Caliper
The disc brake component that straddles the rotor and houses the piston(s), cylinder(s) and brake pads. The piston movement pushes the pad against the rotor to slow or stop the vehicle.
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Camber Angle
The tilting of the wheels from the vertical when viewed from the front of the vehicle. When the wheels tilt outward at the top, the camber is said to be positive (+). When the wheels tilt inward at the top, camber is said to be negative - ).
The amount of tilt is measured in degrees from vertical and this measurement is called the camber angle. While unequal camber may result in unstable steering or wander, unequal and/or excessive camber can also cause rapid tyre wear. |
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Camshaft
The valves are opened and closed by means of a camshaft.
A camshaft is a rotating shaft that has individual lobes for each valve. The lobe is a "bump" on one side of the shaft that pushes against a valve lifter moving it up and down. When the lobe pushes against the lifter, the lifter in turn pushes the valve open. When the lobe rotates away from the lifter, the valve is closed by a spring that is attached to the valve. Most engines have one camshaft located in the engine block with the lifters connecting to the valves through a series of linkages.
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Carburetor
The purpose of the carburetor is to supply and meter the mixture of fuel vapor and air in relation to the load and speed of the engine. Because of engine temperature, speed, and load, perfect carburetion is very hard to obtain.
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Car Fuses
Fuses are important in that they protect electrical circuits from overloading and short circuits. Nine times out of ten when you have to replace a fuse, something is wrong. If a new fuse blows as soon as you put it in, you have an electrical problem that needs fixing. Never install a fuse of a higher rating than the one installed. Doing so could result in damage to the electrical system.
Fuses are pretty cut and dried. All modern cars use the same type of fuse. They are plastic and come in different colors corresponding to their amp rating. They come in different sizes. These fuses are clear so you can tell at a glance if the fuse is blown or not. Sometimes a fuse will wear out and the only way to tell, accurately, if the fuse is good is with an ohmmeter. Since these fuses are small, there is usually a fuse-pulling tool in the fuse box. This tool grips the top of the fuse and allows you to pull it out for inspection or replacement.
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Caster Angle
Used to describe the front wheel alignment angle as the tilting of the steering axis either forward or backward from the vertical (when viewed from the side of the vehicle). A backward tilt at the top steering axis point is said be positive (+) and a forward tilt is said to be negative ( - ). Measurement is usually expressed as an angle
degrees and minutes. It is general practice that the vertical and steering axis centrelines both pass through the wheel centre.
This results in a caster distance, which can be described as being the distance in side view, between the point where the steering axis contacts the ground and the centre of the tyre ’ s footprint contact.
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Catalytic Converter
n an effort to control automotive emissions, reduce carbon monoxide, smog, and acid rain catalytic converters began appearing on cars in the 1970's. Over the decades, automotive manufacturers have used many methods to control exhaust emissions. Exhaust gas re-circulation, containment systems for evaporative emission, on board engine management systems, air pumps, are just some examples of their efforts, but the single most effective way to reduce exhaust emissions has been the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter has evolved over from the decades to where most modern vehicles are equipped with a three-way converter that effectively reduces harmful exhaust gases.
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CBC
Cornering Brake Control - An advanced version of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), CBC allows you to apply the brakes better when on a bend, keeping you in full control and safe. Monitoring and individually varying the pressure in the wheel brake cylinders when applying the brakes in a bend, CBC prevents both the rear end of the car from swerving round (oversteering) and the entire car from drifting out of the bend with the front wheels locked (understeering). As a result, it guarantees optimum distribution of brake power when slowing on a bend and keeps the car safely on course even when the brakes are suddenly applied when cornering. |
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CBS
Condition Based Service - monitors wear and tear on important parts. Its sensors can determine when a component needs to be replaced or upgraded. Even if the degree of wear cannot be gauged directly, the system uses algorithms to determine when a service check-up should be performed. Several parameters provide the information for this system - mileage, temperature, driving style etc.. Overall, Condition Based Service maximises your safety and keeps you on the road longer, as you only need to have your car serviced when it is necessary. You get the most out of your automobile, and are always well informed. |
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CCV
Closed Crankcase Ventilation - 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. |
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Chassis
A chassis is the supporting frame of a car. It gives the car strength and rigidity, and helps increase the car's crash-resistance through energy absorption. If a car were a human body, the chassis would be the skeleton. During a fall, a person with strong bones is likely to be hurt less than someone with weak bones. The same goes for a car in an accident. The chassis helps keep a vehicle rigid. A strong chassis will keep the back end of a car from falling out of alignment with the front end, while remaining as stiff and unbending as possible.
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Clutch
A friction type of uncoupling device used to disengage an engine from the transmission during shifting. Clutches are normally linked to a clutch pedal in the driver's compartment so that the driver can control clutch operation. When a driver pushes down on the clutch pedal, a linkage forces a plate to move. This movement releases the engagement pressure from the friction disks. When the pressure is released from the clutch plate, the power flow is interrupted and the engine runs without transmitting any power to the power train. |
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Clutch Operation
The clutch allows engine power to be applied gradually when a vehicle is starting out and interrupts power to avoid gear crunching when shifting. Engaging the clutch allows power to transfer from the engine to the transmission and drive wheels. Disengaging the clutch stops the power transfer and allows the engine to continue turning without force to the drive wheels. To understand how a clutch works, you first need to understand how following components work: the flywheel, clutch disk, pressure plate, throw-out bearing and linkage.
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Coils - Springs
Springs absorb and store road shock caused by bumps, dips, cracks, and so forth. They absorb this shock by either compressing or extending. When a car's wheel goes over a bump and gets pushed upward, the spring absorbs that additional load, keeps the road shock from reaching the chassis, and makes sure the tire maintains contact with the pavement.
How much a spring compresses or extends is determined by its "spring rate." Spring rate is measured in pounds per inch of deflection; for example, 100 pounds per inch. So, say a load of 200 pounds is applied, the spring will deflect 2 inches. Spring rate comes from various factors. For a coil spring, this includes the number of active coils, the diameter of the coils, and the diameter of the spring "wire". The fewer coils a spring has, the higher the spring rate it will have.
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Collapsible Steering Column
A column either jointed or fitted with a special collar designed to crush on impact, preventing . serious injury in a front-end collision. All Nissan vehicles have collapsible steering columns. |
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Combustion Chamber (aka Cylinder)
The combustion chamber (or cylinder) is the area where compression and combustion take place. As the piston moves up and down, you can see that the size of the combustion chamber changes due to the compression. It has a maximum volume as well as a minimum volume. The difference between the maximum and minimum is called the displacement and is measured in liters or CCs (Cubic Centimeters, where 1,000 cubic centimeters equals a liter).
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Combustion Space Volume
aka. Combustion Space: The volume contained within the cylinder head, plus (or minus) the piston dome (or dish) volume, plus any volume displaced by the compressed head gasket, plus (or minus) any additional volume created by the piston not fully rising to the top of the bore (or extending beyond the top of the bore) of the cylinder at TDC. This volume is used to calculate compression ratio. |
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Common Rail Technology
Enables diesel engines to deliver improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions, improved acoustics and significantly smoother performance.
The flexible common rail injection system guarantees even quieter and more efficient diesel performance. It exploits the principle that increased fuel-injection pressure produces finer droplets of fuel in the combustion chamber, which in turn results in better combustion. Instead of using individual injector pumps for each cylinder, the common rail system uses one central high-pressure pump (known as the rail). This leads to extremely fast, precisely, electronically-controlled injector valves.
Thanks to this sophisticated system, the diesel can be injected into the chamber in a number of different phases in each combustion process: a pre-injection introduces a small amount of fuel, followed by the main injection, and then follow-up injections if required. The pre-injection phase ensures that the combustion-chamber pressure increases evenly, which reduces engine noise. The follow-up injections burns any remain particulates and treats the exhaust gases.
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Compression Pressure
The pressure created in the cylinder when the piston moves toward top dead center (TDC) after the intake valve closes, trapping the induced charge (normally a fuel/air mixture) within the cylinder. Compression pressure can be measured by installing a pressure gauge in the cylinder in place of the spark plug and "cranking" the engine with the starter motor. To improve measurement accuracy, the throttle is usually held wide open and the remaining spark plugs are removed to minimize cranking loads and optimize pressures in the cylinder under test.
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Compression Ratio
The ratio of the total volume enclosed in a cylinder when the piston is located at BDC (Bottom Dead Center) compared to the volume enclosed when the piston is at TDC (volume at TDC is called the combustion space volume). The formula to calculate compression ratio is: (Swept Cylinder Volume + Combustion Space Volume)/Combustion Space Volume = Compression Ratio.
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Compression Stroke
One of the four 180-degree full "sweeps" of the piston moving in the cylinder of a four-stroke, internal-combustion engine (originally devised by Nikolaus Otto in 1876). During the compression stroke, the piston moves from BDC to TDC and compresses the air/fuel mixture. Note: The 180-degree duration of the compression stroke is commonly longer than the duration between the intake valve-closing point and top dead center or ignition, sometimes referred to as the true "Compression Cycle." The compression stroke is followed by the power stroke. |
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Condenser
A device for storing electrical energy. In A/C application, an air conditioning component used to remove heat from the inside of a vehicle. |
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ConnectedDrive
Puts the driver in the centre of an intelligent network of information, communication and driver-assistant systems, both from within the vehicle and external to it.
It brings together the powerful functionalities of BMW Assist, BMW Online, BMW Tracking, BMW TeleService and driver assistant systems, forming a single network that offers greater comfort, safety and advanced infotainment. The driver is individually and ergonomically connected to all relevant information and services.
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Connecting Rod
Internal part of the engine which connects the piston to the crankshaft. |
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Coolant
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 range preventing premature engine wear. |
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Coolant Recovery System
Part of the engine cooling system, it consists of a container coupled to the radiator, so that when a radiator overflows, the container stores the liquid, eliminating the need to open the radiator for refilling. |
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Cooling System - Maintenance
Check the water in the Radiator on a regular basis. Inspect it at least twice a year, as its passages must be cleared of leaves, dead insects and paper, which collect and can restrict the flow of air through it. A corrosion inhibitor should be used in the cooling system. It is advantageous to keep antifreeze in the system all year round, as it also contains additives, which protect against corrosion.
Remove and check the radiator cap for a broken pressure spring or defective sealing washer. If both move freely the cap should be replaced to restore pressure in the cooling system. Whilst the cap is off examine the surface of the coolant for signs of oil, which would indicate a faulty cylinder head. Also check for bubbles on top which would indicate a blown cylinder head gasket.
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Cornering Headlights
ornering lights provide additional illumination of the area to the side of the vehicle, making night-time parking and turning safer.
Cornering lights compliment the functionality of Adaptive Headlights. While Adaptive Headlights provide superior illumination of curves when driving a normal driving speeds, cornering lights give you better lighting when carrying out low-speed manoeuvres: parking, turning into a driveway, u-turns and taking extremely winding roads, for example.
To provide this additional light, the fog lamps are fitted with integrated swivelling reflectors; alternatively, the headlights are equipped with an additional lamp. When the indicator is activated at speeds below 40 km/h, these lights illuminate an area to the side of the vehicle, up to 80° of the direction of travel. After the corner is taken, the cornering lights dim and extinguish automatically. Cornering lights also facilitate safe reversing: when reverse gear is selected, both the left and right lights illuminate the area around the vehicle. |
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Crankcase
A case that encloses the crankshaft. In most engines, the oil pan and the lower portion of the cylinder block form the crankcase. |
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Crankshaft
The crankshaft is located below the cylinders on an in-line engine, at the base of the V on a V-type engine and between the cylinder banks on a flat engine. As the pistons move up and down, they turn the crankshaft (which is normally found in within the engine block).
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Crash Sensor
Should an accident occur, the crash sensor overrides the central locking system, unlocking all the doors. This allows the driver and occupants to leave speedily - or assistance from outside to get into the cabin faster.
At the same time, the crash sensor also switches on the cabin lights and activates the hazard warning lights to alert other drivers of the situation. |
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Cruise Control
Select a speed, activate Cruise Control and driving immediately becomes even more comfortable. Whether you are going into a headwind, driving uphill or down, Cruise Control continuously adjusts the throttle opening to maintain your exact chosen pace for as long as you want.
To go faster or slower, just depress the Cruise Control lever situated behind the steering wheel lever. And in the interests of safety, Cruise Control automatically switches itself off as soon as you touch the brakes. |
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Curb Weight
The weight of an empty vehicle, without cargo and driver and passengers, but including maximum amounts of fuel, oil, coolant and standard equipment, including the spare tire and tools. |
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CVCC
Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion - Technology which allowed Honda's cars to meet United States emission standards in the 1970s without a catalytic converter.
Honda CVCC engines have normal inlet and exhaust valves, plus a small auxiliary inlet valve which provides a relatively rich air / fuel mixture to a volume near the spark plug. The remaining air / fuel charge, drawn into the cylinder through the main inlet valve is leaner than normal. The volume near the spark plug is contained by a small perforated metal plate. Upon ignition flame fronts emerge from the perforations and ignite the remainder of the air / fuel charge. The remaining engine cycle is as per a standard four stroke engine. |
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CV Joint
Constant Velocity Joint - A refined version of a universal joint which eliminate the torque variations or vibrations which are inherent in an ordinary U-joint that is being operated at an angle. |
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Cylinder Block
The casting that comprises the main structure of an IC (Internal Combustion) engine. The cylinder block is the connecting unit for the cylinder heads, crankshaft, and external assemblies, plus it houses the pistons, camshaft and all other internal engine components. The stability, strength, and precision of the block casting and machining are extremely important in obtaining optimum power and engine life. Cylinder blocks are usually made from a high grade of cast iron. |
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Cylinder Head
A component (usually made of cast iron or cast aluminum) that forms the combustion chambers, intake and exhaust ports: including water cooling passages: and provides support for valvetrain components, spark plugs, intake and exhaust manifolds, etc.
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