Carsut – Understand cars and drive better

Tag: transmission

  • List of Car Parts

    Here’s a complete list of car parts and their functions. The list here includes almost everything you can see on a car such as car body, wheels, tires, seats, battery, interior, dashboard, as well as every part under the hood. Each part on a car has name. You should learn the top 10 most important auto parts and components to make things easier when it comes to car maintenance. The list here is sorted from A to Z according to car parts vocabulary word. Let’s begin to learn the ABC!
    list of car parts automobile

    A

    accelerator
    accessory belt
    airbag
    air conditioner
    air conditioning – a complete ac system includes A/C cluth, A/C compressor, A/C condenser, A/C hose, A/C kit, A/C relay, A/C valve, A/C expansion valve, A/C low-pressure valve, A/C schrader valve, A/C INNER PLATE, A/C cooler, and A/C evaporator.
    air conditioning compressor – a main component to put freon in the AC system for you to stay cool inside the car.
    air filter – filter all the unwanted dust and allergens before the air gets into your car.
    air intake housing – car parts under hood
    air intake manifold – car parts under hood
    air vent
    alarm and siren
    all-wheel drive
    alternator – there are alternator bearing, bracket, fan and other alternator parts. It allows your car battery to charge while the engine is running.
    anchor
    antenna
    anti-lock brakes system (ABS)
    armrest
    auto
    automatic transmission
    automobile
    axle – an important part of any car to keep the wheel rolling.

    B

    baby car seat
    baby seat
    back-up lights
    battery – this is the main thing/power to turn on your car. There are battery box, cable terminal, cable, control system, plate and tray.
    bench seat
    bleed nipple
    bonnet
    brakes – you can’t stop a car without a brake system. this include brake fluid, drum, lining, pad, pedal, piston, pump, roll, rotor, server, shoe, lining, caliper, hose, hydraulic booster, master cylinder, metering valve, vacuum brake booster, and wheel cylinder.
    brake backing plate
    brake backing pad
    brake cooling duct
    brake disc
    brake light
    brake pedal
    bucket seat
    bumper – there are unexposed bumper and exposed bumper

    C

    camshaft – car parts under hood with bearing, fastener, follower, locking plate, pushrod and spcer ring
    car
    carburetor – it mixes air with a fine spray of liquid fuel for combustion.
    carpet
    catalytic converter – reduce the emissions from your vehicle.
    center console (front and rear)
    central locking
    chassis
    chassis control computer
    child car seat
    chrome trim
    clutch – clutch move form gear to gear to keep the driving smoothly.
    computer
    connecting rod – connecting rod bearing, bolt and washer.
    console
    cooling system
    cowl screen
    crank case
    crank pulley
    crankshaft
    cruise control
    cylinder
    cylinder head
    cylinder head gasket

    D

    dashboard – there are center console and glove compartment
    defroster
    decklid – a cover allows you to access to the main storage or luggage compartment. Mostly on a station wagon.
    diesel engine
    differential
    dip stick
    distributor
    distributor cap
    door
    door contact
    door handle
    drive belt
    drive shaft
    driver’s seat

    E

    emergency brake
    emergency lights
    emissions
    engine – see the labeled diagram of car engine for better understanding.
    engine block
    engine cradle
    engine computer and management system
    engine control unit (ECU)
    engine fan – to keep air flowing over the radiator to cool down the engine coolant.
    exhaust pipe
    exhaust system – exhaust clamp and bracket, flange gasket, manifold, pipe, heat shield, heat sleeving and tape, and spacer ring.

    F

    fan belt
    fascia rear and support
    fender
    filter
    floor mat
    fog light
    four-wheel drive
    frame
    front clip
    fuel
    fuel cap
    fuel filter
    fuel gauge
    fuel injector – it gets the gasoline/petrol from the fuel tank into the engine.
    fuel pump
    fuel pressure regulator
    fuel rail
    fuel tank
    fuse
    fuse box

    G

    gas
    gasket
    gas pedal
    gas gauge
    gasoline
    gas tank
    gauge – ammeter, clinometer, dynamometer, fuel gauge, manometer, hydrometer, odometer (also called milometer/mileometers), speedometer, tachometer (rev counters), temperature gauge, tire pressure gauge, vacuum gauge, voltmeter, water temperature meter.
    gearbox
    gear shift
    gear stick
    glove compartment
    glowplug
    GPS
    grab handle
    grille
    ground strap

    H

    halogen
    hand brake
    headlamp
    headlight – also called headlamp
    headrest – also called armrest monitors
    heater
    high-beam headlights
    hood
    horn – or trumpet horn
    hubcap
    hybrid

    I

    ignition
    ignition coil
    ignition magneto
    indicator light – also called signal light/lamp
    instrument panel
    interior light
    internal combustion engine

    J

    jack – a car jack is important because you can’t change your tire without it.

    K

    key

    L

    license plate
    lights
    lock
    low-beam headlights
    lug bolt
    lug nut
    LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) system

    M

    manifold
    manual transmission
    mat
    mirror
    mirror monitors
    moon roof
    motor
    mud flap
    muffler – the main job is to decrease the amount of noice emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine.

    N

    navigation system

    O

    0-ring
    odometer
    oil
    oil filter
    oil gasket
    oil tank

    P

    parking brake
    parking lights
    passenger seat
    pedal
    pillar and hard trim
    piston – parts inside a gasoline engine to handle explosions. It’s also where your car get the horsepower.
    piston pin and crank pin
    piston pin bush
    piston ring and circlip
    power brakes
    power steering
    power window switch

    Q

    quarter panel

    R

    radiator – a major part under the hood to keep the car’s engine cool all the time.
    radio – see list of car audio brands
    rag top
    rear-view camera
    rear-view mirror
    rear window defroster
    relay
    relay connector
    remote lock
    reverse light
    rims – there are hubcap at the center
    rocker
    rocker cover
    roll cage
    roof
    roof rack
    rotary engine

    S

    seat – bench seat, bucket seat, children seat, infant seat.
    seat belt
    seat bracket
    seat cover
    seat track
    shift
    shock absorber – an important part to reduce the stress of the bumping and make your ride more pleasant.
    side airbags
    side mirror
    spare tire – nowadays some new cars feature run-flat tires and you don’t see these anymore.
    spark plug – very high voltage as it uses an electric spark to ignite fuel in the engine. This is
    sparking cable
    speaker
    speedometer
    spoiler – there are front spoiler and rear spoiler
    starter – there are starter drive, starter motor, starter solenoid
    starter motor
    steering column
    steering wheel
    subwoofer
    sunroof
    sun visor
    supercharger
    suspension – come with beam axle, control arm, axle, idler arm, kingpin, panhard rod, pitman arm, rack end, spindle, steering arm, steering box, steering column, steering rack, tie bar, tie rod, and trailing arm.
    switches – battery switches, door switch, ignition switch, power window switch, steering column switch, swtich cover, switch panel, thermostat, frame swith and other parts and functions of starter system.

    T

    tachometer
    tailgate
    temperature gauge
    thermometer
    thermostat
    throttle body
    tire
    trailer hitch
    transmission – very complicated thing. In a nutshell, it turns the power from engine into movement and transmit it all the way to the four wheels on a car.
    trim
    trip computer
    trunk – also called boot or hatch
    turbo charger
    turn signal

    U

    undercarriage
    unleaded gas

    V

    valance
    valve
    valve cover
    valve housing
    valve spring
    valve pump pulley
    vents
    visor

    W

    water neck
    water pipe
    water pump
    water pump gasket
    water tank
    warning light
    welded assembly
    wheel
    wheel well
    window
    window regulator
    window seal
    windshield – also called windscreen
    windshield washer motor
    windshield wiper

    From time to time, we are making the list better and better. There are so many car parts in a car and some parts are definitely missing. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you find any car part is missing from the list above. We will add it in to make the list of car parts a 100% complete one. Last but not least, see also:

  • Learning to drive a manual car

    Most people find learning to drive a manual car is much harder than an automatic car especially when they need to do a parallel park or drive uphill. Students often fail in these two skills in the driving test. There is a necessity to master these skills not only for the test but also to drive better in your life. Here is the step by step on how to drive a manual car and tips to handle all kind of circumstances in a manual car.

    Understand a manual transmission car

    Manual car

    A manual transmission car has three pedals: on the right is the gas pedal/accelerator, on the left is the clutch pedal, and in the middle is the brake pedal. A clutch is a doorway to shift the gear. No gear can be shifted if the clutch is not applied. Whether it is LHD (Left-Hand-Drive) or RHD (Right-Hand-Drive), you will see these three pedals. For LHD car, you will use your right hand to shift the gear and the other way round for RHD car.

    Study the Stick Shift

    Stick Shift

    Most of the manual cars running on the road today are five-speed. Some manual cars like the Honda CR-Z have six-speed while some earlier type has only four-speed. Before driving the car, sit on the driver’s seat, use your left foot to press the clutch to the floor and try to shift every gear to familiarise with it. The numbers indicate the gear and the “R” means reverse gear. Check if your gear knob has a button that locks the reverse gear. Some cars like the Renault Kangoo comes with a lock where you need to press/pull a button to shift the gear into reverse. Once you are familiar with the shifting, make sure you shift it back to neutral (in the middle where you don’t feel the stiffness in the gear stick) before starting the car.

    stick shift pattern

    Step by step to drive a manual car

    Step 1: Adjust the driver’s seat to a position where you can fully step down the clutch pedal with your left foot. Your body will move back a little bit when you drive up hill. Therefore, do not slight the seat too far or too close from the pedals.

    automatic seat adjuster

    Step 2: Make sure the gear is shifted to neutral and the handbrake (e-brake) is engaged. Use your right foot to step on the brake and start the car. For better practice, you may also press the clutch with your left foot every time you start the car to avoid the car going forward if the gear is engaged without your knowing.

    manual transmission car

    Step 3: Press the clutch all the way down to the floor and shift the gear to first (1) gear. Look around to see if there are any vehicles coming. If it is safe to take off, release the handbrake.

    Step on the clutch

    Step 4: Release the clutch gently and step on the gas pedal lightly simultaneously. Give more gas to the car or hold the clutch if the engine sounds like it is going to stall. Move your left foot to the foot rest area when the car moves forward.

    drive a manual car step four

    drive manual transmission car step 5
    Step more on the gas pedal/accelerator to go faster

    Step 5: Change gear. An experienced driver knows when to change the gear by listening to the engine sound. A good way for beginners is to look at the RPM gauge. Shift the gear when it reaches about 3000 to 4000 rpm. To shift to second gear, lift the right foot from the gas pedal, press the clutch pedal all the way down and shift to second gear. Release the clutch gently and step on the gas pedal as in Step 4. The more you step on the gas pedal, the faster the car goes. Repeat the same process to shift to other gears.

    3000 rpm

    Step 6: Slow down and stop. Lift your right foot from the gas pedal, use the left foot to press the clutch, and then apply the brake to slow down the car or to stop the car. Once the car is stop, shift the gear to N (Neutral) and apply the handbrake.

    drive manual transmission car step 6

    Tips

    Seating Position. Many people fail in the driving test during uphill because their left foot could not fully reach the clutch pedal. This is because the seat is too far from the pedals. Adjust it to a position where you are able to press the clutch all the way down the floor even your body is close to the seat.

    Clutch Control: First gear is always the hardest. Control the clutch gently every time you release it. Gently here means slowly, gradually, or bit by bit. Many first time learners lift their left foot immediately and cause the car engine to stall. Step hard on the brake and the clutch, and pull the handbrake to stop the car in case of emergency.

    Reverse: Many people make mistakes by shifting the gear to reverse while the car is still moving forward. Wait until the car stopped completely and then only shift to reverse gear.

    Stop at traffic: Shift the gear to neutral and apply the handbrake every time you stop at traffic. This is to secure the car from being jerk forward if you are hit from behind.

    Going uphill: If you are going uphill and need to stop the car on the slope, shift to neutral and apply the handbrake. To continue the journey, step on the clutch, shift to first gear, and give more gas (step harder on the accelerator) with your right foot. Release the handbrake when you feel it is powerful enough to move forward. More gas (But not too much) is needed because the car is in a sloping position.

    Going downhill: Shift to lower gear for downhill driving to increase the engine braking effect.

    Most drivers experienced engine stall while they learn how to drive a manual car. Practice makes perfect. The more you practise, the better your driving skill will be.