The area of a tire's tread that is in contact with the ground.

Continuous or complete circuit. Can be checked with an ohmmeter.

A suspension element that has one joint at one end and two joints at the other end, typically the chassis side. Also known as a wishbone or an A-arm.

Any car with a folding roof. Term used in U.S. since the 1930s. In the 1950s, the 'hardtop convertible' was developed to look like a convertible but had a fixed roof that did not fold. Also called a drophead coupé.

The conventional body has 4 doors and a folding top with roll-up windows.

The mixture of water and anti-freeze that picks up heat from the engine and transfers it to the air passing through the radiator. This transfer of heat keeps the engine operating within its optimum temperature rant preventing premature engine wear. The mixture of antifreeze and water (usually 50-50) that circulates through the engine to cool it. The fluid mixed with water that is put into your vehicle's radiator. Antifreeze is traditionally green in color; however, newer long-life antifreezes may be red or orange. Please refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for the proper antifreeze for your vehicle.

Many cars have a clear plastic reservoir that allows the owner to see the level of their vehicle's coolant. Check your owner's manual to find the coolant reservoir on your vehicle.

Measures the temperature of the engine coolant.

The system of components that keeps your engine at the correct operating temperature. The cooling system includes the radiator, radiator cap, coolant reservoir, cooling fan, water pump, thermostat, hoses, heater core, heater valve, and antifreeze.

The system that removes heat from the engine by the forced circulation of coolant and thereby prevents engine overheating. In a liquid-cooled engine, it includes the water jackets, water pump, radiator, and thermostat.

The maximum speed at which a car can negotiate a given curve.

Regulation enacted in 1975 which requires a motor vehicle manufacturer to classify its U.S. vehicle fleet sales as either domestic or import for the purpose of fuel economy averaging. This single mileage figure is determined by taking a sales weighted average of the fuel consumption for all models produced by a manufacturer. The minimum required figure is an established U. S. government standard. Manufacturers which do not meet the minimum standard are fined.

Several items enter into the calculation of how much it actually costs to own a vehicle. Understanding these items can help determine what is the best purchase for each person. Ownership costs are divided into fixed costs and running costs. Fixed costs are the same whether the car is used or just sits. These costs usually decrease each year. Running costs are variable and are incurred when the vehicle is used. Running costs could increase as the vehicle ages.

An intermediate shaft which is rotated by a mainshaft and transmits, in turn, that rotation to a working part.

A closed car with two side doors and less than 33 cubic feet of rear interior volume, according to measurements based on SAE standard J1100. A two-door car is therefore not necessarily a coupe. Coupé Originally meant a vehicle 'cut' by a glass partition behind the front seats that enabled the rear passengers to ride enclosed and the driver exposed. Today, a two-to-five-seater with smaller interior than a sedan. Usually a sporty type.

A protective cover for mechanical components. Often used for engines, fans, etc. That part of a car's body between the engine compartment and the driver.

Cracked paint occurs when a paint is so damaged, the surface actually develops cracks. These cracks may spread in a spiderweb fashion across the surface of the paint. Cracked paint is unrestorable, and must often be completely removed when a car is repainted.

Device that indicates the position of the crankshaft and/or the cam shaft. The ECU uses this information.

A shaft with one or more cranks, or 'throws,' that are coupled by connecting rods to the engine's pistons. The combustion process creates reciprocating motion in the rods and pistons which in turn is converted to a rotating motion by the crankshaft. In most engines, the oil pan and the lower portion of the cylinder block form the crankcase. The lower part of an engine in which the crankshaft and related parts operate.

The shaft that converts the linear motion of the pistons into rotation. The crankshaft is connected to the transmission. A shaft with one or more cranks, or 'throws,' that are coupled by connecting rods to the engine's pistons. Together, the crankshaft and the con rods transform the pistons' reciprocating motion into rotary motion.