Car workshop jargon – How does it work? If you drive then this article should be useful to help you understand your car and ‘how it all works’ just that little bit better. Many motorists have a very limited knowledge of car mechanics but just a little bit of knowledge and an understanding of how the different parts work could help your driving experience and help you look out for potential problems. Here at McAfee Cars Ballymena we’re going to guide you through some familiar car parts and what their job is.
Some common terms used in car workshop jargon:
Filters – Most vehicles will have 3 different types of filters fitted to them.
- Air filter – this filters the air coming into the engine and so prevents dirt and debris getting into the engine and causing problems.
- Fuel filter – over time some debris can build up in the fuel tank. The fuel filter is fitted so it stops these particles from getting into the engine.
- Pollen filter – this one helps you have a much more pleasant trip as it helps remove pollen and dust from entering the cabin of the vehicle.
Suspension – all of the suspension parts work together to give you a much more pleasant and smooth drive while also protecting the vehicle.
- Springs – large metal springs which take the shock and roughness out of driving surfaces.
- Shock absorbers and struts – these work together to dampen vibrations by slowing down the rebound of the springs, making it a smoother journey especially on rougher roads.
- Suspension bushes – these connect the body of the car to the suspension arms which again minimize noise and vibration through the vehicle.
Gearbox – the gearbox transmits power from the engine to the wheels.
Clutch – the link between the engine and gearbox. When the clutch pedal is depressed it stops the drive between the engine and the gearbox, allowing you to change gear.
Belts –
- Timing belt – keeps all the components of the engine running together at the correct pace and is essential to the smooth running of the engine.
- Fan belt (alternator belt) – fan belts are flexible rubber belts that are used to power components such as the air conditioner compressor, power steering pumps and water pumps. For example the fan belt connects the engine cooling fan to the alternator and crankshaft pulley.
- Water pump and coolant – driven by the fan belt, the water pump circulates the coolant around the engine and radiator to keep the engine cool.
We hope this helps you to understand better some of the terms used in car workshop jargon. There are some jobs you can do yourself like checking your vehicle’s oil. You can watch a short instructional video here if you’re not sure how. If you have any queries about your vehicle, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at McAfee Cars, Railway St, Ballymena. We’ll do our best to help.