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About This Quiz
Unless it's caused you problems in the past, you're probably only familiar with your car's powertrain because of the powertrain warranty offered by the dealership. The powertrain isn't a part you can order from the service department when something goes wrong, though. It's a series of components working together to get you and your car where you want to go.
What is the job of the differential?
it's where the fuel combustion happens
it opens or closes valves at the proper time
it compresses the air-fuel mixture
it allows wheels to turn at different RPMs
The differential turns the rotational movement from front-to-rear to side-to-side, which makes the wheels turn. Without one, your wheels would jump and skid while cornering because the outside tires travel more distance than those inside.
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What do the components of the drivetrain do?
control the steering axis inclination
add cushioning to the suspension on uneven roads
deliver the power to the wheels
The drivetrain is what delivers the power from the engine to the wheels.
shift gears
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Which is not a type of hybrid vehicle powertrain?
hybrid-electric
plug-in hybrid electric
power-split hybrid
all of these are hybrid vehicle powertrains
All of these are types of hybrid vehicle powertrains.
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All of these are components of a vehicle’s powertrain except ... ?
the drivetrain
the engine
the steering arms
A vehicle's powertrain includes the engine, the transmission and the drivetrain. But the steering arm is part of the suspension.
the transmission
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What technology replaces the mechanical linkage between the accelerator pedal and throttle with an electric alternative?
electronic integrated cockpit system
electronic throttle control
The electronic throttle control, ETC system, can replace the mechanical linkage between the accelerator pedal and the throttle. It usually consists of an accelerator pedal module, a throttle valve and a powertrain or engine control module.
radio frequency identification (RFID)
vehicular ad hoc networks
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Which is not a component of a hybrid-electric powertrain system?
battery
motor
energy storage systems
all of these are system components
Hybrid-electric powertrain systems include, among a few other components, the vehicle's battery, electric motor and energy storage systems.
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What is it a sign of if your car jerks while you're driving?
a bug or glitch in the onboard computer
clogged fuel lines
spark plug malfunction
it's probably engine trouble, including any of these
When a car jerks as its being driven, the odds are good it's engine trouble.
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What configuration, which you'll find in the BMW 3 series, isn't good for winter weather conditions?
all-wheel drive
four-wheel drive
front-wheel drive
rear-wheel drive
Vehicles with rear-wheel drive are typically well-balanced, but are known to be sketchy in winter weather conditions.
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Which is a benefit of a front-wheel drive vehicle, one of the most common powertrains in modern cars?
greater fuel economy
improved tire grip
more passenger space in the cabin
all of these are benefits
Because the engine and transaxle are directly connected in a front-wheel drive system, FWD vehicles typically have more passenger space in the cabin, improved tire grip and greater fuel economy over rear-wheel drive.
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What component coordinates the movements of the crankshaft and the camshaft?
accessory belt
power-steering belt
serpentine belt
timing belt or chain
A timing belt or chain is what coordinates the crankshaft and the camshaft.
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Which of these problems would typically be covered under a car's powertrain warranty?
bearing noise in the differential
oil leaking from the transmission front pump seal
low compression on one or more of the engine’s cylinders
all of these are covered
Typically, all of these would be covered under a powertrain warranty.
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All of these are components of a car's valvetrain, except which?
lifters
rocker arms
pushrods
all of these are components
A car's valvetrain includes lifters, pushrods, and rocker arms (and valves, too).
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What part of the car's engine is typically covered under the powertrain warranty you got when you purchased the car?
cylinder head
engine block
flywheel
all of these
The powertrain includes the engine block as well as all the engine's internal parts.
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How should your car's engine be maintained to avoid invalidating the powertrain warranty?
regular oil changes
To keep a powertrain warranty valid -- and your engine from ceasing up, regular oil changes are important.
regular battery cleaning
never top off the gas tank
flush the coolant
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Big picture, the components of the powertrain work together to transform stored energy into what kind of energy?
electric energy
kinetic energy
The powertrain components transform stored (potential) energy into kinetic energy.
potential energy
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Which is not part of the powertrain's drivetrain system?
engine
drive shaft (prop shaft)
transfer case
the wheels
The drivetrain, part of the vehicle's powertrain, is similar to the powertrain. It includes all the same components as the powertrain except the engine and transmission. It also includes the clutch, in a manual, or the torque converter in an automatic shift -- but not the wheels.
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What is a vehicle without a powertrain known as?
a barouche
a dray
a fourgon
a glider
An automobile without a powertrain is called a glider.
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What could cause a car's transmission to slip?
engine trouble
worn gears
worn transmission bands
all of the above
Transmission slipping, which means the transmission slips in or out of gear while you're driving, can be caused by a few things, including engine trouble and wear-and-tear on the transmission.
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What part of your vehicle would not be covered under the powertrain warranty you got when you purchased the car?
brake pads
coolant hoses
fuel pump
none of these would be covered
Things that have a lot of wear-and-tear, like brake pads, the clutch or CV joints and boots, are not covered under a powertrain warranty.
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The more cylinders an engine has, the more of what does it have?
torque
power
The more cylinders an engine has, the more power that engine has.
fuel efficiency
force
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Another name for the engine block is what?
crankcase
cylinder block
The engine block, which houses the pistons, is also known as the cylinder block.
cylinder head
internal combustion engine
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The engine's cylinder head is on top of its cylinders. Which is not attached to it?
fuel injectors
intake and outtake valves
spark plugs
all of these are mounted to the cylinder head
All of these are mounted to the cylinder head.
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A brand new Toyota Camry has between 178 and 268 horsepower (hp). What is horsepower?
the calculation of compression ratio based on cylinder pressure
the rate at which work is done
When James Watt wanted to compare the power of horses to the power of steam engines, he came up with this unit of measurement, which specifically measures the rate at which work is performed.
the rate at how quickly your car will accelerate
the volume of the combustion chamber
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One unit of horsepower (hp) is equal to the power that's needed to lift how many pounds by one foot in one second?
745.7 pounds
575 pounds
550 pounds
One hp is equal to the power needed to lift 550 pounds by one foot in one second.
293 pounds
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The parallel hybrid system, found in Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Civic hybrids, includes both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Which drives the car?
the electric motor
the petrol-powered engine
it's always both, in parallel
it can be either, or both
In a parallel hybrid system both the petrol-powered engine and the electric motor can individually, or jointly, drive the car.
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Which component in an internal combustion engine signals the transmission when to shift gears?
the crankshaft
The crankshaft, which converts reciprocating motion into rotational motion, is what triggers the chain of events to shift gears.
the crosshead
the cylinders
the oxidizer
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What is the most common symptom of a dry, cracked or broken crankshaft seal?
coolant leaks
oil leaks
Leaking engine oil is the most common symptom of a damaged crankshaft seal.
overheating engine
transmission fluid leaks
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The powertrain control module is considered the what of a modern car engine?
the brain
The PCM is considered the brain of a modern car engine.
the heart
the lungs
none of these comparisons
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Which type of vehicle has a transfer case?
four-wheel drive
front-wheel drive
rear-wheel drive
all of these require a transfer case
Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles are the only ones designed with a transfer case, which sends power to the front or rear differential based on information from the transfer case control module.
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When were the popular rear-wheel drive cars replaced with the now-common front-wheel drive alternative?
in the 1960s
in the 1970s
in the 1980s
Until the 1980s, automobiles were commonly rear-wheel drive.
in the 1990s
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There are two types of piston rings. There's an oil ring on the bottom of each piston, preventing oil from getting into the combustion chamber. What kind of ring is the top ring?
combustion ring
compression ring
Along with the oil ring, each piston has a compression ring on the top.
injector ring
regulating ring
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In an internal combustion engine you'll find what above each cylinder?
a connecting rod
an exhaust valve
a spark plug
Above each cylinder is a spark plug that causes the explosion that pushes down the piston.
a valve spring
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Is a vehicle's' exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system part of the powertrain?
yes, in diesel engines
Yes, the EGR is part of the powertrain in vehicles powered by diesel engines.
yes, in hybrid-electric engines
yes, in semi-automatic transmissions
no
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Adjusting what will give your car better acceleration (or more top speed if that's what you prefer)?
close-ratio transmission
final drive
Adjusting the gear in the rear differential, known as the final drive, with a taller fit will increase the vehicle's top speed, while shorter improves acceleration.
maximum piston velocity
shift gears
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The maximum speed an internal combustion engine can operate without being damaged is called what?
engine rotation
G-force
redline
All engines have a limit. The maximum speed (rpms) an internal combustion engine can operate without damage is called a "redline."
rev limiter
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You Got:
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