Civilization has blessed us with gadgets that amaze us with how they are developed. One classic innovation is the automobile, and many people feel the need to know its parts.
It never hurts to have at least a basic knowledge of automobiles. Whether you self-repair your car or bring it to the repair center, it pays to know its basic parts.
Knowing the parts of a car ensures you can make knowledgeable decisions on vehicular maintenance.
The basic parts of a car you should acquaint yourself with include:
1. Radiator
The radiator is one of the components of the car engine. Its function is to exchange heat, which means it takes heat away from the coolant in your car’s cooling system. This ensures your car’s engine does not overheat.
The hot coolant is navigated via the radiator, which is one of the most important parts of a car. The coolant can trade heat with the passing air.
Monitor your coolant levels twice annually for basic maintenance on this car part. Substituting your radiator can take a significant part of your day, but it can be done yourself.
If you want to change your radiator, follow a guide to execute the job correctly. While browsing for a guide, reference your auto’s repair manual, as each car is slightly different.
2. AC Compressor
The AC compressor is the part of the car that produces air pressure to pump coolant across your auto’s system.
Without the AC compressor, the air conditioning system will not function.
Tropical heat shows that your air conditioning system is essential to a car. It is a car part you must ensure is always working if you can’t tolerate hot air.
3. Battery
Batteries are undoubtedly one of the most vital parts of a car. Its function is to store energy in chemical form, which is then converted to electrical energy, which activates your car’s electrical parts.
Other mechanical jargon you may encounter when discussing a car battery may include:
- Battery Terminal: A channel or pathway connecting the battery to the car’s electrical system. The battery terminals are of three types, namely: post or top, side, and L
- Battery Capacity: This is the output of a battery’s energy measured in amp/hours
- Cold Cranking Amps: This is shortened CCA, meaning the amount of current that the battery can provide to the car
- Group Size: This refers to the size of the battery. The common group sizes include 24, 24F, 25, 34, 35, 51, 51R, 52, 58, 58R, 59 and 65
- AGM: This abbreviation’s full meaning is Absorbent Glass Mat. This design incorporates sulfuric acid by a fiberglass mat, ensuring the car battery is spill-proof and better at sustaining a charge.
4. Alternator
The alternator is a device that generates electrical energy. Its function is to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy via alternating current.
The alternator provides energy to your car’s electrical system alongside the battery. It is designed to recharge the battery using mechanical energy generated by the motion of the car’s parts.
It isn’t unusual if you observe that your car battery is not functioning or looks swollen.
This may mean that the alternator possibly has a faulty voltage and has charged the battery beyond its capacity.
5. Axle
The axles at the rear and front of the car are cross members supporting the vehicle at the wheel hubs’ attachable points.
Axles are also part of the suspension system’s components. They transfer power from the engine to the wheels via the transmission and differential.
CV axles connect the wheels to the car and support each wheel’s weight. They have interior and exterior joints and a boot on each end. A broken or leaking boot typically triggers CV axle failures.
6. Brakes
Another vital part of a car is the brakes. The brakes are responsible for stopping or slowing down a car and keeping it stationary when stopped or parked.
The two most popular brake systems are disc brakes and drum brake systems.
Some of the most popular disc brake components include:
- Caliper: Refers to the non-rotational components of disc brakes that sit astride the disc. This includes hydraulic components forcing the brake pads against the rotor to slow down or cease the car’s motion. It can be located in the front or rear of a car.
- Brake Pad: The pad contains friction material rubbed against the disc by the caliper to slow down or stop the car’s momentum. It is also a term frequently used for brake lining.
- Brake Rotor: This component is shaped like a disc that rotates with the hub and wheel. The lining pads are rubbed against the rotor to give the brake system a friction surface to slow down or stop a vehicle.
Drum brake systems primarily consist of a brake drum and shoes. The shoes are overlaid with friction material rubbed against the drum’s interior to produce friction and slow down the car.
7. Shock Absorbers
Shock absorbers are hydraulic devices used at every wheel in the suspension system to regulate the vehicle’s body’s upward, downward, and rolling motion.
It does this by slightly moistening the back-and-forth motions or jouncing the springs when the car moves over bumps.
Its function is crucial in contributing to vehicular safety and passengers’ comfort.
The shock absorber is also called a shock or strut, based on which the vehicle is equipped.
A typical shock absorber has three responsibilities:
- Mitigates the impact of spring oscillation to ensure it sustains the ride stabilization of a car
- Regulates body sway
- It lessens the likelihood of a tire tread lifting off the road’s surface, an issue frequently triggered by static unbalance.
8. Transmission
The transmission is a device responsible for a car’s gearing. It creates variable ratios between the engine’s output and a differential’s input.
Automobile transmissions are more sophisticated than bicycle transmissions but provide identical essential functions.
They enable the driver or engine computer to choose smaller or bigger gears to enhance driving conditions without overworking the engine.
There are two kinds of transmission:
- Automatic transmission: It is a transmission in which the gear ratios are alternated automatically via automatic transmission fluid (ATF). The engine computer regulates shifts. Several automatic transmissions are continuously variable (CVT) or shiftless, which can vary smoothly through a continuous range of operative gear ratios.
- Manual transmission: This manually shifted gearing device in the power train enables differentiation on the relationship between engine and road velocity.
9. Catalytic Converter
The catalytic converter is an automotive component of the exhaust system. It is manufactured with stainless steel.
It also contains a catalyst to lessen nitrogen oxide (NOX), hydrocarbon (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions via tailpipe(s).
It is utilized to remove pollutants and reduce the harmful effect of these exhaust gases on the environment.
10. Muffler
The muffler is that part just before the extreme of the exhaust pipe. It is responsible for lessening the noise coming from the exhaust system.
It limits exhaust gas flow, resulting in a quieter ride. Some mufflers limit gas flow more or less, leading to either a quieter or louder exhaust noise.
11. Tailpipe
The tailpipe conveys exhaust fumes from the muffler or catalytic converter to the car’s rear.
12. Fuel Tank
It is usually located at the side of the car, close to the rear. It stores premium motor spirit or gasoline.
13. Tires
These are round and hollow rubber objects into which the wheels of the car fit. They roll to provide motion for the vehicle.
14. Bonnet
This is the front cover that covers the engine of the car.
