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About This Quiz
According to Toyota, the average modern car contains about 30,000 parts. That's pretty staggering, but if you consider that the grille alone is often held in place by multiple screws, bolts, clips or whatever else, and that's one of the least complex setups on most vehicles. Engines have become increasingly complex, thanks to the push to boost efficiency and lower emissions, as well as ensure reliable operation in all kinds of conditions.
Years ago, cars were fairly simple beasts. They could be worked on by shade tree mechanics, and just about every car owner changed their own oil and did other regular maintenance. Today's computer-festooned vehicles have made that a risky proposition.
There's a reason why automakers have large teams of engineers and designers working hard to develop a new vehicle. They often borrow components and even entire setups from existing models, because creating the whole thing from scratch requires considerable time and money. The good news is that mechanics can learn how most systems on a particular brand are set up more easily, and even find similarities among various competing brands.
To most people, all of this is a huge mystery. Are you an expert mechanic who can fix just about anything? Flex your car parts knowledge now by taking this quiz!
When replacing a gasket, which of the following must you do with the old one?
dye it red
flip it over
remove it
Depending on the gasket, it might leave a residue behind, or the entire gasket might be stuck to the car part. Special gasket removal tools will make the cleanup quick, without damaging any other surfaces.
salt it
When the engine is turned off and at rest, where does most of the oil collect?
oil pump
oil sump
The portion of the engine where oil runs and collects is called the sump. When you first start up the engine, the pump starts to channel the oil out of the sump and to the different areas of the engine, but it can take a few minutes to reach that point.
oil dump
at your mom's house
What is the ultimate purpose of a sway bar?
to tip the car over when it turns
to keep the car from swaying to the side much when turning
A sway bar is designed as extra bracing, forcing the tires to stay down and in contact with the ground, instead of lifting off as the car goes through turns. Essentially, this improves handling and safety.
improve straight-line acceleration
to get other people to let you in a lane
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The EGR valve is part of which system?
cooling
electrical
emissions
An exhaust gas recirculation valve has a design that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions from internal combustion engines. If it's malfunctioning, your vehicle might not pass local emissions tests.
vacuum
If your wiper blades are new and not worn out, yet they still leave streaks on the glass, which of the following could possibly be an explanation?
aliens
The glass is ripply.
You're using the wrong speed setting.
They're dirty.
Most people don't think to clean their wiper blades, but they should. A soft cloth will remove dirt and other debris, which can contribute to streaks being left behind on the glass. Another potential cause is that the springs on the wiper arms are worn out.
If you don't have air tools on hand and must use a tire iron or torque wrench, when should you first loosen or completely tighten lug nuts?
anytime
when the tires are on the ground
Assuming you're not using a lift, because if you were you'd probably have air tools as well, trying to loosen or completely tighten lug nuts with the car supported by a jack or even jack stands isn't as effective and can pose a danger.
on Mondays only
once the car's up in the air
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What keeps a differential's parts from grinding against each other?
coolant
transmission fluid
petroleum jelly
oil
You should never just ignore the differential on your vehicle, or you might find that you need to buy another differential. Refer to the owner's manual for the right oil weight and GL rating, or you could still experience problems.
Which component supplies power for all the on-board electrical functions of a car while it's running?
alternator
A car's alternator is belt-driven, so it depends on the engine to make it work. The battery is used to get the engine going, and then is recharged by the alternator, which powers everything from the headlights to your sound system.
battery
magneto
flux capacitator
On mechanical, not electronic setups, what component transfers pedal movement to the brake or throttle systems in a car?
magic
pedal pushrod
Many newer cars feature electronic pedals, which send an electrical impulse as you push or let up on them, but older setups involved the pedal movement actuating a pushrod, which in turn would apply brake pressure or open the throttle body wider.
broomstick
pedal thingy
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What is the part that keeps the piston and connecting rod attached to each other?
super glue
gummy rod
engine mount
wrist pin
The wrist pin is a component often forgotten about by those who don't do engine rebuilds, but it's a point of failure in certain situations. This component has to deal with tremendous forces, so it must be equally strong to endure them and not break.
Which component helps exhaust gases to be less harmful to the environment?
muffler
down pipe
x-pipe
catalytic converter
Catalytic converters contain precious metals, which literally convert highly harmful gases into gases that either aren't harmful, or aren't nearly as harmful. They essentially catalyze a redox reaction to make this possible.
What on camshafts determines when and how much valves move?
lotion
lobes
Camshafts aren't perfectly round, but instead feature oblong lobes, which don't all line up with each other. These control how the intake and exhaust valves move, including when, for how long, and how much.
coating
oil
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What does the shifter fork do?
fluffs the rice
moves gears into and out of engagement
People who don't really know how cars work probably think that as you move the stick shift, it's directly moving gears around in the transmission. It's the selector fork that fills this important role, and is what you hear grinding if you mess up.
serves up salad
keeps the transmission from spinning out of control
Which of the following parts actually helps reduce vibrations you feel from the engine?
spark plug
ignition wires
air filter
engine mount
While engine mounts certainly fill the important role of holding the engine in place, they also act as a damper or absorber of vibrations. Some engine mounts have fairly complex setups for that reason, which can make them expensive to replace.
If you only have to plug in new headlights or other electrical components, instead of having to create connections otherwise, that's thanks to what kind of a part?
wire nut
electrical tape
wiring harness
If you have the right kind of wiring harness, all the necessary wires, terminals and simple connectors are already set up for you to use. Without this, you'd have to figure out the wiring setup from scratch.
blinker fluid
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What part is responsible for providing heat for your car's interior?
spark plugs
O2 sensor
heater core
As coolant leaves the engine, it's extremely hot. Some of it will flow into the heater core, a device that looks similar to a small radiator, which is located usually behind the dashboard. Of course, if the coolant level is too low, the heater core doesn't work.
heat regulator flux
This part puts constant force on the drive plate, helping to transfer energy from the engine to the transmission.
hub
lug bolt
pressure plate
Pressure plates are able to keep contact with the driven plate through the diaphragm spring, or on earlier models it's a group of coil springs.
valve spring
What triggers the horn in modern cars?
air pump
electricity
The average car in the United States has two horns, each producing a different pitch so everyone hears a clear chord. The electrical pulse triggers a spring steel diaphragm, through a switch and coiled wire, making the sound.
mnemonic pressure
hydraulic pressure
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When combustion happens in the cylinders, which engine part is pushed down first?
crankshaft
connecting rod
battery
piston
Since the piston sits right under the explosion of gas and oxygen, it's the first part to feel the pressure. That's transferred to the connecting rod and then the crankshaft, converting the movement into a twisting motion.
What is a type of electrical generator used in some vehicles, but it doesn't produce a continuous electrical current?
alternator
magneto
Old cars and some race vehicles use magnetos instead of a regular alternator. It's also common on lawn mowers, chain saws and other small engines. It generates a lot of high voltage at just the right time, instead of always producing about the same voltage.
battery
distributor
With most washer jets, how do you clear debris and change the direction they spray?
needle
Because spray nozzles have small openings, you need something that can fit inside of it without damaging anything. From there, you can knock out dirt, salt, or whatever else is stuck, plus point the nozzle in a different direction, if it's not hitting the intended target squarely.
screwdriver
socket wrench
pipe wrench
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This is the vehicle component that will ignite the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders.
catalytic converter
lighter
spark plug
Spark plugs shoot an electrical pulse across the gap at the tip, which creates a spark in the air. That small spark will trigger the combustion process, once the air and fuel have been compressed in the cylinder, unlocking the energy.
primer
Where is the O2 sensor located in a car?
air intake
exhaust manifold
The whole purpose of the O2 sensor is to measure how much unburned oxygen is present in the exhaust gases. The car's ECU uses this feedback to change the air-fuel mixture for the most efficient operation possible.
cylinders
intake manifold
If you engage the parking brake on a hill and the car starts to roll down, what might need to be adjusted or replaced?
compression ratio
brake fluid level
cable
The parking brake cable can stretch out over time and even break, making it necessary to adjust or replace. Another possibility is that the brake pads for the emergency brake have worn out, although that's usually less likely.
master cylinder
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Control arms perform what job for a car?
connect the suspension to the frame
While the name might make them sound like they control something, control arms actually just bring stability to the suspension system, and in turn allow the car to maneuver with greater precision.
keep the wheels going in the right place
reduce bouncing
cut down on vibrations
What does a breather connect to in a car?
cabin
crankcase
The breather is part of the ventilation system for a crankcase, which allows gases from that area of the engine to escape in a measured or controlled way. Without this, your engine could experience any number of problems.
exhaust
air intake
What does an exhaust resonator do?
builds positive pressure
spools exhaust gases
eliminates certain sound waves
Because sound moves in waves, engineers can create resonators that will get rid of any undesirable qualities, whatever those may be. The design of each resonator is different, and removing it will greatly change how your vehicle sounds.
channels good feedback to the engine
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If different lights on a car dim while the engine is running, what is most likely the part that needs replacing?
battery
alternator
The source of power for on-board electrical systems while any car is running, the alternator is an essential component. While a bad electrical connection might make one set of lights like the gauge cluster or one headlight dim, multiple lights dimming likely means the alternator is going out.
fuse
ignition wire
What is a heavy disc attached to the end of the engine's crankshaft?
clutch
flywheel
The flywheel is a key component to transferring the rotational motion of the crankshaft to the transmission, as it helps maintain smooth and even motion.
transfer plate
rotational disc
What components transfer electricity to the spark plugs?
nano fields
ignition wires
The ignition wires are the second-to-last part of the car's ignition system, providing the final connection to the spark plugs. They also have a rubber boots that seal around the spark plug wells to maintain proper compression.
ignition couplings
distributor couplings
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What assembly do you attach the wheels of a car to?
lug nuts
lug assembly
wheel hub
The wheel hub assembly sits between the brakes, whether they are of the disc or drum variety, and the actual drive axle. The bolts you use to mount the wheel are part of the hub.
wheel mounting thing
What is the part of the brake system that actually pushes the pads against the rotors?
lines
master cylinder
calipers
The calipers pinch toward each other as hydraulic pressure increases, pressing the brake pads against the rotors, slowing or stopping the vehicle. The amount of force exerted by calipers is based much on the number of pistons present in them.
pedal
What is the job of an airbag inflator?
ensure stability after the airbag inflates
ensure you're in the proper position
inflate the airbag instantly
Airbags essentially explode out of their hiding spots in a crash, thanks to the inflators, which pump them up in essentially no time. Exactly how the inflator does that depends on the design.
tighten the seat belts
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What component spins in the cylinder head of DOHC and SOHC engines?
valves
valve springs
camshaft
The camshaft isn't perfectly round, so it's not quite like a rod. Instead, the different lobes are shaped to control how the exhaust and intake valves open, including how long they stay open and closed, impacting performance accordingly.
spin regulator
What is the part that attaches to the steering wheel?
wheel hub
steering control module
steering pole
steering column
Especially if a car has a rack-and-pinion steering setup, but even if it doesn't, the steering wheel sits on and rotates at the end of the steering column. The steering column then attaches to the intermediate shaft.
You Got:
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