Names and functions of car parts
To drive safely and maintain a car properly, every driver needs to know the names of the car's parts and understand how they work.
It takes approximately 30,000 machine parts to build a complete car. Below are some of the basic parts, along with their functions and names.
Exterior parts
The exterior of a car includes the parts that are visible to us the moment a vehicle is released.
Grille
The radiator grille is one of the most important parts of a car, designed to allow airflow into the vehicle to cool and reduce the temperature when the engine is running. At the same time, the radiator grille also protects the car's radiator and engine inside.
A complete car is made up of many different parts. (Illustration: baohaauto.vn)
Most modern cars place the radiator grille on the front bumper for front-engined vehicles and on the rear bumper for rear-engined vehicles. Additionally, some manufacturers design the radiator grille to be located in front of the wheels to cool the braking system.
Car bumper
Car bumpers are installed at the front and rear of a vehicle to minimize accident risks for occupants in the event of a strong impact, as well as to limit damage to other parts of the vehicle.
Hood
The hood is the metal frame located at the front of the vehicle, serving to protect the engine compartment inside. The hood is designed to open and close easily, facilitating maintenance and repairs when damaged or when additional parts need to be installed.
Headlight
No car on the market is without its headlight assembly. This is because it's one of the crucial components, providing illumination and guidance for drivers on poorly lit roads or at night, and also serving as a turn signal when needed.
Car headlights are located on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle, connected to the hood. Most headlights are designed to produce a strong, focused beam of light that shines horizontally across the road and, importantly, must be able to illuminate a minimum distance of 100 meters.
In addition, headlights are optimized when combined with low beam lights – a type of light that provides close-range illumination and prevents glare for oncoming traffic. Typically, low beam lights are installed in the same housing as the headlights or are installed separately, depending on the car model and user needs.
Windshield
The windshield is the large glass frame located at the front of the vehicle, just above the hood, that protects the driver and passengers from wind, rain, dust, or bad weather, as well as reducing the risk of accidents in the event of a strong collision.
Rearview mirror
Rearview mirrors are installed on the left and right sides, connected to the windshield at the front of the vehicle, helping the driver observe the lanes on either side when moving or changing lanes.
Depending on the model, rearview mirrors may be manually or automatically foldable, or may have an additional heating system to keep the glass surface clear when driving on roads with high humidity.
Names of interior parts
The interior of a car is where the driver and passengers will sit during the journey.
Steering wheel
The steering wheel is one of the components of the cockpit system, connected to the driver to control the vehicle's direction. Depending on the traffic regulations of each country, the steering wheel will be installed on the left or right side. In Vietnam, the direction of travel is on the right, so the steering wheel is designed to be on the left side of the cockpit.
Dashboard
Instrument panel: This is an information display system consisting of a screen, indicator lights, and various gauges such as digital clocks, fuel gauges, speedometers, etc., displayed in the form of needles and numbers.
Control panel: Includes switches to control various in-car amenities such as: audio controls, fan, air conditioning, wiper controls, light controls, etc.
Main switch (ignition switch): designed on the handlebars, includes 4 positions as follows:
+ LOCK: Locks the steering wheel, and the key can only be inserted or removed at this LOCK position.
+ ACC: Only supplies power to essential devices.
+ ON: Only supply power when the machine has finished operating.
+ START: This is the engine starting position. After turning the key to this position and the engine starts, the key will automatically return to the ON position.
Knowing the names of car parts and how they work helps drivers operate their vehicles correctly. (Illustrative image: baohaauto.vn)
Brake pedal
The brake pedal is a component of a car designed to stop the vehicle's movement and hold it in a stationary position. The car's brake pedal system includes:
The foot brake pedal: designed to be located to the right of the steering wheel and between the clutch and throttle pedals, its function is to slow down the vehicle and stop its movement.
Parking brake: mounted on the right-hand bracket of the steering column, its function is to secure the vehicle when stopped or parked in a certain location.
Clutch pedal (manual transmission)
The clutch pedal in a manual transmission is a component located on the left side of the steering column. Its function is to engage or disengage the clutch, interrupting power transmission from the engine to the gearbox and the rear drivetrain. This means the clutch pedal is used to start the engine, shift gears, or brake to stop the vehicle.
gas pedal
The car's accelerator pedal is located to the right of the steering wheel, next to the brake pedal, and controls the amount of fuel supplied to the engine.
Need a digital controller.
The gear shift lever in a car is located to the right of the driver and is used to control the engagement of the gears in the gearbox to change the vehicle's speed.
Seats for the driver and passenger
For drivers to drive safely and without fatigue, and for passengers to rest comfortably in the vehicle, a proper seating system is essential.
Depending on the car model and segment—sedan, hatchback, SUV, MPV, pickup truck, convertible, or coupe—the number of seats will vary. Currently, the lowest seating capacity is 2 seats, while the most common are 7-seater, 5-seater, and 4-seater vehicles.
In addition, the car's interior and exterior also include function buttons and many other design features that vary depending on the manufacturer, luxury or mid-range segment, and target audience. This article only introduces some common and basic car parts.
Undercarriage components
The chassis of a car is designed to support all the vehicle's components, seamlessly connecting them to ensure optimal synchronization. Simply put, the chassis is the skeleton of the entire vehicle, supporting the weight of all other parts. A good chassis ensures a smooth ride and provides excellent protection for passengers in the event of a serious collision.
Regarding the undercarriage or chassis components of automobiles currently used in the market, there are two types: separate frame and integrated frame. Specifically:
Integrated frame and body: will be manufactured as a single unit with body components such as the hood, doors, and rear section.
Separate frame and body: the vehicle body and frame are manufactured on two completely different production lines and are connected by a load-bearing frame to the body support frame.
