Electric cooling fans are part of many cars' cooling systems. They use a heat activated switch to turn on and off as needed to help keep your engine cool.

Electric motors are often used in accessories such as power windows or power seats to provide movement with minimial effort by the user.

Cars, buses, vans or trucks which use dedicated or hybrid electric systems as their power source.

In electric ignition internal-combustion engines, those components required to convert the electricity produced by the generator into a high-voltage spark for the plugs. Includes generator or alternator, points, condenser, coil, distributor and spark plugs plus wiring.

Any solution that conducts an electrical current, such as a mixture of sulfuric acid and distilled water found in automotive batteries.

The computer 'brain' of the fuel and emissions control system. It analyzes information and adjusts the operation of various components. It also turns on the 'check engine' or 'service engine soon' light. Sometimes called the electronic control module (ECM).

A system that injects fuel into the engine and includes an electronic control unit to time and meter the fuel flow.

A system in which the timing and firing of the spark plugs is controlled by an electronic control unit, usually called a module. These systems have no points or condenser. An ignition system that uses transistors and other semiconductor devices as an electronic switch to turn the primary current on and off.

Also called the parking brake. The emergency brake is used when a car's main braking system experiences a complete failure.

Emissions are the byproducts of combustion. After combustion is complete, water, gases, and carbon are released through the car's exhaust system as emissions.

Emissions equipment is equipment required by the government to keep a car's exhaust emissions to a minimum. Emissions equipment includes catalytic converters, air pumps, and oxygen sensors.

The measured amount of axial movement in a shaft.

The power source that creates the energy to make a car move. An engine can be run by gas, diesel fuel, electricity, steam or any other number of power sources.

A general term for major engine work that usually requires removing the engine from the vehicle, and rebuilding or replacing internal components (e.g. pistons, connecting rods, valves).

F-Head Side exhaust valve and overhead inlet valve. L-Head Both valves on one side of the cylinder. T-Head Exhaust valve on one side and inlet valve on the other side of the cylinder. (Twin-camshafts). I-Head Both valves located directly over the piston. Also called valve--in-head or overhead valve engine. SOHC Single overhead camshaft. DOHC Double overhead camshafts.

A designation for an engine where the cylinders are arranged opposite(180 degrees apart) from each other. Boxer engines are relatively flat compared to inline or V engines. Common examples of boxer engines are the Porsche 911 flat-6 and the Subaru flat-4.

An engine configuration where all cylinders are in one plane. Most 4-cylinder and some 6-cylinder engines are inline. An inline engine is cheaper to manufacture than a V type of engine because the engine block can be a simpler casting.

A V engine has two banks of cylinders arranged like a V. V engines have an included angle of around 30-90 degrees that separates the individual banks. V engines are more compact than comparable inline engines. A V-8 is significantly shorter, and wider, than an inline-8.

A computerized brain that regulates an engine's operation by monitoring certain engine characteristics (rpm, coolant temperature, intake airflow, etc.) through a network of sensors and then controlling key variables (fuel metering, spark timing, EGR, etc.) according to pre-programmed schedules.

Laboratory fuel-economy tests administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) using simulated weight and drag to re-create real driving conditions. The city fuel-economy test, also used to test emissions compliance, is based on a drive through typical Los Angeles urban traffic of about twenty years ago. Of course, such conditions are purely nostalgic these days. The highway test uses a higher, steadier speed, averaging 49.4 mph.