1. Caliper
   Catalytic converter
2. Brakes
   Radiator

A catalytic converter helps to reduce the emission of three dangerous substances -- carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. By keeping these components under control, your catalytic converter helps to reduce air and water pollution over time. If your catalytic converter isn't doing its job, you'll likely find out the next time your car is due for an emissions test.

1. VIN
   PID
2. CNC
   PCN

The vehicle identification number, or VIN, on your car serves much the same purpose as your Social Security number does for you. It helps to identify your unique vehicle and distinguish it from other cars.

1. Tires
   Brakes
2. Windshield
   Engine

When you push the brake pedal, the brake pads clamp around the rotor of your car, forcing the vehicle to a stop. As brake pads wear away, you may hear a squeal or even a grinding sound when you try to brake. This sound means it's time to invest in some new brake pads.

1. 3,000 miles
   5,000 miles
2. 20,000 miles
   100,000 miles

Some car maintenance companies have promoted the idea that every car requires an oil change every 3,000 miles, but that isn't necessarily the case. According to AAA, most vehicles can go 5,000 to 7,500 miles between oil changes. Always check your manual to see how often your oil needs to be swapped out, and head in for an oil change at least once a year if you haven't put very many miles on the car.

1. Muffler
   Alternator
2. Catalytic converter
   Radiator

Your engine performs a tremendous amount of work converting fuel into power for your drive, and all that work produces a lot of heat. The radiator inside your car allows the coolant from the engine to release heat before circulating back into the engine to repeat the process.

1. Muffler
   Brake
2. Clutch
   Alternator

While many modern cars are equipped with automatic transmission, some vehicles are still manual, which means you have to shift gears yourself as you drive. This involves pressing down on the clutch, and timing your actions properly to keep the engine from stalling.

1. Transmission
   ABS
2. Suspension
   Spoiler

In simple terms, your transmission transforms the energy from your car's engine into the movement of the tires. That means transferring the correct amount of power to the wheels based on the speed you're trying to achieve.

1. Charging the battery
   Reducing noise
2. Improving fuel economy
   Assisting with braking

Ever seen that pipe sticking out of the rear of your car? That's part of the muffler. This device is filled with tubes that are designed to reduce engine noise. As sound waves from the engine enter these tubes, they bounce around and break up, reducing the noise your car makes as you drive.

1. Gears
   Brakes
2. Engine
   Seatbelts

On a typical automatic transmission, the gears are represented by the letters PRNDL -- park, reverse, neutral, drive and low -- near the shifter. Just don't get a craving for chips when you think about your gearshift!

1. Cooling the engine
   Assisting with braking
2. Charging the battery
   Reducing engine noise

The alternator in a car acts as a generator of sorts. It connects to the engine, allowing the car battery to charge when the engine is running. Without an alternator, the battery would run out of juice fairly quickly.

1. Engine
   Axle
2. Rotor
   Hubcaps

Rotors are disks attached to the wheels of your car. When you brake, the pads compress around the rotors to stop the vehicle. These disks are at risk for damage if you fail to change your brake pads when they wear out.

1. Muffler
   Axle
2. Alternator
   Caliper

A typical passenger car has two axles, and each axle has one tire at either end. The axles transfer rotation from the engine to the tires to get you moving along the highway.

1. 5 percent
   20 percent
2. 33 percent
   50 percent

Spare tires in the trunk used to be a given, but today around a third of all new cars don't actually come with a spare, according to Consumer Reports. Car makers not only save money by not supplying the tire, but also can slightly improve fuel economy by removing that extra weight.

1. 5 to 10 psi
   12 to 18 psi
2. 20 to 25 psi
   32 to 35 psi

Improperly inflated tires can not only be a danger on the road, but can also reduce both your fuel economy and the life of your tires. While 32 to 35 psi is a typical range for tires, you should always check your manual to confirm the correct psi for your ride.

1. Lull
   Jack
2. Mike
   Tree

A jack is a surprisingly simple device that holds a car off the ground while you change the tire. A standard screw or scissor jack comes with many new cars, while auto shops use hydraulic or mechanical jacks.

1. Braking
   Steering
2. Speaker
   Battery charging

Anti-lock braking systems, or ABS, are designed to prevent your wheels from locking up. On older cars without ABS, you're often told to pump the brakes when wheels lock, but this pumping isn't necessary with ABS technology.

1. 5,000 miles
   15,000 miles
2. 30,000 miles
   Never

Believe it or not, modern platinum or iridium tipped spark plugs can last 100,000 miles or more! Despite that, most mechanics recommend replacing them at specific intervals, such as every 30,000 miles, to reduce your risk of a breakdown.

1. Circle
   Rectangle
2. Octagon
   Star

If you tighten your lug nuts one after the other, moving around the tire, you could run the risk of one or more coming loose. Instead, use a star pattern to tighten lugs on a diagonal to ensure they stay tight.

1. Dipstick
   Drum bone
2. Tuning pointer
   Oil straw

Checking the oil level in a car is one of the most basic DIY maintenance tasks. To do it right, park the car on level ground, pop the hood and pull out the dipstick that's hidden under the oil cap. Wipe it clean then reinsert it before pulling it out to see how your oil levels stack up.

1. 6 months to a year
   1 to 2 years
2. 3 to 5 years
   10 years or more

A typical car battery lasts 3 to 5 years, according to AAA. Plan on a shorter life for your battery if you take lots of short trips or live in a hot climate.

1. Steering
   Braking
2. Navigation
   Fuel injection

Calipers are metal devices used in the braking system of a car. Brake pads are attached to the calipers, which are mounted near the rotors. When pads wear out, the calipers can eventually become damaged if the pads aren't replaced.

1. Improve fuel economy
   Reduce engine noise
2. Provide comfortable ride
   Assist in braking

The suspension system in a car consists of springs and shock absorbers. This system not only absorbs the bumps on the road so you don't feel them as much, but also helps to keep tires in contact with the road regardless of the driving conditions.

1. When your car is more than 5 years old
   When your manual says you should
2. When you want to save money
   When it's on sale

While some cars absolutely benefit from premium gas, the majority will enjoy similar performance when filled with regular fuel. Check your manual to see whether you need to splurge on premium, and if you don't, stick with regular gas and soak up the cost savings.

1. Crib
   Chassis
2. Roller
   Cage

The chassis of a car is the frame that systems like the brakes, steering and tires are attached to. A rolling chassis generally includes the frame as well as the engine, tires and other parts needed to make the car move.

1. Every month
   Every 6 months
2. Every 3 years
   Every 10 years

AAA recommends replacing wipers blades every 6 months. You should also swap them out for new ones if they are streaking, squeaking or skipping.

1. Tires
   Muffler
2. Alternator
   Brakes

If air gets into your brake lines, you may notice that the brake pedal feels or functions differently. To fix this, you must bleed the brakes by removing the air using the brake bleeder screw and some relatively simple tools.

1. Let go of the wheel
   Pump the brakes
2. Hit the gas
   Bail out

Cars without anti-lock brakes are prone to skidding out of control if the wheels lock up. If this happens to you, pump the brakes to regain control of the car.

1. 5,000 miles
   15,000 miles
2. 30,000 miles
   60,000 miles

A serpentine belt connects various parts, like the alternator and pumps. Plan to replace this belt every 60,000 to 100,000 miles to keep your car in top condition.

1. Alternator
   Flap
2. Rotor
   Spoiler

A spoiler is a piece of sporty trim offered as an option on many cars. While it gets its name from the fact that it ruins the aerodynamics of the vehicle, it also helps to prevent lift -- and looks cool, to boot.

1. High beams
   Road lights
2. Wind lights
   Fog lights

When it's foggy outside, standard headlights can reflect off the fog and make visibility worse. Fog lights, located closer to the road surface, are designed to shine down onto the road itself rather than reflecting off the fog.

1. 3,000 to 5,000 miles
   5,000 to 10,000 miles
2. 15,000 to 30,000 miles
   40,000 to 50,000 miles

While the exact mileage you can get out of an engine air filter depends on driving conditions, AAA recommends springing for a new one every 15 to 30,000 miles. Not only will this allow you to maximize fuel efficiency, but it also keeps unwanted debris out of your engine.

1. Sunny day
   Stop and go traffic
2. Going down hill
   Traveling on the highway

While most cars these days use an automatic transmission, many still come with extra gears beyond the standard drive, reverse and neutral and park. Switching to low gear might be helpful if you are driving down a steep hill, or even driving slowly on an icy road where braking could cause you to slide.

1. Add power steering fluid
   Adjust tire pressure
2. Buy a new steering wheel
   Trade in your car

That terrible screech when you turn your steering wheel often occurs when power steering fluid is low. Other culprits include dirt and debris in the lines or a failing pump in the steering system.

1. Take driver's ed
   Buy a big car
2. Check safety ratings
   Wear your seatbelt

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, a staggering 50 percent of victims who died in car accidents in 2016 weren't buckled up. When you consider that around 90 percent of all drivers and passengers nationwide do wear a seat belt, you kind of have to wonder what the other 10 percent are thinking leaving that belt unbuckled.

1. 5,000
   10,000
2. 25,000
   50,000

Wearing down the tread on your tires can leave you vulnerable to an accident. While most tires are designed to last between 25,000 and 50,000 miles, you should check your wheels periodically to ensure your treads still measure at least 4/32" of an inch or more.