How Does a Car Work?

The automobile is a sophisticated machine that has more than 15,000 parts. The break system, exhaust system, cooling system, fuel system, engine, steering and suspension, drive train, and electrical system. When you press your brakes, brake fluid is squirted through the line to the brakes. The amount of brake fluid depends on how fast and hard you press the brakes. The harder your foot presses the brakes, the faster your car will stop. The brakes create friction to the tires, which in turn creates friction to the road, causing the vehicle to stop. The exhaust system helps remove harmful gasses that are produced in the engine out of the vehicle. Additionally, the exhaust system helps reduce the noise of the engine while converting unspent fuel into energy. Engines produce a tremendous amount of heat due to the gasoline intake. Cooling systems ensure that the engine will not overheat. The main job of the system is to move the heat away from the engine to the air. The cooling system ensures the engine is at optimal temperature. The primary purpose of the fuel system is to hold the gasoline until it can be used for energy. The fuel is held in a tank and released on an as needed basis. When the gasoline travels from the tank it is combined with air, vaporized, and burned off to create energy. The goal of the engine is to take the gasoline you put into your car and convert it to kinetic energy, which will move your vehicle. A car engine is classified as an internal combustion engine and operates at very high temperatures. The steering and suspension system in cars ensures that the vehicle will drive on all types of road surfaces with minimal bumps. By using shocks, the vehicle smooths out any major blemishes on roadways. The car is steered by a steering wheel, which is connected to the system and moves the car based on user operation. The electrical system consists of your battery and other major components. The car electrical system is required for starting the engine, and it runs all auxiliary components, such as a CD player.

Brake System

• How Brakes Work – A technical overview of brake types and components.
• Brake System Diagram - Image of the inner workings of the brake system.
• Brake System - Interactive diagram of all the parts of a brake system.

Exhaust

• Exhaust System Diagram - Labeled diagram of the components of an exhaust system.
• Can You Tell Me About Exhaust Systems? - In-depth descirption of all the parts of an exhaust system.

Cooling System

• Servicing Your Car’s Cooling System – A detailed overview of automotive cooling systems, includes technical diagram.
• Engine Cooling System – Explains how the cooling system works and identifies the five key components of the system.
• Cooling System Diagram - Simple diagram of the parts of a cooling system

Fuel System

• Fuel System Diagram - Image of a complete labeled fuel system
• Replacing Your Fuel Pump – Provides a systematic approach to learning the fuel system in your automobile.

Engine

• Four Stroke Animated Engine - Animation of a four stroke engine, the most common engine in cars today.
• Engine Diagram - Well-labeled diagram of the parts of an engine
• How Car Engines Work - Step-by-step guide to how an engine runs

Steering and Suspension

• Steering and Suspension Diagram - A detailed image of the steering and suspension system with tips on maintaining an existing car.
• Steering and Suspenson - A general overview of the steering and suspension system that connects all of the other components of the car.

DriveTrain

• Drivetrain Overview - An article that explains how the drivetrain works in correlation with other parts in your car.
• Drivetrain and Engine Layout - A technical overview of the drivetrain with real photographs.

Electrical System

• Understanding Your Car's Electrical System - A technical overview of the car electrical system that is geared towards car repair.
• Electrical Diagrams - Compilation of diagrams of all the electrical workings of a car.