1. Gas tank
   Bumper
2. Shock absorber
   Side panel

In years gone by, the bumper stood proud, separate from the rest of the bodywork of your vehicle and protected it in the event of an accident. This has disappeared in modern designs.

1. Gear shift
   Clutch pedal
2. Handbrake
   Windshield-wiper toggle

In manual transmissions, this pedal is pressed down by the driver's left foot, which in turn engages the clutch plate and allows for a new gear to be selected.

1. Bumper
   Clutch cable
2. High tension leads
   Fuel pipe

This steel cable connects the clutch linkage in the transmission to the clutch pedal. It is only found on a car with a manual transmission.

1. Turn signal lights
   Taillights
2. Headlights
   Fog lamps

The headlights on a vehicle ensure that the driver can see in conditions where light is poor or at night.

1. Sparkplug
   Clutch pedal
2. Ring gear
   Camshaft

The ring gear is the large outer gear in the transmission's planetary gear system.

1. Exhaust system
   Gas tank
2. Radiator
   Manifold

The exhaust system removes the gases formed during the combustion process within the engine.

1. Distributor
   Crankshaft
2. Tailpipe
   Air filter

An air filter ensures the air entering the engine, which is used during the combustion process, is kept clean and free of any particles that may damage the engine.

1. Crankshaft
   Spark plug
2. Fuel filter
   Exhaust system

As fuel burns, it pushes the pistons within the engine, which in turn rotate the crankshaft, which then moves the vehicle, either forward or backward determined by the gear selected.

1. Piston
   Spark plugs
2. Cambelt
   Radiator fan

Spark plugs are a key factor in a vehicle starting. They provide the spark that ignites the air-fuel mixture which starts the motor and keeps it running.

1. Radiator
   Headlights
2. Bumper
   Grille

Appearing on the front of the car — specifically in front of the engine — the grille is often used by manufacturers as an iconic way to identify their cars. Think of BMW and the famous grille that appears on all their models.

1. Ring gear
   Seals and gaskets
2. Flywheel
   Sump

There are various seals and gaskets found within your car's transmission system. This ensures that the vital hydraulic fluid does not leak out.

1. Tires
   Seals and gaskets
2. Hubcap
   Brake drum

A car has only four points of contact with the road — its tires. They provide essential grip in all conditions. Specialist vehicles, like off-roaders, can have very specific tires.

1. Hood
   Rear spoiler
2. Trunk
   Bumper

Many sports cars have spoilers on the back of the vehicle. These provide more aerodynamic downforce for the vehicle.

1. Piston
   Spark plug
2. Water pump
   Engine block

Combustion in the engine's cylinders causes the pistons to move. This, in turn, moves the crankshaft and drives the car forward or backward, depending on the gear selected.

1. Cyclinder
   Camshaft
2. Piston
   High tension leads

High tension leads connect the sparks plugs to the distributor. The word "tension," in this case, is another word for "voltage."

1. Brake fluid reservoir
   Sump
2. Fuel filter
   Oil pump

The basic function of the oil pump is to circulate oil, which lubricates moving parts within the engine such as the camshaft, bearings and pistons.

1. Clutch pedal
   Automatic transmission pump (gear pump)
2. Brake rotor
   Tailpipe

Often considered to be the heart of the transmission system, this pump moves hydraulic fluid through the gearing system to ensure it operates efficiently.

1. Water pump
   High tension leads
2. Automatic transmission pump
   Ignition system

This system helps to start the engine by generating a spark (generally) that causes the air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber to ignite.

1. Ring gear
   Flywheel
2. Brake pad
   Starter motor

Found in manual transmissions, a flywheel does two things. Firstly, it provides a toothed gear for the starter motor to engage on, rotating the engine on startup. Secondly, it is used to push torque from the car's engine to its transmission by use of the clutch.

1. Starter motor
   High tension leads
2. Sparkplugs
   Planetary gear seat

A crucial part of the transmission, this helps to make all the various ratios that the gears in the transmission can produce. It consists of the sun, planetary and ring gears.

1. Trunk
   Bumper
2. Tires
   Hood

The hood is the protective cover for the engine.

1. Rear spoiler
   Hood
2. Trunk
   Bumper

The trunk is a protected storage area on your vehicle.

1. Brake fluid
   Water
2. Gasoline
   Hydraulic fluid

The hydraulic fluid in the transmission system ensures that all moving parts, of which there are many, remain lubricated.

1. Cylinder head
   Water pump
2. Oil filter
   Fuel filter

This pump ensures that coolant that is kept in the radiator is moved through the coolant system on the car, keeping the engine nice and cool, relatively speaking.

1. Rear window
   Windshield
2. Hubcap
   Windshield wiper

Raining? The windshield wiper clears the windscreen to keep the driver's view clear. The first operational windscreen wiper was patented by Mary Anderson in 1903.

1. Roof rack
   Sunroof
2. Hood
   Roof

Roof racks attach to the top of the vehicle and can carry luggage, surfboards, equipment — well, almost anything that fits.

1. Clutch
   Sun gear
2. Oil filter
   High tension leads

The sun gear is the central gear in the transmission's planetary gear system.

1. Carburetor
   Starter motor
2. Spark plugs
   Engine mounting

The carburetor regulates the amount of air that enters the engine while it is running. If not calibrated correctly, the mix can be too lean or too rich.

1. Gas tank
   Radiator
2. Sump
   Oil filter

This reservoir holds coolant, which is used to keep the engine cool during operation. It also helps to regulate the coolant to the right temperature before passing it back into the system.

1. Quarter panel
   Door panel
2. Roof
   Hood

Quarter panels are found between the rear doors and trunk. The similar part on the front of the vehicle is the fender.

1. Oil filter
   Sump
2. Fuel pump
   Thermostat

A thermostat ensures that coolant is only pumped from the radiator once the engine has warmed up sufficiently.

1. Flywheel
   Clutch cable
2. Transmission bands
   Sun gear

Made from steel, these straps are found on drums within the transmission. These drums will rotate when the band is not pressed against it to grip it. Stopping their rotating means components within the transmission interact in different ways, depending on what the driver is doing regarding gear selection.

1. Windshield
   Side window
2. Rear window
   Sunroof

Side windows are found in the doors of the vehicle. They can be lowered and raised again when necessary.

1. Door handle
   Camshaft
2. Side mirror
   Rearview mirror

All modern cars are equipped with two side mirrors, one on the left and one on the right of the car. This helps the driver observe behind them to the left and the right, which is crucial when changing lanes.

1. Hubcap
   Tires
2. Rims
   Brake drum

This is a covering for the wheel nuts that hold the wheel to car axle.

1. Planet carrier
   Transmission bands
2. Gear shift
   Clutch wire

The planetary gear system within a transmission system is attached to the planet carrier, which is then connected to the output shaft.

1. Radiator
   Cambelt
2. High tension leads
   Fan belt

This belt, made from rubber, connects a number of components of the engine, including the cooling fan, alternator and the crankshaft pulley.

1. Gear pump
   Clutch piston
2. Accelerator
   Flywheel

Clutch pistons help to engage the clutch and activate the gearshift in a manual transmission vehicle.

1. Valve
   Camshaft
2. Cylinder head
   Crankshaft

Found above the cylinder, the cylinder head is the area the piston compresses into as it moves. It also houses intake and exhaust valves, springs and lifters and the combustion chamber.

1. Side panel
   Rocker
2. Door
   Hood

The rocker is a body panel found below the door. It is normally very small and not found on every model of vehicle.