Step1
The automobile has evolved over the last 100 years into what you see today. For most NON-Automotive people, it looks DRASTICALLY different from the car in my lead photo. Believe it or not, in almost 100 years of the mass produced automobile, fundamentally, little has changed!
Step2
If you asked the average person to tell you HOW an automobile works, they might get the basic concept down. But to sum it up in one sentence: "An Automobile is a collection of mechanical assemblies working together to move the vehicle under it's own power".
These mechanical assemblies include: The "Drivetrain", "Chassis", "Body", "Electrical System" and Interior or "Passenger Compartment".
Step3
The drivetrain consists of "Engine assembly", "Transmission" or "Transaxle", and the "Differential" or "Rearend".
The Chassis consists of a "FRAME" or "UNIBODY", Front and rear "SUSPENSION", "Steering" and Wheels, Tires and "BRAKING SYSTEM".
The Body is the COMPLETE Body structure including the Body, Body panels and Possibly unitized frame.
The "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM" is both Electrical and Electronic. With actual wires connecting switches, bulbs, sensors and computers.
Finally, the "PASSENGER COMPARTMENT" consists of "SEATS", "INSTRUMENT PANEL", Soft trim and Padding.
Step4
The basic internal combustion engine is an assembly that produces propulsion through controlled explosions.
The engine block contains a Crankshaft(picture a zig zag) that rotates on oiled bearings. This crank causes the pistons to ride up and down in each cylinder. Above the pistons and cylinder bores is a cylinder "HEAD".
The Cylinder head covers the pistons (causing the air in each cylinder to "Compress" when a piston comes "UP"). Each cylinder head has at least 2 "Valves" that open above the piston. One valve lets a gasoline vapor mixture into the cylinder from the Carburetor or Fuel Injection. The valve closes and the piston comes up. Once compressed, the spark plug ignites the mixture causing an explosion. The force "PUSHES" the piston back down and turns the crank which causes another piston to go back up. When the piston that "EXPLODED" goes back up, a valve opens to let the spent gases back out and into your exhaust system (muffler). This system is "TIMED" either Mechanically or Electronically. The Valves are controlled with at least one "CAMSHAFT" that is connected to the "CRANKSHAFT" via the "TIMING BELT" (or chain).
The spark is controlled by the same "Camshaft" or electronically via the "DISTRIBUTOR" or "COIL PACKS".
The 4 CYCLES in an Automotive engine are:
"INTAKE", "COMPRESSION", "POWER", "EXHAUST".
The engine also hosts several "ACCESSORIES".
The "ALTERNATOR" charges the battery and provides some electricity, The Air Conditioning "COMPRESSOR" produces ice cold air through the Air Conditioning system (Compressor, Condenser, Evaporator, etc), Also, "POWER STEERING" is possible through Hydraulic fluid pumped from the "POWER STEERING PUMP", which is run via belt from the engine.
The internal combustion engine produces "Heat" through "Friction". Most internal combustion engines are cooled using WATER or "GLYCOL" coolant pumped through the engine and back through the "RADIATOR".
Step5
The rest of the drivetrain exists to transfer "POWER" (from the spinning Crankshaft), to the Wheels of the car. The Transmission converts and dampens the "Power" from the engine to the "DRIVE AXLES". With a "MANUAL" or "STICK SHIFT" transmission, your foot pushes in the "CLUTCH", disengaging the engine from the transmission. The "CLUTCH" is a round disc covered in a material similar to brake pad lining, that "GRINDS" against a "PRESSURE PLATE" (a spring loaded disc)and the "FLYWHEEL" (connected to the Crankshaft). Once Disengaged the Car will not move, or the transmission can be "SHIFTED" into a different "GEAR" (cluster).
In an "AUTOMATIC" transmission, a "TORQUE CONVERTER" spins to engage and disengage the transmission from the engine. Fluid is pumped throughout the transmission to control shifting.
Finally, Power is transferred to the wheels.
In a "FRONT WHEEL DRIVE" vehicle, the power is transferred through the transmission/ "TRANSAXLE" to the "CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINTS" (C.V. Joints).
In a Rear wheel drive Vehicle: The transmission spins through, turning a "PROPELLER SHAFT" (Driveshaft) at the rear. This shaft turns, which sends power into the "REAR DIFFERENTIAL" (Rearend). This differential has a Gear and Pinion that speeds up or slows down the input turning motion and transfers it to one or both "AXLES". The Axles are connected to the Tire and Wheel Assembly!
In an "ALL WHEEL DRIVE" or "FOUR WHEEL DRIVE", the transmission transfers power to a "TRANFER CASE" with a shaft going to the Rear Differential and a shaft going to the "FRONT DIFFERENTIAL".
Step6
The engine and drivetrain aren't much help unless they can MOVE something.
The "CHASSIS" is the something. The Chassis is the "FRAME" and it's mechanical assemblies.
The Frame looks like a curvy ladder. One end holds the engine, the other end, the rear differential.
The engine is held up off the ground with mounts and a "FRONT SUSPENSION".
Early cars used a "BEAM AXLE" with some type of Leaf Spring or "BUGGY SPRING" (like a horse buggy). Modern cars use an "INDEPENDANT SUSPENSION". Each side has "A" shaped control arms or "STRUTS" (coil over shocks" connected to "SPINDLES". The spindle is connected top and bottom to the suspension but can pivot (to turn the wheels). The spindle has a shaft perpendicular to the "CONTROL ARMS". The Brakes and Tire/Wheel assembly fit onto that shaft. The Rest of the front suspension consists of items allowing the front end to "DAMPEN" bumps in the road, while allowing the wheels to spin and turn side to side.
In a Front Wheel Drive Car, the Transmission/Transaxle has an "AXLE" running through the "Control Arms" and "SPINDLE" connecting directly to the Brakes and Wheel/Tire Assembly. This Axle is known as a "C.V. Joint", Or "CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT". This "AXLE" has pivots on each end. The end at the Wheel pivots around like your Shoulder to allow the wheel to spin and turn back and forth.
The "Rear Suspension" is much the same, but the Tire/Wheel assembly does not need to turn back and forth. So "PARALLEL LEAF SPRINGS", "COIL SPRINGS", and "SOLID REAR AXLES" are commonly used.
The Steering system is controlled by connecting both front Wheel and Tire Assemblies together with a "TIE ROD" or "STEERING RACK", which is connected to your steering wheel and column through a "DRAG LINK" or "STEERING RACK",connected to your "STEERING GEAR BOX" or "RACK AND PINION".
The Braking system is almost always HYDRAULIC (Using fluid). When you push down on the "BRAKE PEDAL", Fluid is pushed OUT of the "MASTER CYLINDER" (reservoir), and into the "BRAKE LINES". The Fluid is distributed to the "WHEEL CYLINDERS" or "CALIPERS". The wheel cylinders (on "DRUM BRAKES") push the "SHOES" OUT, against the inside of the ROUND "BRAKE DRUM" (Directly inside the wheel). With "DISC BRAKES", a "CALIPER" or "C" shaped 'Clamp' SQUEEZES the pads on either side of the round 'WAFER' Shaped "ROTOR" (directly inside the wheel).
Step7
The Body of Most Automobiles serves the Operator. It protects you from Weather, Collisions and Danger. It is also the STYLE of the Automobile. Whether it's a sporty Convertible, a VAN, Sedan or Pick Up Truck, The body is basically what makes it what it is.
Many Modern cars COMBINE the Body and Chassis. This is called "UNITIZED CONSTRUCTION" or "UNIBODY". The undercarriage is reinforced to attach most of the suspension, and hold the "DRIVETRAIN".
The rest of the body is made up of removable panels such as Fenders, Doors, Hood and Trunklid. For more style and or "Flash", many car companies add Chrome, Accents or Body "FAIRINGS".
The Car body is the car's Personality.
Step8
The Electrical System is the LIFE BLOOD of the automobile. It allows "SPARK" to ignite the cylinders, Power to the Headlight Bulbs, Tail light Bulbs and anything else that runs on Electricity. The Electrical System Consists of: The "WIRING HARNESS" (bundles of wiring and "FUSES"), Mechanical and Electrical "SWITCHES" and Controls, Electronic "SENSORS" (Monitoring functions) and "INSTRUMENTS" or "GAUGES", or "COMPUTER BRAINS".
There is also a 6, 12 or 24 VOLT "BATTERY" that runs most of the electrical system, and a "CHARGING SYSTEM" That recharges the battery.
Without Electricity, a car won't run!
Step9
Now that you have a BODY (Usually steel), On a Chassis with Suspension and usually 4 wheels, and a Drivetrain that MOVES under it's own power using an electrics system.... You need a place to SIT!
The "PASSENGER COMPARTMENT" is the "CONTROL CENTER" of an Automobile. You have seats to sit on, a Steering wheel to control the Front Tires and Wheels, "INSTRUMENTS" to monitor the vehicle functions, a "BRAKE PEDAL" to STOP, "ACCELERATOR PEDAL" to GO and/ or a "CLUTCH PEDAL", "SHIFTER", "GEAR SELECTOR" to change GEARS.
You have a "RADIO", "NAVIGATION", etc. for ENTERTAINMENT, and Lots of Padding, Upholstery, Cushioning and safety features for COMFORT and Protection.
Glass protects you from Hazards and Weather, and Heating and cooling keep the temperature comfortable.
It is amazing that you have an incredible amount of POWER at your Fingertips (and Toetips), from such a comfortable CACCOON!
Understand How a Car Works
The automobile has evolved over the last 100 years into what you see today. For most NON-Automotive people, it looks DRASTICALLY different from the car in my lead photo. Believe it or not, in almost 100 years of the mass produced automobile, fundamentally, little has changed!
If you asked the average person to tell you HOW an automobile works, they might get the basic concept down. But to sum it up in one sentence: "An Automobile is a collection of mechanical assemblies working together to move the vehicle under it's own power".
The drivetrain consists of "Engine assembly", "Transmission" or "Transaxle", and the "Differential" or "Rearend". 
The basic internal combustion engine is an assembly that produces propulsion through controlled explosions.
The rest of the drivetrain exists to transfer "POWER" (from the spinning Crankshaft), to the Wheels of the car. The Transmission converts and dampens the "Power" from the engine to the "DRIVE AXLES". With a "MANUAL" or "STICK SHIFT" transmission, your foot pushes in the "CLUTCH", disengaging the engine from the transmission. The "CLUTCH" is a round disc covered in a material similar to brake pad lining, that "GRINDS" against a "PRESSURE PLATE" (a spring loaded disc)and the "FLYWHEEL" (connected to the Crankshaft). Once Disengaged the Car will not move, or the transmission can be "SHIFTED" into a different "GEAR" (cluster). 
The engine and drivetrain aren't much help unless they can MOVE something. 
The Body of Most Automobiles serves the Operator. It protects you from Weather, Collisions and Danger. It is also the STYLE of the Automobile. Whether it's a sporty Convertible, a VAN, Sedan or Pick Up Truck, The body is basically what makes it what it is.
The Electrical System is the LIFE BLOOD of the automobile. It allows "SPARK" to ignite the cylinders, Power to the Headlight Bulbs, Tail light Bulbs and anything else that runs on Electricity. The Electrical System Consists of: The "WIRING HARNESS" (bundles of wiring and "FUSES"), Mechanical and Electrical "SWITCHES" and Controls, Electronic "SENSORS" (Monitoring functions) and "INSTRUMENTS" or "GAUGES", or "COMPUTER BRAINS".
Now that you have a BODY (Usually steel), On a Chassis with Suspension and usually 4 wheels, and a Drivetrain that MOVES under it's own power using an electrics system.... You need a place to SIT!
Authority 
