Automotive Industry News & Information - CME Smog & Auto Repair

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we’re fans of drivers who tweak and customize their vehicles to meet specific wants and needs. For many car enthusiasts, a manual transmission is a must, and the performance of that transmission relies heavily on the clutch.

rusted car with smoke coming out of exhaust

The exhaust on your truck is an important series of components, that work together to ensure smooth, reliable operation. At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we also know that exhaust systems are especially susceptible to damage and rust; pipes, mufflers, and other parts are exposed to hazards on the road, and to the environment. This situation, combined with caustic emissions and extreme heat, creates a perfect opportunity for problems to arise.

Here at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville we often do diagnostics and sometimes the problem is obvious after hooking the car up to the computer and reading the codes. However, sometimes it isn't obvious during a test drive or after hooking it up to all those computer programs! You know there is a problem and a Check Engine Light is on with the fleet customer telling you the car has been having issues starting and the light has been going off and on depending on several factors. No pattern, no simple answer but the problem becomes obvious when you start following the "threads of the issue" thanks to all that ASE Technician training.

If you’re ever in a situation where you must remove the battery from your vehicle, it’s important to know what you’re doing. It seems pretty straight forward, and it is. However, there are some important things to remember when disconnecting the battery in your car, truck, or SUV. Here are some tips on disconnecting a car battery, from CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA.

Over the past decade, vehicles with CVTs, or Continuously Variable Transmissions, seem to have taken over the market. While many people have different opinions on CVT transmissions, what are they, and how do they work? CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville has a simple explanation for you.

Stress while driving is commonplace no matter where or when you’re driving. It’s very easy to become angry due to other drivers and even yourself, but it’s just as easy to avoid road rage and the stress altogether.

Judging by the number of near-rear-endings we witness on our morning commutes, the typical attitude toward brake maintenance appears to be, “Brakes: Don’t let them stop you!” This puzzles us because monitoring your braking system’s health is one of the most straightforward aspects of car ownership. You do have to know what to look for, though, or rather, what to listen and feel for. So let us, uh, break it down for you. Here are the top three signs that your brakes need fixing.

Sometimes it is EASY to see if your car or truck needs to come into our shop for professional repairs!
1. You see steam rising from the engine!
2. The Check Engine Light is on!
3. The engine starts, but there is an odor that is not right.
4. You hear grinding or thumping noises.