Your Basic Car Parts

Parts Of Your Car

Air cleaner/filter: Air is drawn through it. Contains a filter that blocks dirt before it can enter the engine.

Air intake manifold: Air is distributed into the combustion chamber.

Alternator: Takes over from the battery when the engine is running. Recharges the battery and supplies power to all electrical components.

Battery: Supplies the initial electrical power that starts the engine.

Carburetor: Most new cars now have fuel injected engines. Older vehicles have carburetors. This gadget mixes air and fuel in the proper ratio for burning in the engine's combustion chambers.

Coolant reservoir (tank): Holds hot coolant (antifreeze) that overflows from the radiator and also draws back into the radiator as it is needed.

Distributor: Distributes high voltage electricity to the spark plugs, one at a time.

Exhaust manifold: Set of pipes, one for each cylinder that conducts exhaust away from cylinders.

Fuel injection system: Sprays controlled amount of fuel directly into either the intake manifold or combustion chambers, resulting in a very precise air to fuel ratio that improves fuel economy.

Muffler: The interior "baffles" and tubes quiet the explosive release of exhaust.

Suspension system: This system receives a great deal of punishment from the roads. This system consists of shock absorbers, Struts, springs, and motor mounts, tires, tie rods, ball joints, control arms, torsion bar, strut rods, spindle, axles.

Power steering reservoir: This reservoir contains fluid for your power steering system. Once the reservoir cap is unscrewed the cap will consist of a dip stick. This will identify the fluid levels.

Brake fluid reservoir: The brake fluid level can be inspected by the plastic box or bottle by the fire wall on the driver side.

Disc brakes: A metal disk that spins with the wheel that the brake pad uses to pressure against to stop.

Oil dip stick: The stick that's used to check the level of the motor oil.

Rear Axle: A shaft that connects the power from the transmission to the wheels.

Radiator: The device that helps to remove heat from the cooling system as coolant passes through it.

Timing Belt: Replace as scheduled if applicable for your vehicle. Timing belts are commonly used on Japanese cars. The timing belt is a rubber belt that drives the engine's internal components. The timing belt is not easily visible and should be replaced at the indicated mileage and time not on visual wear like a normal drive belt. If the timing belt breaks, the engine stops and costly internal engine damage can occur. The water pump on some vehicles is driven by the timing belt, and should be replaced with the timing belt replacement. Consult owner's manual or ask the repair shop if this is the case on your car.

Most of us women don't think we are smart enough to understand how a car's engine works, but they're dead wrong. If a man can understand, so can we. We don't have to know how to fix them, but it helps if we understand them.