KNOW YOUR VEHICLE: HOW A CAR WORKS
                                      The starter makes the engine turn            When the engine is running, fuel             The fuel/air mixture passes into               The expansion of gases forces               When you shift the gear stick into            The drive wheels turn and push the 
                                      over.                                        flows from the fuel pump through             the cylinders in the engine.  Inside           the piston back down again, with            Drive in a vehicle with automatic             vehicle forwards (or backwards) and 
                                                                                   the fuel filter to the fuel injectors,       each cylinder is a piston, which fits          more power than when it went                transmission, or first gear if you            off you go.  
                                                                                   into the intake manifold, and then           snugly and moves up and down.                  up.                                         have a manual transmission (using 
                                                                                   into the combustion chamber.                                                                                                            the clutch which connects or 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           disconnects the engine from the 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           drive train), a set of gears causes 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the rest of the crankshaft to turn at 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           a particular speed.
                                 STEP                   STEP                   STEP                  STEP                   STEP                   STEP                  STEP                   STEP                   STEP                   STEP                   STEP                  STEP                   STEP                 RETURN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           TO   OR  STOP
                                 1                      2                      3                      4                     5                      6                      7                      8                     9                     10                     11                    12                     13                     STEP 4
               When you start your car  – either            The electric current stops flowing            Fuel is mixed with air to form a             A spark from a spark plug ignites             As the piston and the connecting             The differential changes the                  Return to Step 4 and the cycle 
               by turning the key in the ignition           to the starter but continues to flow          mist.                                        the fuel/air mixture causing it to            rod go up and down, they cause the           direction of the power in a rear              repeats continuously until the car 
               or  by pushing  the ‘Start’ button           through the charging system (which                                                         burn and expand rapidly.                      crankshaft to turn.                          wheel vehicle so that the drive               is stopped by applying the brakes.  
               –  you close a circuit that allows a         uses an alternator to generate                                                                                                                                                        wheels can turn.                              The ignition can then be turned off. 
               current to pass from the battery to          power and charge the battery) and 
               the starter via the starter solenoid         to the rest of the electrical system.
               switch.
         8 ESSENTIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS
         There are many systems that work together to operate a motor vehicle. Simple operations such as moving forward, reversing, braking and cooling are all necessary functions required to operate a motor vehicle safely. 
                             1                                          2                                          3                                          4                                         5                                          6                                          7                                          8
               ENGINE SYSTEM                                 DRIVE TRAIN                                FUEL SYSTEM                           COOLING SYSTEM                               RUNNING GEAR                             BRAKING SYSTEM                          ELECTRICAL SYSTEM                              SAFETY SYSTEM
          An internal combustion engine              A drive train includes the many            The fuel system has three basic            The cooling system uses a                 The running gear includes the              The braking system controls                An automotive electrical                   Safety systems are very 
          burns fuel in combustion                   parts that transfer the spinning           jobs:                                      mixture of water and antifreeze           parts used to guide the vehicle            how fast, smooth and straight              system is a collection of circular         important in vehicles that move 
          chambers inside an engine.                 motion from an engine to the               1. To supply an engine with fuel.          to absorb and disperse engine             through bumps, swerves and                 a car slows down. Vehicles not             electrical pathways. Each                  at high speeds. Airbags, reverse 
                                                     wheels. You may know a drive               2. To mix this fuel continuously           heat.                                     road hazards. The running                  only have hydraulic brakes but             pathway, called a circuit, includes  beepers, sensors, cameras and 
                                                     train by more common terms:                   with air in varying                     The cooling system has three              gear connects the driver to the            also electronic braking systems.           a wire leading from a battery to           monitors are standard features 
                                                     Four Wheel Drive, Rear Wheel                  combinations.                           jobs:                                     roadway and helps the vehicle              Most modern vehicles have anti-            an electrical accessory and then           in new cars. Research and 
                                                     Drive, Front Wheel Drive or All            3. To discharge the burnt                  1. Disperse excess engine heat.           to negotiate rough roads, sharp            lock braking systems (ABS) that            back to the battery. The battery           testing continues to prompt the 
                                                     Wheel Drive.                                  remains safely.                         2. Quickly heat a cold engine.            turns and fast stops; all while            can prevent skids in slippery              stores the electrical current that         development and inclusion of 
                                                     A drive train has three jobs:              Fuel droplets form a vapourised            3. Maintain the correct engine            keeping a constant weight on               conditions.                                your vehicle uses to start and             mandatory safety systems. 
                                                     1. Transferring spin force from an  mixture, like a mist, as they enter                 running temperature.                    four tyres. If bouncing and                                                           passes electricity along wires to 
                                                        engine to the wheels.                   the engine and are mixed into an                                                     bumps cause one tyre to even                                                          the parts of your vehicle 
                                                     2. Changing the rate of spin               airflow.  The airflow is created by                                                  slightly leave the roadway, this                                                      that need electricity 
                                                        delivered to the wheels by              the action of the pistons moving                                                     will adversely affect a vehicle’s                                                     to function, such 
                                                        shifting gears.                         up and down.                                                                         steering, cornering and braking                                                       as the ignition 
                                                     3. Connecting and disconnecting                                                                                                 – especially dangerous in                                                             system, lights 
                                                        an engine from the wheels in                                                                                                 extreme conditions when                                                               and radio.   
                                                        order to start or idle.                                                                                                      control is needed the most.