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 engine’s accessories.
Category: Glossary of Car Terms
What is Defroster?
A setting of your car’s heating controls that lets you easily remove frost and fog from your vehicle’s windows.
What is ECT?
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) – The Engine Coolant Temperature sensor is used to detect the engine coolant temperature.
What is Engine Temperature Sender?
The engine temperature sender measures the temperature of the engine’s coolant. It sends this information to many places – the engine computer, the radiator fan, the engine temperature warning light, or engine temperature gauge.
What is Engine Block?
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.
What is Exhaust Hanger?
Exhaust hangers keep the exhaust system in place, while also preventing excess vibration and noise from reaching the passengers.
What is EPA?
An acronym for the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal government agency that establishes regulations and oversees the enforcement of laws related to the environment. Included in these laws are regulations on the amount and content of automotive emissions.
What is DOHC?
Double Over Head Cam (DOHC). A DOHC engine has two camshafts in the cylinder head – one for the exhaust valves, and one for the intake valves. This allows greater efficiency and greater power.
What is Dieseling?
A symptom whereby an engine continues to run after the ignition has been turned off. When this occurs, the firing of the engine is uneven, often causing a sound much like a diesel engine.
What is Differential?
A part of a car’s driveline that takes the power from the engine and splits it between two wheels or two axles. A differential also lets two wheels on the same axle rotate at different speeds. For instance, when you go around a corner, the inside wheel turns slower than the outside wheel. Without a…
What is Electric Ground?
A ground is necessary to complete an electric circuit. It serves as a destination for a positive flow of electrical energy.
What is Engine Knocking?
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.
What is Electric Cooling Fans?
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.
What is Engine Mounts?
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.
What is Engine Accessory?
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 conditioning compressor, as well as many others.
What is EGR?
In internal combustion engines, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is a nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions reduction technique used in petrol/gasoline and diesel engines. EGR works by recirculating a portion of an engine’s exhaust gas back to the engine cylinders. In a gasoline engine, this inert exhaust displaces the amount of combustible matter in the cylinder. This…
What is Exhaust system?
The exhaust system carries exhaust away from the engine and away from the car. The exhaust system includes the exhaust manifold, the oxygen sensor, the catalytic converter, the muffler, and the tailpipe.
What is ECM?
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
What is ECU?
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 efficiency and power. Read more: ECM
What is Emissions?
Emissions are the byproducts of combustion. After combustion is complete, water, gases, and carbon are released through the car’s exhaust system as emissions.