What are the Major Components of a Car?

Most people don’t think about car parts or the importance of the functionality of a car’s components, until something fails, and they become abandoned by their car. The truth is, every car is built with hundreds of individual parts, and when one part fails, many times other parts will begin to fail due to the interdependency of the parts. Much like the human body, car parts are arranged into several systems, each serving a unique purpose.

Below you will learn about the major components of your car and what to if you sense your car isn’t running at optimal performance.

Engine. The engine is the equivalent to a beating heart in the human body. Your engine relies on internal combustion, which is when fuel burns inside the cylinders, which contain pistons. A piston is a solid-shaped cylinder made out of metal which moves up and down when gasoline is pulled inside. This creates a spark through your car’s spark plug that literally causes the gasoline to explode, and this explosion is what pushes the piston down again into the cylinder. This movement turns the car’s crankshaft. And finally, when the piston moves up again, it forces out the exhaust gases, which is your car’s byproduct.

Fuel System. When gasoline is mixed with air it creates an even greater explosion. Your car’s fuel pump pulls the gasoline up from the gas tank towards the rear of the car. This may be done either with the carburetor or by the fuel-injection system, depending on the type of car you have. Either does the job of mixing gasoline with air, producing a fine mist inside the cylinders. This is the last stop before your engine makes its boom sound.
 

Exhaust System. After the fuel is burned in the pistons, the gases become heated and must be released from the cylinder to make room for the next uptake of fuel. Your car’s exhaust system also has the job of reducing noise caused by the explosion of fuel. Every car’s exhaust system has an exhaust valve that channels the exhaust through the exhaust pipe, muffler, and tailpipe.

Cooling System. The cooling system maintains the overall temperature of your engine. When your ‘check engine’ light is activated, this is the equivalent to taking your temperature when you become sick and this warning system can let you know if there is a problem. The explosions from your car’s fuel can make cylinders produce temperatures as high as 4000°F (2204°C). This becomes cooled with the help of your car’s antifreeze and water solution. This fluid gets pumped into the radiator to keep your car’s engine at optimal temperatures. A fan is also attached to the radiator, which uses wind created by the movement of your car to cool down your car’s engine even more. Temperature sensors in the engine control the operation of the cooling system so that the engine remains within its optimal temperature range.

Lubrication. Without proper lubrication, (oil in your car), the heat and friction created by the rapid movements of the engine would quickly fail. The crankcase, at the base of the engine, is where your car’s oil is stored. A pump, powered by the engine, carries oil from the crankcase to various parts of the engine. The crankcase also helps cool down the oil as it becomes quite hot from the engine. One of the biggest reasons for engine failures is due to having dirty oil and infrequent oil changes on a regular basis. It’s important to make sure you use quality oil and change it frequently to ensure your car has the proper lubrication that it needs.

Electrical System. Electricity is needed for your car’s headlights to work as well as the automatic windows, automatic seats, mirror adjustments, and for the radio to work. But another reason why cars need electricity is for the electrical spark to ignite the fuel in the cylinders. Your car’s electrical system is comprised of the starter, the battery, alternator, distributor, ignition coil, and the ignition switch. All components must be functioning in order for an electric current to be generated. Every time you turn the key, the ignition switch draws electricity from the battery, which activates the ignition coil, creating a powerful magnetic field. This powerful current is then distributed by the Distributor and everything is perfectly timed so the cylinders, pistons and the crankshaft, can all work smoothly together.

Transmission. Cars are built with one of two types of transmissions: Either they are manual or automatic. Most people prefer driving automobiles that are automatic since manual vehicles are called “stick shifts” and have an external clutch and gear shift that must be operated manually instead of automatically. Signs of a transmission failure are that the car may shake when you try to accelerate. Additionally, you may notice a burning smell, hear a grinding sound when the car shifts gear, experience a dragging clutch or your car simply won’t shift gears when it normally should. You can prevent transmission failures by keeping your transmission fluid flushed as needed, avoid riding the brakes, and stopping the car completely before shifting from reverse into drive.

Chassis. The chassis is the framework and body of the car that supports it’s weight and structure. It needs to be strong yet flexible in order to sustain shocks and tension caused by the operations of your engine, the weight of the car, and road conditions. Your wheels are attached to the chassis as well as the car’s steering assembly, brakes, and the total suspension and weight of the car. The steering wheel is attached to the steering column, and the car’s gear assembly is attached to the front axle by tie rods. The axle is connected to the hubs of the wheels. When your car is out of alignment, you will feel your steering pull to one side or you may notice shaking at high speeds due to problems with the car’s chassis. New tires that are properly inflated not only is beneficial for your car’s balance and structure, but it will also improve your car’s fuel efficiency.

The main components of the suspension system are the springs and the shock absorbers. The springs suspend the automobile above the wheel, absorbing the bumps in the road surface. As the chassis bounces on the springs, the shock absorbers act to dampen, or quiet, the movement of the springs.

To learn more about how to take care of your car, and search for the best deals on car parts, please visit www.UpliftCarsAndTrucks.com