Whether you work on your car or just bring it to the service center, it helps to know the common parts of a car to make educated decisions on vehicle maintenance. Use this guide to help you get started and browse Sande’s glossary for more information about different car parts.
Engine
The heart and soul of your vehicle is the internal combustion engine. The engine block features parts such as the timing chain, camshaft, crankshaft, spark plugs, cylinder heads, valves and pistons.
Transmission
The transmission is a gearbox filled with gears and gear trains that makes effective use of the engine’s torque to change the gears and power the vehicle.
Battery
The battery delivers the electricity needed to run your vehicle’s electrical components. Without a battery, your car won’t run.
Alternator
Part of the electrical system, the alternator charges the battery and powers the electrical system while your car is running.
Radiator
The radiator is responsible for helping the engine keep cool by removing heat from coolant before it is pumped back through the engine.
Front Axle
Part of the suspension system, the front axle is where the front wheel hubs are attached.
Front Steering and Suspension
Helps improve the ride and handling of the vehicle. Though systems vary in makeup, they typically include shocks/struts, ball joints, tie rod ends, rack and pinion steering system and idler/pitman arms.
Brakes
Found on all four wheels, your brakes are one of the most important safety systems on your vehicle. Disc brakes can be found on the front and back wheels and feature brake pads and calipers. Drum brakes with brake shoes and wheel cylinders may be found on the back wheels of some vehicles.
Catalytic Converter
A device that controls emissions from your vehicle, the catalytic converter transforms harmful gases and pollutants into less harmful emissions before they leave the car’s exhaust system.
Muffler
Keeps the exhaust system quiet through the use of baffles or other materials that reduce or muffle the sound.
Tailpipe
Carries exhaust fumes from the muffler to outside of the vehicle.
Fuel Tank
Typically located before the rear axle, the fuel tank holds the gasoline that powers your vehicle. The placement is important to avoid areas that could crumple in a crash.
Rear Axle
Key part of the suspension system to which the rear wheels are mounted.
Rear Suspension
As with the front suspension, the rear suspension contributes to the handling and ride quality of the vehicle. Systems can vary, but they usually are made up of shocks, coil springs, ball joints, control arms and CV joints.
This is a list of auto parts, mostly for vehicles using internal combustion engines which are manufactured components of automobiles:
Car body and main parts
Body components, including trim
- Bonnet/hood
- Bonnet/hood
- Car cover
- Support stick
- Hinges and springs
- Bumper
- Unexposed bumper
- Exposed bumper
- Cowl screen
- Decklid
- Fender (wing or mudguard)
- fascia
- Grille (also called grill)
- Pillar and hard trim
- Quarter panel
- Radiator core support
- Rocker
- Roof rack
- Spoiler
- Front spoiler (air dam)
- Rear spoiler (wing)
- Rims
- Trim package
- Trunk/boot/hatch
- Trunk/boot latch
- Valance
- Welded assembly
Doors
- Anti-intrusion bar
- Outer door handle
- Inner door handle
- Window motor
- Door control module
- Door seal
- Door water-shield
- Hinge
- Door latch
- Door lock and power door locks
- Central-locking
- Fuel tank (or fuel filler) door
Windows
- Glass
- Sunroof
- Sunroof motor
- Sunroof Rail
- Sunroof Glass
- Window motor
- Window regulator
- Windshield (or windscreen)
- Windshield washer(or windscreen wiper) motor
- Window seal
Low voltage/auxiliary electrical system and electronics
Audio/video devices
- Antenna assembly
- Antenna cable
- Radio and media player
- Speaker
- Tuner
- Subwoofer
- Video player
Cameras
Low voltage electrical supply system
- Alternator
- Battery
- Performance Battery
- Battery Box
- Battery Cable terminal
- Battery Cable
- Battery Control system
- Battery Plate
- Battery tray
- Battery Cap
- Sulphuric Acid (American spelling: Sulfuric Acid) (H2SO4)
- Distilled Water
- Voltage regulator
Gauges and meters
- Ammeter
- Clinometer
- Dynamometer
- Fuel gauge
- Manometer
- Hydrometer
- Odometer (also called milometer or mileometers)
- Speedometer(also called a speed indicator)
- Tachometer (also called rev counters)
- Temperature gauge
- Tire pressure gauge
- Vacuum gauge
- Voltmeter
- Water temperature meter
- Oil pressure gauge
Ignition system
- Sparking cable
- Distributor
- Distributor Cap
- Electronic timing controller
- Ignition box
- Ignition coil
- Ignition Coil Connector
- Ignition coil parts
- Ignition magneto
- Spark plug
- Glow Plug
Lighting and signaling system
Main article: Automotive lighting
- Engine bay lighting
- Fog light (also called foglamp)
- Spotlight
- Headlight (also called headlamp)
- Headlight motor
- Interior light and lamp,
- Center dome, Vanity-Sun visor and rear side, Floor and Door-front, back
- License plate lamp (also called number plate lamp or registration plate lamp)
- Side lighting
- Brake light, Third or Center Brake light
- Tail light
- Tail light cover
- Indicator light
- Turn signal control, also called the turn signal lever, also called the “turn signal stalk”
Sensors
- ABS Sensor
- Airbag sensors
- Automatic transmission speed sensor
- Brake sensor
- Camshaft position sensor
- Crankshaft position sensor
- Coolant temperature sensor
- Fuel level sensor
- Fuel pressure sensor
- Knock sensor
- Light sensor
- MAP sensor
- Mass airflow sensor
- Oil level sensor
- Oil pressure sensor
- Oxygen sensor (O2)
- Throttle position sensor
Starting system
- Starter
- Starter drive
- starter pinion gear
- Starter motor
- Starter solenoid
- Glowplug
Electrical switches
- Battery
- Door switch
- Ignition switch
- Power window switch
- Steering column switch
- Switch cover
- Switch panel
- Thermostat
- Frame switch
- Fan ditch
- Parts and functions of starter system
- Neutral Safety Switch
Wiring harnesses
(wiring loom or cable loom)
- Air conditioning harness
- Engine compartment harness
- Interior harness
- floor harness
- Main harness
- control harness
Miscellaneous
- Air bag control module
- Alarm and siren
- Central locking system
- Chassis control computer
- Cruise control computer
- Door contact
- Engine computer and management system
- Engine control unit
- Fuse
- Ground strap
- Grab Handle
- Navigation system / GPS navigation device
- Performance chip
- Performance monitor
- Relay connector
- Remote lock
- Shift improver
- Speed controller
- Speedometer calibrator
- Transmission computer
- Wiring connector
Interior
Floor components and parts
- Carpet and rubber and other floor material
- Center console (front and rear)
Other components
- Trap (secret compartment)
- Roll cage or Exo cage
- Dash Panels
Car seat
- Arm Rest
- Bench seat
- Bucket seat
- Children and baby car seat
- Fastener
- Headrest
- Seat belt
- Seat bracket
- Seat cover
- Seat track
- Other seat components
- Back seat
- Front seat
Power-train and chassis
See also: frame (vehicle)
Braking system
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- ABS steel pin
- FR Side Sensor
- FL Side Sensor
- RR Side Sensor
- RL Side Sensor
- ABS Motor Circuit
- Adjusting mechanism (adjuster star wheel)
- Anchor
- Bleed nipple
- Brake backing plate
- Brake backing pad
- Brake cooling duct
- Brake disc
- Brake Fluid
- Brake drum
- Brake lining
- Brake pad
- Brake pedal
- Brake piston
- Brake pump
- Brake roll
- Brake rotor
- Brake servo
- Brake shoe
- Brake lining
- Shoe web
- Brake warning light
- Calibrated friction brake
- Caliper
- Combination valve
- Dual circuit brake system
- Hold-down springs (retainer springs)
- Hose
- Brake booster hose
- Air brake nylon hose
- Brake duct hose
- Hydraulic booster unit
- Load-sensing valve
- Master cylinder
- Metering valve
- Other braking system parts
- Park brake lever/handle (hand brake)
- Pressure differential valve
- Proportioning valve
- Reservoir
- Shoe return spring
- Tyre
- Vacuum brake booster
- Wheel cylinder (slave cylinder)
- Wheel stud
Electrified powertrain components
- Electric motor
- High voltage battery pack
- Battery management system
- Fuel cell
- Hydrogen tank
- DC-DC converter
- Inverter
- Charge port
- SAE J1772 (Type 1 connector)
- Type 2 connector
- CHAdeMO
- CCS
- Thermal management system
- Charger
Engine components and parts
- Diesel engine, petrol engine (gasoline engine)
- Accessory belt
- Air duct
- Air intake housing
- Air intake manifold
- Camshaft
- Camshaft bearing
- Camshaft fastener
- Camshaft follower
- Camshaft locking plate
- Camshaft pushrod
- Camshaft spacer ring
- Camshaft phase variator
- Connecting rod
- Connecting rod bearing
- Connecting rod bolt
- Connecting rod washer
- Crank case
- Crank pulley
- Crankshaft
- Crankshaft oil seal (or rear main seal)
- Cylinder head
- Cylinder head cover
- Other cylinder head cover parts
- Cylinder head gasket
- Distributor
- Distributor cap
- Drive belt
- Engine block
- Engine cradle
- Engine shake damper and vibration absorber
- Engine valve
- Fan belt
- Gudgeon pin (wrist pin)
- Harmonic balancer
- Heater
- Mounting
- Piston
- Piston pin and crank pin
- Piston pin bush
- Piston ring and circlip
- Poppet valve
- Positive crankcase ventilation valve (PCV valve)
- Pulley part
- Rocker arm
- Rocker cover
- Starter motor
- Starter pinion
- Starter ring
- Turbocharger and supercharger
- Tappet
- Timing belt
- Timing tape
- Valve cover
- Valve housing
- Valve spring
- Valve stem seal
- Water pump pulley
Engine cooling system
- Air blower
- Coolant hose (clamp)
- Cooling fan
- Fan blade
- Fan belt
- Fan clutch
- Radiator
- Radiator bolt
- Radiator (fan) shroud
- Radiator gasket
- Radiator pressure cap
- Overflow tank
- Thermostat
- Water neck
- Water neck o-ring
- Water pipe
- Water pump
- Water pump gasket
- Water tank
Engine oil systems
- Oil filter
- Oil gasket
- Oil pan
- Oil pipe
- Oil pump
- Oil strainer
- Oil suction filter
Exhaust system
See also: Exhaust gas recirculation
- Catalytic converter
- Exhaust clamp and bracket
- Exhaust flange gasket
- Exhaust gasket
- Exhaust manifold
- Exhaust manifold gasket
- Exhaust pipe
- Heat shield
- Heat sleeving and tape
- Resonator
- Muffler (Silencer)
- Spacer ring
Fuel supply system
- Air filter
- Carburetor
- Carburetor parts
- Choke cable
- Exhaust gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
- Fuel cap or fuel filler cap
- Fuel cell
- Fuel cell component
- Fuel cooler
- Fuel distributor
- Fuel filter
- Fuel filter seal
- Fuel injector
- Fuel injector nozzle
- Fuel line
- Fuel pump
- Fuel pump gasket
- Fuel pressure regulator
- Fuel rail
- Fuel tank
- Fuel tank cover
- Fuel water separator
- Intake manifold
- Intake manifold gasket
- LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) system assembly
- Throttle body
Suspension and steering systems
- Axle
- Ball joint
- Beam axle
- Camber arm
- Control arm
- Idler arm
- Kingpin
- Lateral link
- Panhard rod
- Pitman arm
- Power steering assembly and component
- Rack end
- Shock absorber
- Spindle
- Spring
- Air spring
- Coil spring
- Leaf and parabolic leaf spring
- Rubber spring
- Spiral spring
- Stabilizer bars and link
- Steering arm
- Steering box
- Steering pump
- Steering column assembly
- Steering rack (a form of steering gear; see also rack and pinion and recirculating ball)
- Steering shaft
- Steering wheel (driving wheel)
- Strut
- Stub axle
- Suspension link and bolt
- Tie Rod End
- Trailing arm
Transmission system
- Adjustable pedal
- Axle shaft
- Bell housing
- Universal joint
- Other belts
- Carrier assembly
- Chain wheel and sprocket
- Clutch assembly
- Clutch cable
- Clutch disk
- Clutch fan
- Clutch fork
- Clutch hose
- Clutch lever
- Clutch lining
- Clutch pedal
- Clutch pressure plate
- Clutch shoe
- Clutch spring
- Differential
- Differential case
- Pinion bearing
- Differential clutch
- Spider gears
- Differential casing
- Differential flange
- Differential gear
- Differential seal
- Differential case
- Flywheel
- Flywheel ring gear
- Flywheel clutch
- Gear
- Gear coupling
- Gear pump
- Gear ring
- Gear stick (gear-stick, gear lever, selection lever, shift stick, gear shifter)
- Gearbox
- Idler gear
- Knuckle
- Master cylinder
- Output shaft
- Pinion
- Planetary gear set
- Prop shaft (drive shaft, propeller shaft)
- Shift cable
- Shift fork
- Shift knob
- Shift lever
- Slave cylinder
- Speed reducer
- Speedometer gear
- Steering gear
- Torque converter
- Trans-axle housing
- Transfer case
- Transmission gear
- Transmission pan
- Transmission seal and bonded piston
- Transmission spring
- Transmission yoke
- Universal joint (UJ, card-an joint)
Miscellaneous auto parts
Air conditioning system (A/C)
- Automobile air conditioning
- A/C Clutch
- A/C Compressor
- A/C Condenser
- A/C Hose high pressure
- A/C Kit
- A/C Relay
- A/C Valve
- A/C Expansion Valve
- A/C Low-pressure Valve
- A/C Schroeder Valve
- A/C INNER PLATE
- A/C Cooler
- A/C Evaporator
- A/C Suction Hose Pipe
- A/C Discharge Hose Pipe
- A/C Gas Receiver
- A/C Condenser Filter
- A/C Cabin Filter
Bearings
- Grooved ball bearing
- Needle bearing
- Roller bearing
- Sleeve bearing
- Wheel bearing
Hose
- Fuel vapour hose
- Reinforced hose (high-pressure hose)
- Non-reinforced hose
- Radiator hose
Other miscellaneous parts
- Logo
- Adhesive tape and foil
- Air bag
- Bolt cap
- License plate bracket
- Cables
- Speedometer cable
- Cotter pin
- Dashboard
- Drag link
- Dynamic seal
- Fastener
- Gasket: Flat, moulded, profiled
- Hood and trunk release cable
- Horn and trumpet horn
- Injection-molded parts
- Instrument cluster
- Label
- Mirror
- Phone Mount
- Name plate
- Nut
- O-ring
- Paint
- Rivet
- Rubber (extruded and molded)
- Screw
- Shim
- Sun visor
- Washer
The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of seeking professional advice from a certified technician or mechanic. We encourage you to consult with a certified technician or mechanic if you have specific questions or concerns relating to any of the topics covered herein. Under no circumstances will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any content.
