Open the hood of your car and you’ll find a confusing mishmash of wires, tubes, and mechanical devices. What are all of those things? Written for mechanical novices who may not know their catalytic converters from their universal joints, A Field Guide to Automotive Technology will help them gain a basic understanding of how their automobiles function. How does an airbag know when to deploy? What is rack and pinion steering? And where exactly does a dipstick dip? Even seasoned gearheads will learn from this guide as it traces the history and development of mechanisms they may take for granted. A Field Guide to Automotive Technology has more than 130 entries, each with a clear photo to make recognition easy. Devices are grouped according to their “habitats”—under the hood, inside the car, and more—to help the reader identify the technology in question. Once the “species” is discovered, the entry will tell you its “behavior”—what it does—and how it works, in detail. This guide also includes sidebars on related technical issues, such as how to mix up a batch of homemade windshield wiper fluid. It even discusses other vehicles found on our nation’s highways—buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and more—as well as a few off-road vehicles.
Author(s): Ed Sobey
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 209
Tags: Транспорт;Автомобильная и тракторная техника;
Copyright
......Page 3
Contents
......Page 5
Acknowledgments......Page 7
A Brief History of Wheeled Vehicle Technology......Page 8
How Cars Work......Page 11
2 ON THE CAR......Page 14
Antenna, AM/FM......Page 15
Antenna, Citizens Band Radio (CB)......Page 16
Antenna, OnStar......Page 17
Antenna, Satellite Radio......Page 18
Autopark and Back-Up Proximity Systems......Page 20
Bumper......Page 22
Convertible Top......Page 23
Headlights......Page 25
Heating Plug......Page 27
Hubcaps and Spinners......Page 29
License Plate......Page 30
Spoiler......Page 31
Windshield......Page 33
Windshield Wipers......Page 34
Wing Mirror......Page 36
3 INSIDE THE CAR......Page 38
Air Bag......Page 39
Air Conditioning......Page 41
Automatic Windshield Wipers......Page 43
Auxiliary Heater......Page 44
Brake Light......Page 45
Brake Pedal......Page 46
CD Player......Page 48
Child Car Seat......Page 49
Cruise Control......Page 50
Defrost System Control......Page 52
DVD Player......Page 53
Flares (Fusee)......Page 54
Four-Wheel-Drive Shifter......Page 55
Fuel Gauge......Page 57
Fuses......Page 58
Glove Box......Page 60
Global Positioning System (GPS)......Page 61
Hand-Cranked Window......Page 63
Heater......Page 64
Key Fob......Page 65
Odometer......Page 67
Parking Brake......Page 69
Power Window......Page 70
Radar Detector......Page 71
Rearview Mirror......Page 75
Seat Belt......Page 77
Speedometer......Page 79
Steering Wheel......Page 80
Tachometer......Page 82
Temperature Gauge......Page 83
Tire Pressure Gauge......Page 84
Toll Transponder......Page 85
Turn Indicator......Page 86
4 UNDER THE CAR......Page 88
Brakes......Page 89
Catalytic Converter......Page 90
Coil Spring......Page 92
Constant Velocity Joint Boot......Page 93
Differential......Page 94
Gas Tank......Page 96
Jack......Page 97
Leaf Springs......Page 98
Muffler......Page 99
Rack and Pinion Steering......Page 101
Resonator......Page 102
Roll Bar (a.k.a. Anti-Roll Bar or Sway Bar)......Page 103
Shock Absorber......Page 104
Springs......Page 105
Struts......Page 106
Tailpipe......Page 107
Tie Rod......Page 108
Tires......Page 110
Transfer Case......Page 113
Universal Joint (U-Joint)......Page 114
Wheel......Page 115
Wheel Clamp (or Denver Boot)......Page 116
Internal Combustion Engines......Page 118
Electric Motors......Page 120
Hybrid Motors......Page 121
Air Filter......Page 123
Alternator......Page 124
Battery......Page 126
Brake Cylinder (or Master Cylinder)......Page 128
Coil......Page 130
Dipstick......Page 131
Distributor......Page 132
Fan......Page 133
Horn......Page 134
Oil Filter......Page 136
Power Steering......Page 138
Radiator......Page 140
Spark Plug......Page 142
Starter......Page 143
Thermostat......Page 145
Transmission......Page 146
Turbocharger......Page 148
Water Pump......Page 150
Windshield Cleaning System......Page 151
Windshield Wiper Motor......Page 152
6 OFF-THE-ROAD PASSENGER VEHICLES......Page 154
Amphicar and Aquada......Page 155
All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)......Page 157
DUKW......Page 158
Golf Cart......Page 159
Snowcat......Page 160
Snowmobile......Page 161
7 HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLES......Page 164
Bicycle Escalator......Page 166
Bike Suspension System......Page 168
Brakes......Page 169
Derailleur......Page 170
Quick-Release Hub......Page 172
Pedicab or Cycle Rickshaw......Page 173
Unicycle......Page 174
Kick Sled......Page 176
Scooter......Page 177
8 MOTORCYCLES......Page 178
Brakes......Page 180
Carburetor......Page 181
Engine......Page 183
Exhaust System......Page 185
Foot Controls......Page 186
Gasoline Tank......Page 187
Hand Controls......Page 188
Oil Tank......Page 189
Radiator......Page 190
Shock Absorbers......Page 191
Sidecar......Page 192
Segway......Page 193
9 BUSES......Page 196
Bus Tracking System......Page 197
Fare Box......Page 198
Outside the Bus......Page 200
Inside the Bus......Page 202
Trolley......Page 204
Index......Page 206
