Hi-Tech Auto Repair, Pomona

If you want to put specialty springs on your car-whether to raise, lower, or make it more sporty- you should also replace the shocks, too. If you don't replace both, you can wear your existing shocks out and have a less comfortable ride.

If you see some spots of a dark red liquid on your driveway, that's probably your transmission fluid. Because of the pressure under which the transmission fluid operates, it's a good idea to check on any leak immediately.

Though you should consult your owner's manual for information specific to your vehicle, some key areas that require preventative maintenance are; changing the oil regularly, monitoring all fluids, maintaining the engine and transmission, changing spark plugs as required, and changing filters as needed.

Do you know how your car stereo amplifier works? Through a series of inductors, transistors, conductors, resistors, rectifiers and capacitors running through a computer-like circuit board, the electrical signal coming into one end of the amp is boosted and released out the other side to the speakers.

Check your battery posts and connectors. You'll get longer and better battery life if your battery posts are cleaned regularly to prevent corrosion and to guarantee tight connections.

Most drivers are aware of the speedometer and fuel gauge only, but it's important to know what the other dashboard instruments are and what they indicate mean as well. Stopping a car when your dashboard shows that your oil pressure is dropping, or the engine temperature is rising, can avoid catastrophic engine failure.

It's a good idea to let us regularly inspect your vehicle even when you aren't aware of a specific problem. Routine maintenance can catch small problems before they balloon into expensive repair bills.

When your check engine light goes on, it is possible that the issue isn't serious, such as a gasoline cap that wasn't closed properly. But it's smart to let us run a diagnostic check because that light could signal a more serious problem as well.

Are you driving with properly inflated tires? Keeping your tires at the manufacturer's recommended level can save a little more than 3 percent on your gas costs, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

If you come in once or twice a year, or before you set out on a long trip, we can inspect your belts, hoses and filters, as well as the tires and brakes, to make sure there are no problems that should be addressed.

Worn shocks can increase the braking distance needed to stop if you are driving on rough roads. In addition, they can also increase the chances of skidding on wet surfaces, increase tire wear, and have a negative impact on the vehicle's suspension.

Be aware that just because your car battery has a warrantied life-expectancy, doesn't mean it'll last that long. Heat and cold can kill car batteries at any time after a year. The best way to pick a battery is by size and weight for your type of car.

One of the tried and true methods of testing the ability of shock absorbers to perform is the bounce test. Simply push down hard on the front and rear end of the vehicle- if it continues to move more than once or twice after bouncing and releasing, replacement of the shocks may be in order.