The power source that creates the energy to make a car move. An engine can be run by gas, diesel fuel, electricity, steam or any other number of power sources.

An engine accessory is a peripheral piece of equipment that runs directly off of the engine’s power to supply energy or a fluid to another part of the car. Engine accessories include the alternator, power steering pump, air pump, air

The engine block is where the cylinders and pistons reside. The block is the strongest part of the engine and withstands tremendous pressures while the engine is operating.

When your engine knocks or pings, it is a sign that the engine is firing at the wrong time. This could be because of bad ignition timing, an incorrect grade of gas, or another ignition or fuel system fault.

Engine mounts are often made of metal and rubber. Engine mounts help support the engine, and also help to prevent engine vibrations from shaking the entire car.

Electronic Control Module (ECM). The ECM is a powerful computer that manages the Engines Ignition, Fuel Injection, and Emission Systems. In some vehicles it may control the operation of the Transmission and Anti-Lock Brake Systems as well. Read more: ECM

Many modern cars with fuel injection have a central computer called an Engine Control Unit (ECU). This controls the car’s fuel and ignition systems by taking information from various sensors to determine how to run the engine with the most

Electric cooling fans are part of many cars’ cooling systems. They use a heat activated switch to turn on and off as needed to help keep your engine cool.

A ground is necessary to complete an electric circuit. It serves as a destination for a positive flow of electrical energy.

Electric motors are often used in accessories such as power windows or power seats to provide movement with minimial effort by the user.

Wire is what the electrical system uses to transmit electricity from one component to another. If a wire breaks, it creates a short circuit.

Also called the parking brake. The emergency brake is used when a car’s main braking system experiences a complete failure.

Emissions are the byproducts of combustion. After combustion is complete, water, gases, and carbon are released through the car’s exhaust system as emissions.

Part of a car’s ignition system. The distributor receives the spark from the coil and literally distributes it amongst the spark plugs. In addition to the distributor itself, there is a distributor cap and distributor rotor which send power to

The distributor cap contains the terminals that the spark plug wires plug into. When the distributor sends power to a spark plug, it goes to the cap first and then to the spark plug wire and to the spark plug.

The rotor spins around inside the distributor. As it turns, it comes into contact with the terminals for each spark plug on the distributor cap. When this happens, it sends current at that precise moment to the spark plug, which

An acronym for Data Link Connector. Formerly referred to as the ALDL, this is the connector to which diagnostic scan tools are connected. Under OBD II, the DLC is a standardized 16-cavity connector and has a standardized location under the

The process of going from a higher gear (for instance, fourth gear) to a lower gear (for instance, second gear) with a manual or automatic transmission.

Also called a fan belt or serpentine belt, drive belts are used to drive the engine’s accessories, such as the alternator, power steering pump, or air conditioning compressor. A serpentine belt is a wide single drive belt that drives all

The system of components that connects the transmission to the wheels. The driveline consists of axles, differentials, constant velocity (CV) or universal joints, and, for cars with rear-, four-, and all-wheel drive, a driveshaft.