Do you ever think about how your car works? Do you know what parts are most important? It’s essential for a responsible vehicle owner to have basic knowledge and understanding about the vehicle he or she drives. Here are the most important car parts you should educate yourself about in case you run into some unexpected issues.
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Basic Knowledge of Automobile Parts
The Battery
Without the battery, your car isn’t going to turn on. You may want to keep that in good condition.
Axles
Without them, your wheels wouldn’t be able to rotate.
Brakes
This is something you need to be very careful with. If your brakes start to squeak when you push down on the pedal, it may be time to get them replaced.
Pistons
Ideal, these should pump smoothly and quickly. They handle all gasoline explosions, so keep those in check. This is what determines your vehicle’s horsepower.
The Fuel Injector
This is what gets gas from your fuel tank into the engine. It is the carburetor’s successor.
The Radiator
The radiator 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, the radiator is what is most likely at fault.
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 Clutch
The clutch 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 the clutch, the car would stall.
The Engine Fan
These help keep air flowing over the radiator, which makes the cooling of the engine coolant process easier.
A Spare Tire
This isn’t technically a car part, but it should be common sense for you to keep one in your car at all times. Towing your car is never fun.
A Car Jack
Yes, once again… with a spare tire but no tools, the process may be a bit tricky.
Shock Absorbers
These help keep your wheels’ grip on the road, and help, well, absorb shock, to make your ride smoother. Shock absorbers are actually very important for many reasons, which we will discuss in Tips & Education.
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 transmission.
The Spark Plug
This is what starts the car by using an electrical spark ignite fuel into the engine’s ignition.
Air Filter
The air filter will keep your AC from causing you to sneeze or get allergies. Keep it clean to keep yourself dust-free.
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 muffler didn’t tone it down.
The Catalytic Converter
This helps reduce emission from your vehicle.
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 Pressure Gauge
This is once again technically not a car part, but this will help inflate your tires properly and help avoid flat tires. They also help reduce your gas consumption.