carburetor barrel the part of the carburetor in which air flows and is mixed with fuel.
caster wheel alignment term referring to the wheel positioning that provides the greatest steering stability.
catalytic converter a mufflerlike afterburner in the tailpipe that burns away unburned or harmful gases.
charging system the system that generates and stores electricity, comprising the fan belt, the alternator (or generator), and the battery.
chassis the frame that supports the body and motor of a car. In some usage, a collective term for all the parts of a car except the body and fenders.
cherry automotive slang for a used car that has been kept in perfect condition.
choke a plate or valve that chokes off the amount of air entering the carburetor to help produce a richer air-fuel mixture for cold starting.
clear coat a nonpigmented, protective coating of paint that improves a base paint's durability and gloss; used on most modern cars.
clutch a coupling that engages and disengages the engine from the transmission to facilitate the changing of gears.
clutch disk at the end of the driveshaft, a spinning plate that is forced against the flywheel when the clutch is engaged.
clutch pedal in a manual transmission, the pedal to the left of the brake that disengages the clutch when pressed.
coil in the ignition system, a transformer that amplifies the voltage from the battery and relays it to the distributor and the spark plugs.
coil springs the large, shock-absorbing springs near the front and sometimes the back wheels.
combustion chamber the space between the piston and the cylinder head, where the fuel-air mixture is compressed and ignited.
compact any small car.
connecting rod the rod that connects the piston to the crankshaft. (Breaking a connecting rod is known as throwing a rod.)
convertible any car with a retractable roof.
coolant an ethyl glycol solution; antifreeze.
cooling system the system that prevents the engine from overheating by cooling and circulating a mixture of coolant and water through water jackets in the engine block. The cooling system comprises the fan, radiator, thermostat, water jackets, and water pump.
coupe a two-door, two-passenger car.
crankcase the lower portion of the engine that surrounds the crankshaft above the oil pan.
cranking engaging the starter and turning over the engine.
crankshaft the main rotating shaft in the engine, with cranks attached to the connecting rods to convert up-and-down motion into circular motion. The crankshaft transmits power from the pistons to the driveshaft.
crankshaft pulley at the front of the crankshaft, a wheel that drives the fan belts and alternator.
creeper the rolling board a mechanic moves around on while lying underneath a car.
cruise control a device that automatically maintains a car's speed at a preset level and is disengaged by the brake.
curtain side airbags airbags that are mounted above side windows in the front and back and inflate in a side impact, protecting passengers from flying glass and from head injuries.
cylinder in the engine block, the hollow pipe in which the piston is housed and moves up and down.
cylinder head above the engine block, the part of the engine that encloses the cylinders and contains the combustion chambers and, in most cases, the valves.
dead axle an axle that does not deliver power to a wheel.
detonation see knocking.
diesel engine an engine without a carburetor that burns diesel oil rather than gasoline.
dieseling a condition (unrelated to diesel engines) in which the engine continues to sputter after the ignition has been turned off. Also known as afterrunning.
differential located between the rear wheels, an arrangement of gears that drives the rear axle and allows each of the wheels to turn at different speeds when cornering.
dipstick a metal stick used to check fluid levels in a fluid reservoir.
disc brake a brake system consisting of two pads that squeeze opposite sides of a rotating disc to slow a car or bring it to a stop.
disk brakes brakes of padded calipers that grab a disk on the wheel to slow or stop the car.
distributor the device that distributes a proportional amount of electricity to each spark plug, in sequence.
distributor cap an insulated cap with a central terminal for the coil wire and a series of outer terminals for the spark plug wires, with voltage delivered to each by the rotor.
double clutching releasing and depressing the clutch while in neutral to facilitate coupling of the fly-wheel and the clutch disk, used mostly in truck- driving.
double-overhead-cam engine an engine having two camshafts in each cylinder head to activate the valves.
downshift to shift to a lower gear to help slow the car and help prevent brake wear.
driveshaft the spinning shaft that transmits power from the transmission to the differential.
drive train collective term for the clutch, transmission, driveshaft, differential, and rear axle.
dual carbs having two carburetors on one engine.
DUI driving under the influence of alcohol.
DWI driving while intoxicated.
dynamometer a device used to measure engine power.
ECU electronic control unit.
electrical system the system that generates, stores, and distributes current to start the car and to power electrical equipment, comprising the alternator, battery, regulator, wiring, ignition distributor, and ignition coil.
electrolyte the battery's mixture of sulfuric acid and water.
engine block the main framework or block containing the cylinders and other engine parts. Also known as the cylinder block.
engine flywheel in manual transmissions, a spinning metal plate at the end of the crankshaft that engages and disengages with the clutch disk.
ethanol an alternative fuel, often made from corn, that can be used to either supplement or replace gasoline.
exhaust manifold a device that, through several passages, receives exhaust gases from the combustion chambers.
exhaust system the system through which exhaust flows, from the exhaust manifold to the catalytic converter to the muffler and out the tailpipe.
fan between the radiator and the engine, a spinning fan that draws cooling air through the radiator.
fan belt the rubber belt that connects the fan with the alternator.
fastback a car with an aerodynamically slanting roof.
firewall the protective, insulated wall dividing the engine compartment from the passenger interior.
Flexcar trade name of a company that, through membership, makes cars available for sharing with others in designated spots throughout major cities in the United States.
flex fuel vehicle any vehicle designed to run on either gasoline or ethanol or a mixture of the two.
float bowl in the carburetor, the reservoir that holds a small quantity of gasoline to be vaporized.