Automotive News & Information - CME Smog & Auto Repair

Have you always wondered what a spark plug does? 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.

The spark plug must have an insulated passageway for this high voltage to travel down to the electrode, where it can jump the gap and, from there, be conducted into the engine block and grounded. The plug also has to withstand the extreme heat and pressure inside the cylinder, and must be designed so that deposits from fuel additives do not build up on the plug. Spark plugs use a ceramic insert to isolate the high voltage at the electrode, ensuring that the spark happens at the tip of the electrode and not anywhere else on the plug; this insert does double-duty by helping to burn off deposits. Ceramic is a fairly poor heat conductor, so the material gets quite hot during operation. This heat helps to burn off deposits from the electrode.

HISTORY TRIVIA: 171 years ago this month, the first known spark plug was invented by Edmond Berger, historians say. Unfortunately, Berger failed to patent his spark plug invention, so documented history points to Sir Oliver Lodge of England, whose sons parlayed the “Lodge Igniter” into a profitable company founded in 1903.

What a beauty. This JASPER Remanufactured Ford 302 engine is very cool, it includes custom paint, intake and valve covers. Plus a 3 Year | 100,000 Mile Nationwide Parts & Labor Warranty. Stop by and talk to us here at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville about your vehicle restoration project or any car or truck engine that you are having issues with. If we can't fix it then a JASPER remanufactured engine may be a great fit for you. BUILT IN THE USA - Celebrating 75 Years in 2017!

Yes, this is an easy diagnosis once you SEE it. However, most drivers don't look at the tire tread so lifting the hood and checking out the belts and hoses let alone thinking about a water pump simply isn't going to happen. That's why our Vacaville drivers depend on CME Smog & Auto Repair to keep their maintenance up to date and ensure this never happens.

So how do you know if you have a bad water pump? What are the signs? A major red light may start flashing in your driveway when you see a pool of liquid under your car when you are not running the A/C. If it looks like coolant on the pavement there is a problem. If you are driving down the road and your temperature gauge is is going up instead of remaining stead, there is a problem because your water pump will keep the temperature at a fairly stable range. If your dash light comes on it's another indicator that there is an issue. If you experience any of these issues, schedule an appointment or give us a call here at CME Smog & Auto Repair promptly to avoid major repairs and a water pump that looks like this!

We have had many customers who needed a transmissions they could depend on over the years when they had issues and now we have the solution here at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville thanks to JASPER Engines & Transmissions! Just announced is the addition of their Chrysler 65RFE-66RFE remanufactured transmission for the 2012 through current model year for: Dodge Durango - Jeep Grand Cherokee - RAM 1500, 2500, & 3500 trucks! Backed by a 3 Year | 100,000 Mile Nationwide Parts & Labor Warranty which is one of the many reasons we recommend them.

We now have a superior solution for the transmission issues in the 2014-2015 model GMC - Chevrolet 1500 series, Suburban, Tahoe, & Yukon trucks and SUV's with our partner JASPER Engines & Transmissions who has delivered a superior GM 6L80E Expanded Transmission product line! Just announced is the availability of the remanufactured 6-speed transmission for these models which will allow our drivers to KEEP their vehicles longer! Buying a new Yukon, Tahoe, Suburban or 1500 series is simply not cost effective when you can replace it with a 3 Year | 100,000 Mile Nationwide Parts & Labor Warranty product like JASPER with a 75 year history of working harder and smarter to ensure higher quality remanufacturing of engines, transmissions, and differentials.

This is the day you want to have your car or truck in tip-top condition! Seriously, the drive-thru here in Vacaville is exactly what we feel the American car or truck was made for. The perfect family event is going out for that great burger and fries and everyone piling in with big smiles. Here at CME Smog & Auto Repair we hope you didn't miss this great occasion and made the most of it! Some fun facts:

Don't let your tires get to this point! Tires are a very important part of most of our daily lives. They get us where we are going and make sure all the goods we need every day also arrive safely. Be sure to keep your vehicle’s tire on your mind and check on them regularly! Our expert mechanics at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville are able to help diagnose and solve any issues you may be having. Give us a call or come by today!

We strive to be the best in Vacaville, CA. Part of that is providing our customers with the most concise and up-to-date knowledge available. Here are a few quick tips we'd like to share with you to keep your car running in the best condition possible. Don't hesitate to come by and see us with any and all questions you may have. CME Smog & Auto Repair is here to help!