Automotive News & Information - CME Smog & Auto Repair

Unless you are confident in your abilities as an automotive mechanic, there is really only one rule when purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle: don’t do it. Unfortunately, sometimes sellers aren’t particularly straight-forward with their used cars. Many will try to hide the fact that it’s been damaged by floodwaters at all or try to convince potential buyers that the car is in fact fine. “It has gone months with no issues” or “technically it is flood-damaged but” are two red flags, and while it isn’t impossible for a flood car to be fine, it’s altogether a good idea to stay away.

At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, we know how easy it is to overlook vehicle maintenance when everything is working as it should - we also know firsthand the toll neglected maintenance takes on a vehicle. Here’s an easy thing you can do yourself, that might save you an engine, transmission, or avoid numerous other problems.

It can be very alarming to hear unusual sounds coming from your vehicle. If you are hearing any humming, whining, or even clunking noises emitting from under your vehicle, it is most likely a transmission issue. Luckily, these noises can help you pinpoint what issue you may be having with your transmission. Some of these issues are minor and can be easily taken care of, but some of them are much more major and may require special attention and service. Read on to see just what your transmission problem may be.

technician holding a clean and dirty air filter comparison in the front seat of a car

When driving around town, your vehicle's engine needs clean air to burn the fuel – and it needs a lot. In fact, a typical vehicle needs about 216,000 gallons of air for every tank of gas. All that air passes through a filter that catches the dust and dirt. Eventually, the filter gets completely full, and because the filter can only hold so much, dirt starts getting through. At CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, we want to help you get the best air quality in your vehicle, but first, we want to explain the process of where this dirty air is going.

When you get in your car, truck, SUV, or minivan to drive and the A/C does not work what could be wrong? Here at CME Smog & Auto Repair, we have some simple answers to help you understand how your vehicle A/C system works. The first question we are asked is "Why isn't my air conditioner blowing cold air?" Let's talk about what could be happening.

An article about routine maintenance probably doesn’t sound like the most riveting read, but at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA, proper maintenance is something we believe in wholeheartedly. Routine maintenance is the key to making a vehicle last for decades; if done correctly, your vehicle will stay reliable and enjoyable to drive, and you will save time and money in the process.

Transmission failure rarely happens out of the blue - there’s a good chance a transmission will give you a good amount of warning before kicking the bucket. Here are some things you can watch out for, from our team here at CME Smog & Auto Repair in Vacaville, CA.

Your car’s fuel system works with the rest of the engine control system to deliver the best performance with the lowest emissions. Check your car’s fuel system regularly or immediately if you smell gas or suspect a problem.

What does it do? - The fuel system transfers fuel from the fuel tank and passes it through a fuel filter for straining before it arrives at the injectors. A pressure regulator controls fuel pressure to ensure good engine performance under a variety of speed and load conditions. Fuel injectors, when activated, spray a metered amount of fuel into the engine. Some vehicles use a return line system to return unused fuel back to the tank.