Common Car Dictionary
Cars are an integral part of modern life and there is a wide variety of terminology associated with them. Here is a brief guide to some of the words you might come across when discussing cars.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: Automatic transmission is a type of transmission used in automobiles which switches between gears without the need for a driver to manually shift.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE: All wheel drive (AWD) is a type of vehicle drivetrain that allows all four wheels of a vehicle to receive torque from the engine simultaneously.
BALANCE SHAFT: Balance shafts are secondary rotating assemblies used in engine designs to cancel out the vibrations caused by some of the engines reciprocating components.
CAMSHAFT: A camshaft is a rod with a series of lobes or cams that control the opening and closing of the valves in an internal combustion engine.
CARBURETOR: A carburetor is a device which mixes air and fuel in the right proportions to enable efficient combustion in a gasoline engine.
CV JOINT: A constant velocity joint (CV joint) is a primary component of the driveshaft of an automobile. It transmits torque from the transmission to the wheel hub, allowing the wheel to spin at varying speeds and directions.
DISC BRAKES: Disc brakes are a type of braking system in which discs, typically made of cast iron, are attached to the wheel hub.
ENGINE BLOCK: An engine block is the fundamental component which makes up an internal combustion engine. It is usually made from cast iron or aluminum alloy and contains the cylinders, valves, and other important components of the engine.
FUEL INJECTOR: A fuel injector is a device which atomizes fuel and injects it into an engine cylinder, allowing for a more efficient combustion process.
HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS: Halogen headlights are a type of automotive lighting which use halogen gas filled bulbs to produce a brighter light than standard incandescent bulbs.
IGNITION SYSTEM: An ignition system is composed of a series of components which work together to supply the spark needed to ignite the fuel-air mixture in an engine cylinder.
JACK: A jack is a device used to lift a car off the ground for maintenance or repair.
KICK-DOWN LINKAGE: Kick-down linking is a type of automatic transmissionlinkage that reduces the transmissions gear ratio when the accelerator is depressed.
LUG NUTS: Lug nuts are the fasteners which hold a wheel in place.
MUFFLER: A muffler is a device which reduces the noise created by an exhaust system.
NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH: A neutral safety switch is a device which prevents a vehicle from starting if the gear selector is not in neutral.
OIL FILTER: An oil filter is a device which removes impurities and contaminants from the engine oil.
POWER STEERING: Power steering is a type of automotive steering system which uses a powered rear axle and gear set to reduce the effort required to turn the wheels of the vehicle.
QUICK CHANGE GEARBOX: A quick change gearbox is a type of transmission which allows drivers to quickly change gear ratios while the vehicle is in motion.
RADIATOR: A radiator is a device which transfers heat away from the engine by circulating coolant through a series of tubes.
SPEEDOMETER: A speedometer is a device used to measure the speed of a vehicle.
TURBOCHARGER: A turbocharger is a device which increases the power of an engine by forcing in more air and allowing for more efficient combustion.
U-JOINT: A U-joint is a type of flexible joint which allows power to be transmitted from one point to another in a vehicle with minimal disruption.
VALVE: A valve is a device which opens and closes to allow air or fuel to enter or depart from an engine.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT: Wheel alignment is the process of ensuring that the cars wheels are all pointing in the right direction.
XENON HEADLIGHTS: Xenon headlights are a type of automotive lighting which use gas-filled bulbs to produce a bright, white light.
YAW SENSOR: A yaw sensor is a device which measures the rate at which a vehicle turns in relation to a fixed point.
ZERO GAP SPARK PLUGS: Zero gap spark plugs are spark plugs which are designed to have no gap between the center electrode and ground electrode. This ensures that the spark is more likely to jump across the gap and ignite the fuel in the combustion chamber.
