The suspension system of the car has three functions:
1. To allow the driver to have smooth control of the car,
2. To increase the comfort of the ride, and
3. To protect the mechanical parts of the car from the shocks of the road.
The suspension system in older cars used to just consist of metal springs (rather like very strong bed springs). Later shock absorbers ("shocks" were developed consisting of a valve that contains oil or gas. As the car hits a bump or hole the springs absorb the shock of the motion. The "shocks" then actually absorb the motion of the springs, shortening the duration of the bouncing motion of the springs. The shock valves move down fast when a rough part of the road is encountered. The oil or gas then absorbs the shock and releases the valve slowly back to its normal position. This gives the passengers the sensation of a smooth ride. Essentially you are riding on a cushion of oil or gas. If you have ever dived into a swimming pool you know that the water breaks your fall, it absorbs the force with which you enter the water. The fluids or gases in the "shocks" work the same way.
These days the suspension system is designed to give independent suspension to all four wheels, greatly enhancing the car's ability to absorb the various shocks encountered. The shock absorbers are also very important in protecting the mechanical parts of the car from shock. Poor "shocks" are dangerous. If the "shocks" are gone you will have reduced control over the steering of the car especially at high speeds.
Test the "shocks" on your car. Push down hard on one side of the front of your car, over one of the wheels. Push up and down to get the car to bounce. Let go. Does the car bounce once and stop? It should. Repeat this with each corner of the car to test each shock. Does it bounce up and down several times? You need to get your "shocks" checked.
The interior of your car consists of:
1. The seats and other interior comforts. The seats have controls to adjust their position, height, and slant. Most cars have air conditioning, heaters, a radio, a cigarette lighter (which can also be used for accessories such as a cellular phone). Air conditioning works on the same principle as a small refrigerator, creating cold air that is blown into the interior of the car through the vents. Most cars are equipped with seat belts and many now have air bags that will inflate automatically in the event of impact to protect the driver from hitting the windshield.
2. The dashboard, which is the command center, informs the driver what is going on by means of various dials, lights, and symbols.
when the key is turned on, the electrical power from the battery is connected up to the distributor.
The electricity reaches the distributor after passing through a special coil that causes surges of sufficient electrical pressure to create sparks. All the distributor does is distributes the electricity it receives to the engine. Specifically it distributes tiny electrical pulses to each of the spark plugs at the right intervals. The spark plugs are literally just that— they are small plugs that create the spark that will ignite the fuel to be burned in the engine.
Unibody
Many new cars these days are "uni-frame", built as a one piece unit and so they have no chassis in the old sense. Older cars are built on a chassis.
Chassis
The chassis is usually a ladder-like construction of steel, usually the strongest part of the car. It is like the foundation of a house. In a house, everything rests on the foundation.
Let’s see how the component systems of the automobile fit together:
1. The starter/ignition system causes the car to start. It gets the engine to turn over; and the distributor to send electricity to the spark plugs.
2. The fuel system delivers the food to the lion (the engine). The fuel is pumped from the fuel tank via filters to the carburetor or fuel injection system and into the cylinders for combustion.
3. The engine takes the fuel and air in through the intake valves, explodes it, sends the power generated to the transmission so the car can move forward.
4. The lubrication system keeps the moving parts of the engine lubricated so they operate smoothly despite the heat and friction.