Basic Automotive Systems--Terminology, Summary, Quiz

TERMINOLOGY

AC generator Antilock brake system (ABS) Brake booster Carbon monoxide (CO) Clutch Combustion; Combustion chamber; Compressor; Condenser; Connecting rod; Constant velocity (CV) joint; Convertible Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Cradle Crankshaft; Crankshaft position sensor Crossover vehicles Cylinder block Cylinder head; Differential Disc brakes Distributor Drivetrain Drum brakes Engine block Evaporator Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) Exhaust manifold Flange Friction Gear ratio Hatchback Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) Hydrocarbons (HC) Hydroforming Ignition coil Intake manifold; Liftback; Lug nut; Manifold; Master cylinder; Oil pan; Oil sump;

On-board diagnostics (OBD II) Orifice tube Oxides of nitrogen (NOX) Pickup Piston Port Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) Pressure cap Rack and pinion Radiator Receiver/dryer Recirculating ball Refrigerant Regenerative braking Running gear Sedan Shock absorber Solenoid Spark plug Sport utility vehicle (SUV) Spring Station wagon Steering gear Stud Thermostat Thermostatic expansion valve (TEV or TXV) Torque converter Torsion bar Transaxle Transfer case Unibody Valve train Van Water jacket Water pump

SUMMARY

+++Dramatic changes to the automobile have occurred over the last 50 years, including the addition of emission control systems, more fuel-efficient and cleaner-burning engines, and lighter body weight.

+++In addition to being lighter than body-over-frame vehicles, unibodies offer better occupant protection by distributing impact forces throughout the vehicle.

+++Today's computerized engine control systems regulate such things as air and fuel delivery, ignition timing, and emissions. The result is an increase in overall efficiency.

+++All automotive engines are classified as internal combustion, because the burning of the fuel and air occurs inside the engine. Diesel engines share the same major parts as gasoline engines, but they don’t use a spark to ignite the air-fuel mixture.

+++The cooling system maintains proper engine temperatures. Liquid cooling is more efficient than air cooling and it’s more commonly used.

+++The lubrication system distributes motor oil throughout the engine. This system also contains the oil filter necessary to remove dirt and other foreign matter from the oil.

+++The fuel system is responsible not only for fuel storage and delivery, but also for atomizing and mixing it with the air in the correct proportion.

+++The exhaust system has three primary purposes: to channel toxic exhaust away from the passenger compartment, to quiet the exhaust pulses, and to burn the emissions in the exhaust.

+++The electrical system of an automobile includes the ignition, starting, charging, and lighting systems. Electronic engine controls regulate these systems very accurately through the use of computers.

+++Modern automatic transmissions use a computer to match the demand for acceleration with engine speed, wheel speed, and load conditions. It then chooses the proper gear ratio and, if necessary, initiates a gear change.

+++The running gear is critical to controlling the vehicle. It consists of the suspension system, braking system, steering system, and wheels and tires.

+++Hybrid electric vehicles have an internal combustion engine and an electrical motor that are used to propel the vehicle together or separately.

QUIZ

1. Under the CAFE standards, for what are vehicles tested?

2. Define internal combustion.

3. In addition to the battery, what does the charging system include?

4. Which of the following is not a typical emission control system?

a. EGR c. EPA

b. PCV d. air injection

5. Automatic transmissions use a instead of a clutch to transfer power from the flywheel to the transmission's input shaft.

a. differential

b. U-joint

c. torque converter

d. constant velocity joint

6. Which of the following is not one of the strokes of a four-cycle engine?

a. compression c. intake

b. exhaust d. combustion

7. Technician A says that the PCV system is designed to limit CO emissions. Technician B says that catalytic converters reduce HC emissions at the tailpipe. Who is correct?

a. Technician A c. Both A and B

b. Technician B d. Neither A nor B

8. Which type of engine is classified as internal combustion?

a. gasoline c. both a and b

b. diesel d. neither a nor b

9. What does the valve train do?

a. It delivers fuel to a device that controls the amount of fuel going to the engine.

b. It houses the major parts of the engine.

c. It converts reciprocating motion to rotary motion.

d. It opens and closes the intake and exhaust ports of each cylinder.

10. Technician A says that liquid cooling an engine maintains a constant operating temperature.

Technician B says that oil is circulated through the cooling system to remove heat from the engine's parts. Who is correct?

a. Technician A c. Both A and B

b. Technician B d. Neither A nor B

11. An engine won’t start and no spark is found at the spark plugs when the engine is turned over by the starter. Technician A says that the problem is probably the battery. Technician B says that the ignition system is most likely at fault.

Who is correct?

a. Technician A c. Both A and B

b. Technician B d. Neither A nor B

12. Which emission control system introduces exhaust gases into the intake air to reduce the formation of NOX in the combustion chamber?

a. evaporative emission controls

b. exhaust gas recirculation

c. air injection

d. early fuel evaporation

13. Technician A says that many vehicles use an AC generator as the charging unit. Technician B says that many vehicles use an alternator as the charging unit. Who is correct?

a. Technician A c. Both A and B

b. Technician B d. Neither A nor B

14. Technician A says that a transaxle delivers torque to the front and the rear drive axles. Technician B says that a transaxle is most commonly found in 4WD pickups and SUVs. Who is correct?

a. Technician A c. Both A and B

b. Technician B d. Neither A nor B

15. Which of the following is not part of the running gear?

a. differential

b. steering

c. suspension

d. brakes

16. Which of the following statements about unibody construction is not true?

a. A unibody is a stressed hull structure in which each of the body parts supplies structural sup port and strength to the entire vehicle.

b. Unibody vehicles tend to be tightly constructed because the major parts are all welded together.

c. All unibodies are constructed from steel.

d. Most front-wheel-drive unibody vehicles have a cradle or partial frame.

17. A four-cylinder engine can have ignition coils.

a. one

b. two

c. four

d. one, two, or four

18. Which of the following components are used to dampen the upward and downward movement of a vehicle's springs?

a. torsion bars

b. shock absorbers

c. constant velocity joints

d. connecting linkages

19. True or False? A hybrid electric vehicle uses regenerative braking to safely stop.

20. What two major engine components work together to change the reciprocating motion of the pistons into a rotary motion?

a. crankshaft and connecting rod

b. camshaft and crankshaft

c. camshaft and connecting rod

d. crankshaft and valve train

21. Technician A says that an air-conditioning system removes heat from inside the vehicle.

Technician B says that the heating system adds heat to the inside of the vehicle. Who is correct?

a. Technician A c. Both A and B

b. Technician B d. Neither A nor B

22. The boiling point of the coolant in an engine's cooling system is raised by the…

a. thermostat

b. pressure cap

c. radiator

d. water pump

23. While discussing the operation of air-conditioning systems: Technician A says that in order for the refrigerant to release heat, it must be at a low temperature and pressure. Technician B says that in order for the refrigerant to absorb heat, it must be at a high temperature and pressure. Who is correct?

a. Technician A c. Both A and B

b. Technician B d. Neither A nor B

24. While discussing HEVs: Technician A says that in a series hybrid, the engine is only used to power a generator to recharge the batteries. Technician B says that in a parallel hybrid, the engine always supplies some of the power to move the vehicle.

Who is correct?

a. Technician A c. Both A and B

b. Technician B d. Neither A nor B

25. Which of the following is not accomplished by the fuel and air system of a gasoline engine?

a. stores the fuel for later use

b. collects and cleans the outside air

c. delivers fuel to a device that will control the amount of fuel going to the engine

d. keeps the fuel and air ratio constant regard less of the conditions under which the engine is operating

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