the best to make sure they understand all the ins and outs of your system. We want you to understand what we're talking about when we talk to you about your vehicle so we'll break down some aspects of your hydraulic system. 

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we know you’re busy. We also know that while there are certain issues with your car, truck, or SUV you can ignore for a while, some of them shouldn’t wait. While serious issues are often obvious, sometimes they aren’t - ball joints are one such case.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we know you’re busy. We also know that while there are certain issues with your car, truck, or SUV you can ignore for a while, some of them shouldn’t wait. While serious issues are often obvious, sometimes they aren’t - ball joints are one such case.

If you drive a car, truck, or SUV with a manual transmission, the pressure plate is an integral part of your vehicle. From CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, here’s what you need to know.

Have you always wondered what a spark plug does? Our team here at CME Smog & Auto Repair is here to help you out. It's simple in theory but does quite a lot of work for such a small piece of equipment. Your spark plug forces electricity to arc across a gap like a bolt of lightning at high voltage and fits into your engine's cylinder head, where it “sparks” to ignite the fuel and creates combustion within your engine. Without it, you wouldn't be able to drive your car or truck. 

On modern vehicles, the PCV system (Positive Crankcase Ventilation System) is essential to ensuring your car or truck is ready to go when you are and remains a long-lasting, reliable vehicle. It’s much more than just emissions control - your PCV system serves multiple purposes and is quite interesting! How does it work, and what are those purposes?  Here at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, we have those answers for you!

On modern vehicles, the PCV system (Positive Crankcase Ventilation System) is essential to ensuring your car or truck is ready to go when you are and remains a long-lasting, reliable vehicle. It’s much more than just emissions control - your PCV system serves multiple purposes and is quite interesting! How does it work, and what are those purposes?  Here at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, we have those answers for you!

Routine services are routine for a good reason. Schedule them with us here so we can be sure that your vehicle stays in the best shape. Here’s a look into what happens when routine services aren’t performed, from CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, our goal is to keep your car, truck, or SUV shifting and riding as smoothly as it did the day it rolled off the lot. A big part of that is the mounting hardware that keeps the moving parts in your drivetrain running smooth.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, our goal is to keep your car, truck, or SUV shifting and riding as smoothly as it did the day it rolled off the lot. A big part of that is the mounting hardware that keeps the moving parts in your drivetrain running smooth.

Many cars, particularly models produced between the 1970s and the 1990s, utilize cable clutch designs instead of hydraulics to operate the clutch. Here’s a brief explanation of clutch cable systems, from CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville.

Do you hear a funny clicking sound when you turn the wheels of your vehicle? It could be your car or truck's CV or Drive Axle, and it may be in need of repair. Safety is the number one priority for our customers here at CME Smog & Auto Repair, and it is our goal to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Driving around with a damaged CV Joint or Drive Axle problem can be extremely dangerous. The axle is a structural component that bears the weight of the vehicle, any cargo, and the acceleration forces between you and the ground. It is so important to have your vehicle inspected regularly by a trained automotive repair professional here at CME Smog & Auto Repair to ensure its safety.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, routine maintenance and repair isn’t the only thing we do. For custom parts installation, you can also count on us. Common modification enthusiasts do is swapping to a short-throw shifter; but what actually is a short-throw shifter, and what does it do?

“Transfer case” is a term you may have heard in discussions about transmissions. But what is it, and what does it do? CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville wants to keep you up to date and knowledgeable in your vehicle. Different aspects of your vehicle provide different issues and solutions.

Whether you drive a Chevrolet, Dodge, or Ford diesel pickup, maintenance and repair performed the correct way is a huge part of keeping you on the road. At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, we use ASE certified technicians to make sure you get the best service in the industry.

You may occasionally hear the term “transaxle” used in place of “transmission” for your car or SUV. Is there a difference, and if so, what is it? CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville is here to help.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, we know buying a used car, truck, or SUV can be a gamble. While there are no guarantees, there are key points of inspection that tell us a lot about the condition of a vehicle and how it has been maintained. There are some important points of the inspection we verify when checking out a used vehicle.