Level 3 Get to Know Your Vehicle: History + Vehicle Systems and Components

Problems Before Cars

• Animal Taxis → Poo on streets

  • → The Great Manure Crisis of 1894: “Every street in London would be buried under 9 ft of manure in 50 years”

Evolution of Automobile

1. Steam-powered engines

2. Internal Combustion Engine

3. Model T

4. General Motors

5. International Competition

Steam-powered Engines

Invented ~1900 by Frenchman Amedee Bollee

• Steam-powered vehicle of mass transit

• High cost

Internal Combustion Engineer

Invented 1880s by Germans Karl Benz + Gottlieb Daimler

• Gasoline: Cheaper, more powerful, more controllable than steam

• Unaffordable for middle-class

Model T

Invented 1900s by Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford

• Assembly Line → Cheap and mass produced → Automobile revolution

• Limited consumer options

General Motors

1920s Major Ford competitor

• Offered the option to buy on credit/loan

• Diverse designs

International Competition

1970s Imported to USA

• Japan: Honda, Toyota

• Germany: BMW, Volkswagen

Late 1800s Features

• Acetylene + Oil Headlamps: Expensive

• Seatbelts: Patent by Claghorn

• Steering Wheel: Replaced tiller → Common in US by early 1900s

1900s-1930

• Windshield: Anderson patents handle-controlled

• Electric Headlamp System: Cadillac

• Power Steering System: Davis fitted to car

• Anti-lock Braking System: for aircrafts

• Car Radio/Motorola: Gavin brothers

1950s-1960s

Popularization

• Seat Belt: Saab standardized

• Power Steering

Innovation

• Halogen Headlamp in Europe

• Intermittent Windshield Wipers: Kearns

1970s-1990s

• Computerized “Sure Brake”: Chrysler’s ABS

• Airbags: Mercedez → Chrysler standard → Bush standard 1998 (Cars) + 1999 (trucks)

Frame

Skeleton

• Supported by Wheels/Tires’ suspension system

Engine

1. Battery activates electric starter motor

2. → Flywheel and crankshaft gains momentum

3. → engine runs w/o starter motor

Crankshaft

Located inside engine + supplies power to remainder

1. Connecting rods links them to pistons in cylinders

2. exploding gas inside cylinders turns crankshaft

Cylinders

Mix of gas and air is compressed

• ignited by spark plug → explodes mixture

• carburetor + intake manifold/fuel injection system sends mixture to cylinders

Oil

Lubricates engine

• gathers in oil pan + pumped by oil pump thru filter thru tubes

• Change oil + filter regularly according to manual (often 3-6 months)

Running the Engine

Pre-Explosion

1. Fuel tank: Stores gas

2. Fuel Pump: Moves gas from tank → fuel line + filter → carburetor or fuel injection system

3. FIS: Deliver proper mix of air and gas to cylinders

4. Intake Manifold: Delivers air thru air cleaner

Post-Explosion

1. Exhaust Manifold(s): Collects spent gas from cylinders

2. Catalytic Converter: Removes bad chemicals

3. Exhaust Pipe → Muffler + Resonator: Reduces sound

4. Tailpipe: vents hot gases away from vehicle

Power Train

All components that generate power within a vehicle and deliver it to the wheels

Rear-wheel Drive

1. Engine: Generates force

2. Transmission: Gears adjust engine’s RPM to control the transmitted torque/force

3. Clutch: Stops transmission from engine to allow change gears (manual or auto)

4. Driveshaft: Takes transmission force to rear

Rear

• Differential: Allows back wheels to turn at different speeds to maintain traction

  • Axle: Transmits force from differential to rear wheels

Front-wheel Drive

Transmission differential → front wheels: Power moves from engine

Four-Wheel Drive

Power moves from…

1. transmission

2. Transfer case: either to rears or all wheels

Coolant

Mix of water and chemicals that protect cooling system that flows thru engine to absorb heat

• prevents corrosion in cooling system

• lubricate the water pump

• prevents freezing

Radiator

Stores coolant

• transfers heat from coolant to outside

• Cooled by radiator fan + air flowing from driving

Recovery Tank

Recycles coolant to radiator

Thermostat

Heat-sensing valve that controls flow of coolant

• helps heat up engine quickly

Voltage Regulator

Controls amount of electricity generated by battery that powers starter motor

Distributor and Coil

Generate and deliver high voltage needed by individual spark plugs of engine

Fuses

Disable circuit drawing too much electrical current

• prevents fire

Electricity is needed to…

• Operate electrical motors

• Operate computers and radio

• Cool/Heat/Ventilate interior of vehicle

Steering Wheel

Moves front wheels left and right

• Steering column/shaft + steering box: translates motion into lateral motion → ball joins, steering arm, steering knuckle

Locking Your Steering Wheel

Prevents car from being stolen (all end in turning/removing key)

• Transmission Park System: Shift transmission into park

• One-Hand Button: Press button near ignition

• Two-Hand Button: Press button below steering column

• Lever: Near ignition

• Push-In: Turn key to off and push in

• Turn-and-Remove: Turn/remove key

Unlock Steering Wheel

• Key: Turn the key in ignition

• Push-start Button: wiggle steering wheel while pushing the start/stop button (foot off brake)

Power Steering

Drastically reduce amount of strength to steer wheel

Hydraulic System

Turning steering wheel in power steering system when engine is running

1. → Hydraulic fluid compressed in hydraulic cylinder

2. Hydraulic lines transmit fluid to piston

3. amplifies force

Maintaining Steering Wheel

• Refill power steering fluid

• → if fails = leaky hose (need mechanic)

Suspension System

Controls the vehicle during turns, potholes, rough roads by keeping move of wheels from transmitting to body (smoother drive)

• Springs: Absorbs energy

• Shock Absorbers: Prevents bouncing of springs

Braking System

Slows and stops vehicle. Check…

• Fluid level in master cylinder

• Brake pedal travel or free play

• Leaks in brake liners or wheel cylinder

• Parking brake

• Brake warning light

  • Spongy feeling in brakes

Service Brakes

Slow your vehicle down while driving

Parking/Emergency Brake

Slows vehicle in emergencies

• locks car in place

  • Skid: Brakes don’t move = Wheels lock up = slide uncontrollably

• Cable: engages brakes or clamps down drive shaft

Brake Pedal

Slows down

1. Master cylinder piston forces brake fluid thru hydraulic lines to wheel cylinders

2. Additional pistons provide force to brake

Drum Brakes vs Disc Brakes

Slow down vehicle w/ friction into heat

1. brake shoe pushes against drum rotating with the wheel

2. Caliper pressing against disc rotating with wheel

   1. Squealing = replace pads and brakes!

• Overheating common problem for both