The Car

Instruments, vocabulary and much more

The dashboard is also called dash or instrument panel. It   is a control panel placed in front of the driver, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle.

On the dashboard we can find the steering wheel and the instrument cluster.

The instrument cluster contains gauges such as a tachometer, a speedometer , an odometer and fuel gauge. There are also indicators such as gearshift position, seat belt warning light, parking-brake-engagement warning light and an engine-malfunction light. The indicators for low fuel, low oil pressure, low tire pressure and faults in the airbag (SRS) system are also placed there. Some vechicles also have systems like heating and ventilation controls and vents, lighting controls, audio equipment and automotive navigation systems also included on the dashboard, different styles and different designs.

On the most modern cars, the top of a dashboard contain vents for the heating and air conditioning system which can be switched in any direction you need, towards the passanger’s set or to the ceiling. There are also speakers for an audio system or surround system.

A glove compartment is commonly located on the passenger's side. There may also be an ashtray and a cigarette lighter which can provide a power outlet for other low-voltage appliances.

(after Wikipedia, info.)

Answer the following questions:

1. Where is situated the gearstick?2. What are the ” hazard lights”?3. When do we use the satellite navigation system (GPS)?4. What is the rev counter?

Use the following words to describe a malfunction:

Screen wash reservoir , dipstick, air filter, brake fluid reservoir, battery, coolant reservoir, cylinder head, pipe, radiator, engine, gearbox, transmossion, drivershift, suspension, exhaust pipe.

Cam belt, turbocharger, timing, chassis, alternator, spark plug, fuse box.

Tow truck, insuarence, car accident, mechanic, breakdown.

We are moving!

Car works on gasoline. But what’s under the hood we can’t imagine. So let’s start by understanding the process step by step.

” Energy is used to produce power. The chemical energy in fuel is converted to heat by the burning of the fuel at a controlled rate. This process is called combustion. If engine combustion occurs within the power chamber, the engine is called an internal combustion engine.”(Automotive engine, Longman)

The secret to the internal combustion engine is simply burning gasoline. Gasoline has molecules which are made of atoms of hydrogen and carbon. When the gasoline is ignited, it mixes with the air. It expands and one molecule of gasoline becomes many molecules.

The expansion makes a great heat and pressure. The pressure causes pistons that are attached to a crankshaft to move up and down with great force. This back and force movement makes the wheels of the car go and.... you are moving!

What makes a car more powerful? More pistons – more power!