An individual is a claimant when he or she presents a claim against another party's insurance carrier.

Many modern cars have a clear-coat (normally urethane-based) finish. This is an extra, clear layer of paint that goes on top of the last color coat of paint to protect it from scratches, chips and other enviromental damage. It is the clearcoat which gives current production vehicles their gloss.

Climate control, also called automatic temperature control, is a computerized system that automatically maintains a selected temperature for your car's interior.

A system in which crankcase vapors are discharged into the engine intake system (usually via the intake manifold) where they are burned during the combustion process rather than being discharged into the atmosphere.

A lease in which the lessee is not responsible for the value of a vehicle when the lease is done. Under this arrangement the lessee may return the vehicle at the end of the term and have no further obligation for the car. Also known as a 'walk-away' lease.

A mechanism that uses plates coated with a high-friction material to transfer power from the engine to the drive train. Used when changing gear ratios during acceleration. Clutches are also used to isolate rotating and non-rotating components. Clutches can allow slip between components to reduce shock loads between rotating and stationary components. Manual transmission vehicles use a clutch to transfer power from the gearbox to the wheels. Air conditioning compressors use clutches as well.

A cable-operated clutch uses a metal cable between the clutch pedal and clutch fork to control clutch engagement.

A hydraulic clutch uses a hydraulic circuit between the clutch pedal and clutch fork to control clutch engagement.

A cable that goes between the clutch pedal and clutch fork to control clutch engagement.

The friction material lined plate that delivers power from the engine to the transmission.

The pedal on manual transmission cars that operates the clutch.

Holds the clutch disc against the flywheel.

Device that disengages the clutch disc from the flywheel by pushing on the pressure plate release springs.

A bearing that lets the clutch smoothly engage and disengage with minimum wear.

An engine cooling fan that uses a heat-activated, viscous-fluid clutch which turns the fan on and off as needed.

(French Carrosserie, German Karosserie, Italian Carrozzeria) The automobile body especially the comfort and luxury appointments as distinguished from the operational chassis.

A part of the ignition system. The coil takes the electrical voltage supplied by the battery and amplifies it many times until it is powerful enough to fire a spark plug.

A bar of resilient metal wound into a spiral that may be compressed or extended without permanent deformation. Used to isolate a vehicle from the road. Coil springs are preferred over leaf springs for their superior ride and control. Coil springs have many automotive applications but are particularly important as suspension springs.

A measure of battery power, more is better. A rating, measured in amperes. Used for comparing cranking strength of automotive batteries during extremely cold (0 F or lower) weather.

An assembly which includes both the intake and exhaust manifolds in one casting.