How to Understand " Car Talk "

So you are LOST when people talk "CAR", or maybe you are just tired of being "TAKEN FOR A RIDE" by salesman and mechanics! Well tune in!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A few minutes
• An interest in cars
• An open mind

1. How to Speak: "CAR".
   
   First you should be familiar with "HOW A CAR WORKS". Read my article about "HOW A CAR WORKS".
   
   Next an orientation with your Car:
   Drivers side is the "LEFT" of the car, Passenger side the "RIGHT".
   Front means where the headlights, grille and usually the engine are. And you guessed it: the REAR is where the luggage compartment usually resides.
   
   So, let's start with the front.
   
   Most cars have the engine in the front. "Pop" the hood (the release is under your steering wheel near the door, on in the grille).
   The engine might be dirty or clean, but don't let it intimidate you!
   It is a machine that makes your car go.
   The radiator is the Black thing right behind the grille. It "Cools" your engine. The engine is usually covered in hoses and junk, somewhere under there is a METAL engine that burns gasoline and "Propels" your car down the road.
   Right in the middle of the top, or off to one side is the "Fuel Delivery System" or Carburator/ Fuel injection system. You might not be able to see it, but it's there.
   On the front of the engine (or off to one side) are the "Accessories". These consist of the Alternator, Power steering pump, Smog Pump, Air Conditioning compressor and anything else "Run" by the engine via a "BELT".
   The water pump is right near there too (usually on the front of the "BLOCK")... it "pumps" water through the engine and radiator.
   Next is the transmission. It is connected to the engine via the CRANKSHAFT. The engine spins, which spins the transmission.
   In a MANUAL transmission, "YOU" engage and disengage the transmission from the engine. In an "Automatic"... the transmission does everything.
   In a front wheel drive car, the transmission is connected to the front wheels, It's called a "TRANSAXLE". Your "AXLES" 'wiggle' so that the front wheels can turn. These are C.V Joints (C for Constant, V for Velocity). The rubber boots tend to rip or wear out causing the axle to fail (they are full of grease when the boot is in good condition).
   In a rear wheel drive car, the transmission is connected to the rear wheels via a "Propeller shaft" (or "Drive Shaft), which turns the "REAR DIFFERENTIAL". Axles come out of each side with a wheel on each end.
   That sums up the DRIVING assembly of your car, "That which makes it MOVE under it's own power."
2. Other than that, you have "SUSPENSION" (so the car bounces up and down, cushioning "SHOCK") and Brakes to stop. Most modern cars have disc brakes. That is a round "Rotor" with "Pads" that squeeze the "Rotor" with the "Caliper". The caliper is a "C" shaped assembly with fluid that "Squeezes" the pads against the "Rotor" when you STOMP on the Brakes.
   You also have the "Steering" system.
   When you turn your steering wheel, your wheel transfers "Motion" into the "Column", down into the "ENGINE COMPARTMENT" and into the steering Box or "Rack". A steering box has an Assembly with some type of gear or "Screw" that recirculates to transfer the "Input" to "Output". This allows you to turn the STEERING WHEEL "LESS" than the wheels of the car (or MORE). A "RACK" or Rack and Pinion is a more efficient way to turn the wheels. It has a "Shaft" that turns from the steering wheel column shaft, and transfers into a "GEAR" that goes Back and Forth, Turning Your Front Wheels.
   Aside from ALL Of THAT stuff, you also have An Electrical system. That includes a COMPUTER brain that controls FUEL, SPARK, TIMING of the engine functions and "SENSORS" that send feedback to your Computer Brain.
   As you sit there in your CUSHY seat, remember that all of this is going on without a THOUGHT!
3. So let's REVIEW!
   
   Engine: The POWERPLANT. Fuel goes into a Cylinder, spark ignites causing a small explosion Pushing the Piston DOWN, causing one or more of the other "PISTONS" in other cylinders to "GO UP". This UP/DOWN spins a "CRANK". This Spinning "CRANK" Spins the "TRANSMISSION" Which spins the Wheels!
   Brakes: You stomp down, fluid squeezes through the "BRAKE LINES" and pushes the SHOES or PADS against the ROTORS or DRUMS... stopping you.
   Suspension: Several "LINKS" PIVOT, enabling your car to "BOUNCE". "SHOCKS" or "STRUTS" Dampen the "Bounce". Shocks are filled with fluid, Struts have a "COIL SPRING" around the "Shock", and are MUCH larger.
   STEERING: Several "LINKS" or "GEARS" that transmit "YOU" turning the Steering Wheel with TURNING the front Wheels.
   
   Electrical System: The wiring, Sensors and Computer Brain that control most major functions and ON/OFF switches in your car.
4. Key Words.
   
   ENGINE:
   BLOCK, PISTONS, CONNECTING RODS, CRANKSHAFT, BEARINGS, OIL PAN, CYLINDER HEAD(S), VALVES, TIMING CHAIN (belt), INTAKE MANIFOLD, CARBURATOR (Fuel Injection), IGNITION SYSTEM (coil(s)), SPARK PLUGS, EXAUST MANIFOLD(s), WATER PUMP, FLYWHEEL
   
   TRANSMISSION:
   VALVE BODY, REGULATOR, OVERDRIVE, TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSFER CASE (4x4), TRANSAXLE (front wheel drive), C.V. Joints (axles), AXLE BOOTS.
   
   DRIVESHAFT:
   UNIVERSAL JOINTS
   
   REAR DIFFERENTIAL:
   PIG (Pinion Gear), BEARINGS, AXLES, SEALS, YOKE, GEAR LUBE (oil).
   
   SUSPENSION:
   BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, STRUTS, SHOCKS, IDLER ARM, PITMAN ARM, CONTROL ARMS, COIL SPRINGS, LEAF SPRINGS, SUSPENSION LINKS.
   
   ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:
   WIRING, CONNECTORS, SENSORS (Oxygen, C02, Mass Air Flow), COMPUTER BRAIN (PROM, CPU), IGNITION WIRES, COIL, COIL PACK, DISTRIBUTOR, SWITCH, SPARK PLUG, SOLENOID.
5. Do yourself a favor: BUY A SHOP MANUAL FOR YOUR CAR! CHILTONS, HAYNES, BENTLEY, Even the Manufacturer.
   
   Leaf through it. Bring it to the mechanic and ask them to SHOW you what is wrong!
   Also, follow the advice in your OWNERS MANUAL.
   
   Do this a FEW times over the years and YOU TOO........ Will SPEAK "CAR"!!!!

Tips & Warnings

• Keep an open mind.
• Don't try to learn everything there is to know (unless you want to)
• Impress Your Friends!
• Don't claim to be an expert after learning a little terminology
• Don't argue with mechanics unless you know what you are talking about!
• BEWARE, you might actually WANT to learn how to do some of your own repairs.