Simplified Automotive Terms for Ladies
Automotive Terms Definitions
Click on the letter below to find the defintion you are looking for.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J K L | M | N O | P Q R | S | T | U V W
We are providing these pages of automotive terms to assist those donating or recycling cars or other vehicles.
Terms beginning with the Letter C
- Calliper
- Part of the braking system the holds and operates the brake pads; presses disk brake pads against brake rotor to provide friction to stop the wheel.
- Cam
- A rotating lobe that changes regular circular motion into an irregular circular motion or into a back and forth motion.
- Camshaft
- A shaft having a series of cams at intervals along its length, for operating the engine valve mechanism. Made up of a series of egg-shaped sections, which as they rotate raise and lower part of the valve train, which in turn causes the valves to open and close.
- Capacitor
- A device for receiving and storing a charge of electricity; condenser.
- Car Banging
- Creating a fake accident in order to defraud insurance companies by using fake and falsified repaid bills.
- Carbon Deposit Coke
- the residue from burnt gases inside the combustion chamber, which if excessive will reduce engine efficiency.
- Carbon Monoxide CO
- extremely poisonous gas which is potentially lethal. Created during combustion of fuel and is the result of incomplete combustion due to lack of oxygen.
- Carburettor
- A device that vaporizes fuel and mixes it with air in an exact ratio and rate before it is supplied to the intake manifold. A meter that controls engine rpm and fuel mixture.
- Catalytic Converter
- Exhaust emissions device that breaks down harmful exhaust emissions into carbon dioxide nitrogen and water by use of catalysts.
- Cetane Rating
- Diesel fuel rating system of how quickly the fuel burns. The higher the rating the slower and more controlled the diesel burns.
- Chassis
- Frame of a car,which the body, engine, suspension, transmission of a vehicle are fastened.
- Choke
- A valve at the top of the carburettor designed to richen mixtures for easier starting in colder weather.
- Clutch
- A device in a machine for transmitting motion or for disconnecting related moving parts.
- Combustion Chamber
- The area in the cylinder where the air/fuel mixture actually ignites and burns. Located between the top of the piston and the cylinder head.
- Coolant
- Liquid designed to remove surplus heat from the engine. Coolant lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point as well as prevents corrosion.
- Cooling Fan
- A fan that pulls air past the radiator to keep the engine from overheating at low vehicle speeds.
- Crankshaft
- A series of offset levers that connect to the pistons through connecting rods. As the pistons move, they turn the crankshaft, which turns the combustion into torque to drive the car.
- Cylinder
- A round chamber for the piston to travel through.
- Cylinder Head
- A casting forming part of the combustion chamber; housing for the valves, sparkplugs and injectors and carries part of the cooling system.
- Cylinder Head Gasket
- Gasket located between the cylinders and the cylinder head to prevent leaks of compression and coolant.
