A device used in some fuel systems that routes fuel vapors to a charcoal storage canister instead of venting them into the atmosphere. The valve relieves fuel tank pressure and allows fresh air into the tank as the fuel level drops to prevent a vapor lock situation.

The process by which the air/fuel mixture burns within an engine to create power.

The space remaining at the top of the cylinder when the piston is at the top dead center position. Where the fuel-air mixture begins to burn. Since most of the air-fuel mixture's combustion takes place in this space, its design and shape can greatly affect the power, fuel efficiency, and emissions of the engine.

A slight resiliency, or give', designed into suspension bushings to help absorb bumps. Good compliance allows the wheels to move rearward a bit as they hit bumps but doesn't allow them to move laterally during cornering. Component a raw material, ingredient, part or subassembly that goes into a higher level assembly, compound, or other item.

A combination of two or more parts or sub-components to form an assembly.

Any material that consists of two or more components, typically one or more of high strength and one an adhesive binder. The most common composite is fiberglass, which consists of thin glass fibers bonded together in a plastic matrix. The structural properties of composites can be altered by controlling the orientation and configuration of the high-strength components.

Usually manufactured with replaceable halogen bulbs and separate hard acrylic or glass lenses. This type of lamp provides superior illumination compared to the long-conventional sealed beam unit.

Comprehensive coverage includes protection against theft and accident damage, regardless of fault.

In internal-combustion reciprocating engines, the squeezing of the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder of a spark-ignition engine or the squeezing of the air in a diesel engine. Compression makes combustion more effective and increases engine efficiency.

A special gauge used by technicians to measure how much pressure a cylinder can create.

The comparison of the total volume of the cylinder and combustion chamber with the piston at BDC and the piston at TDC. The volume of the combustion chamber and cylinder when the piston is at the bottom of its stroke, divided by the volume of the combustion chamber and cylinder when the piston is at the top of its stroke. Higher compression ratios tend to increase engine efficiency.

A test to see how much pressure a cylinder can create.

The mechanism is an air conditioner that pumps vaporized refrigerant out of the evaporator, compresses it to a relatively high pressure, and then delivers it to the condenser.

Many modern cars with fuel injection have a central computer called an engine control unit (ECU). This controls the car's fuel and ignition systems by taking information from various sensors to determine how to run the engine with the most efficiency and power.

A current production vehicle modified for installation of new design concepts for evaluation of environmental functional feasibility.

A French term that describes an auto show of classic and vintage cars.

A device for storing electrical energy. 1. An electrical device which acts to store an electrical charge, preventing voltage surges. 2. A radiator-like device in the air conditioning system in which refrigerant gas condenses into a liquid, giving off heat. In A/C application, an air conditioning component used to remove heat from the inside of a vehicle.

Any material through which an electrical current can be transmitted easily.

The arm that connects the piston to the crankshaft and converts the reciprocating motion into rotary motion. Connecting rod - the metal rod that connects a piston to a throw on a crankshaft.

A shaft that transmits engine power from the transmission to the wheel. CV joints allow the wheel to steer and follow suspension motion while receiving power. CV joints are used in front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive vehicles. A particular kind of universal joint designed so that there is no cyclic fluctuation between the speeds of its input and output shafts.