Descriptionary

bearings any ball or roller-type bearings that absorb friction between two moving parts.

beater slang for any near-wreck of a car that is nev­ertheless still in drivable condition.

bleed to remove air from a brake system, fuel-injec­tion system, or cooling system to aid the smooth flow of fluid.

blown of an engine, ruined, usually from a seized piston.

blue books a variety of books that list the current prices paid for used cars.

body putty a pliable material used to fill in or smooth dents. Also known as bondo.

bore the diameter of the cylinder hole.

brake drum mounted on each wheel, a metal drum whose insides are pressed against by the brake shoes to slow or stop a car.

brake fade temporary loss of a brake's gripping power due to the generation of high temperatures from overuse.

brake lines the tubes and hoses through which brake fluid flows from the master cylinder to the brakes.

brake lining attached to each brake shoe, the heat- resistant asbestos lining that presses against the brake drum to slow or stop a car.

brake shoes the arc-shaped pieces of metal that, lined with heat-resistant asbestos, are pressed against the brake drums to slow or stop a car.

Breathalyzer a device that detects and measures the presence of alcohol in one's breath, used by police to stop drunk drivers.

bushing a protective liner or sleeve that serves as a barrier against noise and friction.

butterfly valve a small, pivoting metal plate or disk that regulates the flow of air into the carburetor.

cam in the camshaft, a lobed disk that activates the opening and closing of valves.

camber wheel alignment term for the outward or inward tilt of the top of a wheel that improves han­dling and lessens tire wear.

camshaft the shaft with lobed cams that operate the valves.

carburetor the device that vaporizes fuel, mixes it with air in appropriate proportions, and then delivers the mixture to the intake manifold.

carburetor barrel the part of the carburetor in which air flows and is mixed with fuel.

caster wheel alignment term referring to the wheel positioning that provides the greatest steering stability.

catalytic converter a mufflerlike afterburner in the tailpipe that burns away unburned or harmful gases.

charging system the system that generates and stores electricity, comprising the fan belt, the alterna­tor (or generator), and the battery.

chassis the frame that supports the body and motor of a car. In some usage, a collective term for all the parts of a car except the body and fenders.

cherry automotive slang for a used car that has been kept in perfect condition.

choke a plate or valve that chokes off the amount of air entering the carburetor to help produce a richer air-fuel mixture for cold starting.

clear coat a nonpigmented, protective coating of paint that improves a base paint's durability and gloss; used on most modern cars.

clutch a coupling that engages and disengages the engine from the transmission to facilitate the chang­ing of gears.

clutch disk at the end of the driveshaft, a spinning plate that is forced against the flywheel when the clutch is engaged.

clutch pedal in a manual transmission, the pedal to the left of the brake that disengages the clutch when pressed.

coil in the ignition system, a transformer that ampli­fies the voltage from the battery and relays it to the distributor and the spark plugs.

coil springs the large, shock-absorbing springs near the front and sometimes the back wheels.

combustion chamber the space between the piston and the cylinder head, where the fuel-air mixture is compressed and ignited.

compact any small car.

connecting rod the rod that connects the piston to the crankshaft. (Breaking a connecting rod is known as throwing a rod.)

convertible any car with a retractable roof.

coolant an ethyl glycol solution; antifreeze.

cooling system the system that prevents the engine from overheating by cooling and circulating a mix­ture of coolant and water through water jackets in the engine block. The cooling system comprises the fan, radiator, thermostat, water jackets, and water pump.

coupe a two-door, two-passenger car.

crankcase the lower portion of the engine that sur­rounds the crankshaft above the oil pan.

cranking engaging the starter and turning over the engine.

crankshaft the main rotating shaft in the engine, with cranks attached to the connecting rods to con­vert up-and-down motion into circular motion. The crankshaft transmits power from the pistons to the driveshaft.

crankshaft pulley at the front of the crankshaft, a wheel that drives the fan belts and alternator.

creeper the rolling board a mechanic moves around on while lying underneath a car.