The time to know if your brakes are going bad is NOT when you go to stop at that red light or on the parkway when someone suddenly swerves in front of you.  It's not always "just" brake pads either, your brake master cylinder could be an issue. How do you recognize the signs that you have a real problem with your brake master cylinder and just what is it?   Here atCME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA we not only have the answers, but we also put together a service schedule for you and keep an eye on issues based on your driving habits, vehicle type and your description of issues you are having.  We treat your car, truck or SUV as if it were ours keeping you informed of issues we find so you can get them fixed "before" there are larger repair bills so you can keep your vehicle Newer - Longer!   Below is everything you need to look for and tips on your brake master cylinder.

If you drive a car with a manual transmission, you’ve undoubtedly been told that you’re supposed to downshift to slow down, instead of relying completely on the brakes. But what is the science behind that, and does it matter? CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville explains.

The key to maintaining a healthy transmission is understanding how it works. Here’s the rundown on shifting your car, truck, or SUV into park before it stops, from the professional technicians at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville.

Exhaust systems are one of the most neglected aspects of most vehicles. Exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, and mufflers are exposed to heat, emissions, and road damage. While your exhaust system is fairly simple and straightforward, these conditions mean it is inherently prone to rust and damage. As a result, this system is often one of the first systems you will have trouble with on your car.

“Water pump” is a term you’ve most likely heard in conversations about vehicles. But what is it, what does it actually do, and how do you know if you need a new one? At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we know the answers to these questions, and soon you will too.

Exhaust systems are one of the most neglected aspects of most vehicles. Exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, and mufflers are exposed to heat, emissions, and road damage. While your exhaust system is fairly simple and straightforward, these conditions mean it is inherently prone to rust and damage. As a result, this system is often one of the first systems you will have trouble within your car.

We know you’re busy. At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, 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 that a huge part of the ride quality of your car, truck, or SUV is how well it keeps road and engine noises out of the passenger compartment. Few things are more annoying on a long commute or road trip than the drone of tires on pavement, the constant sound of your car battling the air outside, loud semi-trucks, and so on.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, we know how irritating an issue with your car, truck, or SUV can be, even if it doesn’t immediately affect your vehicle’s performance. One such problematic issue, the excessively loud radiator cooling fan, is a common plague many automobile owners will experience.

If you drive a car, truck, or SUV with a manual transmission, you may have heard the term “pilot bearing” or “pilot bushing” before. At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we know that the first step to keeping your vehicle maintained is knowing something about how it works. Here’s some helpful information on the pilot bearing, and how to know if yours needs to be replaced.

Transmissions may experience an array of issues, some more serious (or annoying) than others. Since transmissions play a vital role in the operation of your vehicle, it's important to know what to look out for. If your transmission is shuddering, here’s some advice from our team here at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA.

Transmissions may experience an array of issues, some more serious (or annoying) than others. Since transmissions play a vital role in the operation of your vehicle, it's important to know what to look out for. If your transmission is shuddering, here’s some advice from our team here at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA.

One of the most annoying sounds known to man is a loud squeal every time you start your car, truck, or SUV. What causes this, and what can you do to fix it? CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA has the answer.

If you drive a standard shift car, truck, or SUV, there’s a good chance reliability was a factor in your decision to get a stick shift. However, from time to time, even a manual transmission needs to be serviced; when it does, CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville has you covered.

While keeping your car, truck, or SUV looking nice is important, there are other reasons to keep the exterior of your vehicle in good shape. From CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, here are some tips for keeping your car looking good, and how that keeps it reliably on the road.

Here at CME Smog & Auto Repair, we are always striving to provide Vacaville, CA drivers with the highest quality products. That’s why we proudly work with Jasper Engines and Transmissions. JASPER is a leader in the nation for remanufacturing engines and drivetrain products at a price point that is affordable. Their latest offering is no exception. JASPER recently announced that they have expanded their remanufactured Chrysler 68RFE transmission product line. This remanufactured transmission is available for both 2WD and 4WD 2019 RAM 2500-3500 diesel applications.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair we offer only the best products to our Vacaville drivers, that’s why we’re excited to announce the newest offering from Jasper Engines & Transmissions. JASPER is the nation’s leader in remanufactured engines and drivetrain products and now they are offering Ford/International 7.3L/444TE Diesel Cylinder Heads.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we are proud to partner with Jasper Engines and Transmissions as we are always looking for ways to provide our drivers with only the highest quality of service and products. JASPER recently announced the availability of a turbocharger for the 2011-2017 Nissan Juke that is equipped with a 1.6L engine.

Once your transmission has been replaced and you’re shifting smoothly once more, you’ll probably want to keep it running smoothly. Here are some tips from CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA to help keep you reliably on the road.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we know that the difference between a vehicle that runs for 80,000 miles and a vehicle that makes it to 400,000 miles depends on one thing; maintenance. Here are a few tips to avoid some of the most notorious vehicle killers out there.