Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD). Rear wheel drive cars transmit power to the ground through the rear wheels.

A serpentine belt is a wide single drive belt that drives all the engine’s accessories (alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, etc.).

The pressure plate is part of the clutch. It applies pressure evenly to the clutch disc friction area, thus allowing a smooth application of power.

Pushrods are used in engines with overhead valve (OHV) designs. The camshaft in the engine block pushes up on the lifters and then on the pushrods, which then push the rocker arms, which then open the valves.

The radiator is the central component of the cooling system. It takes the heat from the engine and coolant and passes it to the surrounding air, which then cools the engine.

The radiator cap maintains a specific pressure in the cooling system so it operates efficiently.

Photochemical smog, commonly referred to simply as smog, is a by-product of the combination of HC and NO X . In the presence of sunlight these two elements form ozone (O 3), nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen nitrate; all of which

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.

The piston fits into the cylinders and is connected to the crankshaft. When a spark plug fires, it ignites the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder, pushing the piston down which then turns the crankshaft. This is how an engine makes

Piston rings fit around the pistons, and prevent combustion energy from being lost around the edges of the piston. They also prevent engine oil from getting into a cylinder.

A special type of polish designed to gently remove scratches and yellowing from plastic items such as convertible top windows and plastic lenses.

Play occurs when there is excessive free movement in your vehicle’s steering system. For instance, if you turn your steering wheel either direction from the center and nothing happens for the first two inches of travel, your steering system has

Power steering is a steering system with a high-pressure pump that boosts the driver’s steering efforts, making it easier to steer with much less effort.

A special type of fluid designed for power steering systems.

The power steering pump pumps power steering fluid to other power steering system components, allowing the driver to steer with minimal effort.

The owner’s manual is the booklet supplied with all cars when they are sold new. It is usually placed in the glovebox. Your owner’s manual contains information about the equipment your car has, what kinds of fluids and lubricants to

This is a gear found only on automatic transmissions. The park gear locks a vehicle’s transmission in place, preventing the car from moving.

This is a switch found on many modern automatic transmissions that prevents a vehicle from starting unless the gear selector is in park or neutral.

Also known as the emergency brake. The parking brake is used when parking on an incline to prevent the car from rolling away.

The parking brake cable connects the parking brake pedal or handle to the parking brakes themselves. Top