Get to know Cars

Pistons

Ideally, these should pump smoothly and quickly. They handle all gasoline explosions, so keep those in check. This is what determines your vehicle's horsepower.

Timing Belt

Part of an internal combustion engine that synchronizes the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft so that the engine's valves open and close at the proper times during each cylinder's intake and exhaust strokes

Air Filter

This will keep your AC from causing you to sneeze or get allergies. Keep it clean to keep yourself dust-free.

Battery

Without this, your car isn't going to turn on. Keep this in good condition.

Control Arm (A arms)

These are the core of your front suspension system. They are the link that connects your front wheels to your car. One end connects to the wheel assembly, the other end connects to the framework of your car.

The Engine Fan

These help keep air flowing over the radiator, which makes the cooling of the engine coolant process easier.

Shock Absorbers

These help keep your wheels' grip on the road, and help, well, absorb shock, to make your ride smoother.

Transfer Case

These transfer energy from the front wheels to the rear wheels. Also mounts rear differential to transmission.

The Alternator

This charges the vehicle's battery while the engine is running. This is why your lights can kill your battery if you leave them on when the engine isn't running.

The Catalytic Converter

This helps reduce emission from your vehicle.

Caliper

This houses your car's break pads and pistons. It's job is to slow the car's wheels b creating friction with the break rotors.

Differential

This is a gear train with three shafts that allows the powered-wheels to turn at different speeds

Drive Shaft

This transmits torque and rotation, usually connect other components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement between them.

Transmission

This turns power into movement. The energy generated by the engine is transmitted to the wheels and allows movement with the use of the ________.

The Clutch

This is moved from gear to gear to keep you driving smoothly. It allows you to switch gears, and when you push down on the pedal, it allows transmission to keep running when the car is in neutral. Without this, the car would stall. (Manual Vehicles)

Brakes

This is something you need to be very careful with. If these start to squeak when you push down on the pedal, it may be time to get them replaced.

The Fuel Injector

This is what gets gas from your fuel tank into the engine. It is the carburetor's successor.

The Muffler

This is what keeps your car from making an uncontrollable ruckus. The gas coming from the combustion in the pistons of the engine would generate very loud noises straight into the exhaust valves if the __________ didn't tone it down.

The AC Compressor

This is what puts the Freon into the air conditioning system, under high pressure, to then pass it down the line. Without this, your summer days are going to be hot.

The Spark Plug

This is what starts the car by using an electrical spark ignite fuel into the engine's ignition.

The Radiator

This keeps the engine from overheating. The coolant gives off heat into the air before going back into the engine to pick up more heat. If your car has overheating issues, this is what is most likely at fault.

Constant Velocity (CV) Axle

This takes power from the vehicle's transmission and differential and transfers it to the wheels, allowing the vehicle to drive forward.

Axels

Without them, your wheels wouldn't be able to rotate.