Advancing vs. Retarding Ignition Timing: Key Differences
Ignition timing will affect engine performance. Find out how it works and the difference between advancing and retarding here!
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Key Points
- Understanding how car parts work can make you an educated consumer and help you communicate with automotive technicians.
- The engine is the most important part of a vehicle, whether it runs on internal combustion or electric power.
- The battery provides power to start the car and ensures that other electrical components work properly.
- The alternator generates electricity and keeps the battery charged while the car is running.
- The brakes slow down and stop the vehicle, and the radiator helps manage the engine's temperature.
- The transmission transfers the engine's power to the wheels, shock absorbers stabilize the car while driving and the catalytic converter helps regulate emissions.
There are many parts that make up your vehicle, and each one plays a vital role in its operation. It’s thanks to the performance of these components that you’re able to get from place to place. While you may understand these parts are important, you might not understand how they operate.
Knowing how things work under the hood can help make you an educated consumer, which can come in handy when your vehicle needs repairs. Being able to have a purposeful conversation with an automotive technician means you’ll know exactly what they’re doing and why.
We’re not saying you must have a master technician’s knowledge! But we are here to help you identify the basic parts of a car to assist with troubleshooting problems and to help make you a more responsible car owner.
Continue reading to find out more about different car components.
The Basics
There are many things to cover when it comes to different parts of a car and what they do, but starting with the basics is key. Having a foundational knowledge of the major car part names and how they function in your vehicle will serve you well in the long run.
Engine
It makes sense to start with the most important part under the hood of a vehicle, which is the engine. Most modern vehicles are powered by internal combustion engines, which generate energy by igniting a mixture of air and fuel.
There are also electric motors, which store energy in rechargeable batteries. Vehicles with electric engines accelerate faster than those with fuel-powered engines. Whether your car has a traditional or electric engine, it can’t run without it!
Battery
Your car’s battery has several important jobs, including providing your vehicle with power to start when you turn on the ignition. Batteries also ensure that other electrical components in your car work properly.
A dead battery can cause you to be stranded waiting for a jump-start. It’s good to get your battery looked at when you notice things like a clicking sound while turning the key or dimming headlights.
Read: What is Battery Terminal Corrosion?
Alternator
The alternator is responsible for generating electricity. It keeps your battery charged by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy while the car is operating. By continuously charging the battery and keeping the battery charged throughout every trip, it keeps the car and all the electrical components working correctly.
Signs of a failing or worn alternator are similar to those of a dying battery, including headlight dimming and difficulty starting. Ignoring alternator problems can cause battery issues, which in turn could leave you stranded.
Brakes
The brakes on your car are used to slow down and stop your vehicle, as well as keep it in place when parked. Most cars feature either a disc or drum brake system.
Parts in a disc brake system include calipers, rotors and pads. Drum brake systems are comprised of brake drums and shoes. All these parts have the potential to wear down over time, and any changes to how your brakes sound or feel should prompt you to get them checked.
Read: What Is Brake Fluid, What Does It Do and How Often Should You Change It?
Radiator
Your car’s engine creates a lot of heat when it’s running, so it makes sense that there would be a cooling system to help manage the temperature. The radiator is one of the major components of this system. It works to remove heat from liquid coolant before it circulates back to cool your engine.
The radiator ensures your engine doesn’t overheat, increasing performance and longevity. You can help maintain your radiator by checking coolant levels at least twice a year.
Transmission
The transmission, otherwise known as the car’s gearbox, is what takes the engine’s power and transfers it to the wheels through various components. Without it, you would simply go nowhere!
Manual transmissions are controlled by the driver using a gear lever or shifter inside the vehicle, while automatics do not require the driver to change gears. Whether it’s a manual or an automatic, there’s a lot going on inside a transmission!
Changing the transmission fluid at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals will help you maintain this important component and prevent it from wearing out.
Shock Absorbers
The suspension system in your car helps stabilize it while you drive. This way, you get a smooth ride and you’re not bouncing around every time you hit a bump or dip. There are many parts that make up the suspension, and shock absorbers play an important role in this system.
The shock absorbers’ main function is to ensure your tires remain in contact with the road. This allows you to drive the vehicle safely and efficiently. They also help the brakes do their job by always keeping the tires in contact with the road surface. Worn shocks can result in vibrations when you’re driving and uneven tire wear, among other issues.
Catalytic Converter
When your car is running, it generates fumes and gases called emissions. To help regulate emissions and remove them from your car efficiently, there is an exhaust system hard at work. One of the main components in this system is the catalytic converter.
The catalytic converter helps change harmful compounds in emissions into safe gases before they’re released into the air through your tailpipe. Issues with the catalytic converter can cause a drop in performance and fuel efficiency.
Components of a Car & Their Functions FAQs
How are car parts labeled or identified?
Parts of a car are identified or labeled by a variety of methods to ensure easy identification, cataloging and replacement. Each car part typically has a unique part number assigned by the manufacturer, along with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or aftermarket labels. Barcodes or QR codes have also been popular additions to newer car parts.
How many parts are in a car?
Typical cars consist of thousands of parts, though the exact number can vary widely depending on the make, model and complexity of the vehicle. Estimates generally range from 30,000 to 40,000 individual components.
Learn Even More About Parts of a Car at UTI
Now that you know about some of the basic car parts, are you itching to learn more? This could mean you’re suited for a job as an automotive technician, where you’ll get to work hands-on and up close on projects featuring these car components!
At Universal Technical Institute (UTI), our Automotive Technology program can equip you with the knowledge you need to maintain and repair import and domestic vehicles. Also we provide specialized automotive training programs for top brands in the industry. From working on engine systems to performing emissions tuning, the courses can help you gain valuable hands-on training and knowledge that you can take straight to the workforce.1,18
The best part is that you can graduate from the program in less than a year.7 You’ll gain an education that will help you prepare for a future you’re excited about — and help you out when you need to make repairs on your own ride!
Interested in finding out more? Request information here from an Admissions Representative or call 1-800-834-7308.
UTI Campuses That Offer Automotive Technician Training
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1 ) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2 ) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.
7 ) Some programs may require longer than one year to complete.
18 ) UTI now offers all of its automotive, diesel, motorcycle and marine technician training in a blended-learning format consisting of online lecture courses along with in-person, hands-on lab training.
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