QUIZ: Even Mechanics Can’t Pass This Car Parts Quiz

Many of us think we know the basics when it comes to car parts because we’ve watched our mechanics work on our car or we have a mechanic in the family. But this car parts quiz is not as easy as it seems and many of us would be lucky to get even half of these questions right.

Many of us think we know the basics when it comes to car parts because we’ve watched our mechanics work on our car or we have a mechanic in the family. But this car parts quiz is not as easy as it seems and many of us would be lucky to get even half of these questions right.

What is the device called that keeps the engine from overheating?

  • Converter
  • Cooler
  • Radiator
  • Water Pump

Water pumps move coolant liquid around the engine and other vehicle components. This prevents the engine from overheating and cracking, which can lead to costly and sometimes permanent damage.

Water pumps move coolant liquid around the engine and other vehicle components. This prevents the engine from overheating and cracking, which can lead to costly and sometimes permanent damage.

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This device is designed to make a car’s exhaust less toxic. What is it called?

  • Muffler
  • Fuel filter
  • Catalytic converter
  • Emissions reducer

The catalytic converter uses chemical reactions to turn car exhaust pollutants into emissions that are far less harmful. Some converters can reduce pollution by as much as 40%.

The catalytic converter uses chemical reactions to turn car exhaust pollutants into emissions that are far less harmful. Some converters can reduce pollution by as much as 40%.

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Name this cylindrical object...

  • Spark plug
  • Fuel cell
  • Lithium
  • Battery

Every vehicle has one of these per cylinder and it is used to ignite the gas in the combustion chamber, which is why we can’t get our cars started if these babies start to fail.

Every vehicle has one of these per cylinder and it is used to ignite the gas in the combustion chamber, which is why we can’t get our cars started if these babies start to fail.

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Shift into different speeds using this joystick:

  • Driving Stick
  • Gearshift
  • Lever
  • Mover

The gearshift is a vital component of cars with manual transmission because it helps the driver shift into different speed gears. However, this component isn’t necessary in vehicles with automatic transmission.

The gearshift is a vital component of cars with manual transmission because it helps the driver shift into different speed gears. However, this component isn’t necessary in vehicles with automatic transmission.

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Drivers might need to get a replacement for this every 3,000 miles or so.

  • Carburetor
  • Oil filter
  • Stem bolt
  • Spark plug

Engine oil is required to lubricate engine parts and the oil filter ensures that contaminants are strained so that it won’t damage the engine. But after 3,000 miles, mechanics suggest replacing the filter.

Engine oil is required to lubricate engine parts and the oil filter ensures that contaminants are strained so that it won’t damage the engine. But after 3,000 miles, mechanics suggest replacing the filter.

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What are the lower headlights on a vehicle called?

  • Extra lighting
  • Energy beams
  • Lighting enhancers
  • Fog lights

These types of lights are placed lower on a vehicle and are a real lifesaver during foggy weather because they keep the fog from reflecting light back into the driver’s eyes.

These types of lights are placed lower on a vehicle and are a real lifesaver during foggy weather because they keep the fog from reflecting light back into the driver’s eyes.

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These devices are vital when a driver needs to come to a complete stop. What are they?

  • Friction cushions
  • Stoppers
  • Decelerators
  • Brake pads

When a driver hits the brakes, these brake pads put pressure on the rotor in order to slow the car down. It’s important to replace the pads when they start to wear out to avoid slipping and sliding when someone pulls the brakes.

When a driver hits the brakes, these brake pads put pressure on the rotor in order to slow the car down. It’s important to replace the pads when they start to wear out to avoid slipping and sliding when someone pulls the brakes.

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What is the car part used to check fluid levels called?

  • Inserter
  • Probe
  • Dipstick
  • Oil Indicator

A dipstick is used to check the fluid levels of a vehicle. To do this, a driver will pull the dipstick out, clean it and then stick it into the tank. When it’s pulled out again, the driver will be able to see if the engine has sufficient lubricant or not.

A dipstick is used to check the fluid levels of a vehicle. To do this, a driver will pull the dipstick out, clean it and then stick it into the tank. When it’s pulled out again, the driver will be able to see if the engine has sufficient lubricant or not.

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These components move up and down when the car is running. What are they?

  • Pistons
  • Coils
  • Undulators
  • Carburetor

The pistons are part of the engine’s cylinders and cause the crankshaft to spin by moving up and down. But when the pistons aren’t working properly, a driver will hear the engine rattling and may even experience difficulty getting the car to start.

The pistons are part of the engine’s cylinders and cause the crankshaft to spin by moving up and down. But when the pistons aren’t working properly, a driver will hear the engine rattling and may even experience difficulty getting the car to start.

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What is the system that connects the wheels to the engine?

  • System’s core
  • Transmission
  • Fuel drive
  • Engine core

The transmission processes the power created by a vehicle’s engine and then releases it through gears that keep the energy in check as it flows through the mechanism that turns the wheels.

The transmission processes the power created by a vehicle’s engine and then releases it through gears that keep the energy in check as it flows through the mechanism that turns the wheels.

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Which of these devices stores rotational energy?

  • The storage grid
  • The power receptable
  • The flywheel
  • The power coupling

This device stores rotational energy. Basically, it’s a heavy wheel that uses a large amount of force to spin and is attached to a rotating shaft that delivers energy from the engine to the rest of the vehicle.

This device stores rotational energy. Basically, it’s a heavy wheel that uses a large amount of force to spin and is attached to a rotating shaft that delivers energy from the engine to the rest of the vehicle.

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What is the part of the wheel that’s there just for show?

  • Tire logo
  • Tire cover
  • Tire shield
  • Hubcap

Hubcaps come in different shapes, sizes and color. Some even rotate, but they serve another purpose beyond decking a car’s wheel out. They also prevent a tire’s lug nuts from corroding or getting rusty.

Hubcaps come in different shapes, sizes and color. Some even rotate, but they serve another purpose beyond decking a car’s wheel out. They also prevent a tire’s lug nuts from corroding or getting rusty.

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The British call this part the silencer:

  • Muffler
  • Brakes
  • Axle
  • Quieter

This device was designed to muffle the noise caused by an engine’s exhaust and is recognizable for its twin pipes sticking out of the back of the car. And when cars get really noisy, there’s something wrong with the muffler.

This device was designed to muffle the noise caused by an engine’s exhaust and is recognizable for its twin pipes sticking out of the back of the car. And when cars get really noisy, there’s something wrong with the muffler.

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What is the skirt guard that some cars and trucks place behind their wheels?

  • Wheel shield
  • Mudflap
  • Mud guard
  • Wheel protector

Mudflaps are highly flexible and, in some cases, made of metal. As far as their purpose, drivers add them to protect their wheels, people, and other vehicles from mud flying in their direction.

Mudflaps are highly flexible and, in some cases, made of metal. As far as their purpose, drivers add them to protect their wheels, people, and other vehicles from mud flying in their direction.

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This item is practically invisible inside a car until it is needed.

  • Turbo boost
  • Joystick
  • Flame thrower
  • Emergency hand brake

Some drivers might call it a parking brake because they usually lift it up after their car is parked on a slope. This device causes a corkscrew mechanism to push a piston into the brake pads to ensure the car won’t roll back.

Some drivers might call it a parking brake because they usually lift it up after their car is parked on a slope. This device causes a corkscrew mechanism to push a piston into the brake pads to ensure the car won’t roll back.

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It’s a panel full of multi-colored fuses, but what is it called?

  • Fuse panel
  • Connector box
  • Junction case
  • Circuit breaker

The fuses in the panel protect the electrical and wiring components of the vehicle, and while some cars have more than one panel in different locations, the most common location is under the steering wheel.

The fuses in the panel protect the electrical and wiring components of the vehicle, and while some cars have more than one panel in different locations, the most common location is under the steering wheel.

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It sits on top of the engine and is round. What is it?

  • Power core
  • Fuel tank
  • Air filter
  • Steering wheel receptacle

Most cars have one or more of these filters and they are designed to keep the air inside the cabin nice and clean while the others protect the engine from dust and other pollutants that can taint the purity of the oxygen needed to maintain the engine’s combustion.

Most cars have one or more of these filters and they are designed to keep the air inside the cabin nice and clean while the others protect the engine from dust and other pollutants that can taint the purity of the oxygen needed to maintain the engine’s combustion.

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What are the two posts that stick out of a car’s battery called?

  • Plugs
  • Power ports
  • Stalks
  • Terminals

A car’s battery has a positive and negative terminal and these posts are used to connect it to the vehicle. They are also used to connect charging cables when helping to jump another driver’s dying car battery.

A car’s battery has a positive and negative terminal and these posts are used to connect it to the vehicle. They are also used to connect charging cables when helping to jump another driver’s dying car battery.

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What is the coiled, spring-like part found beneath cars called?

  • Impact cushioning device
  • Shock absorber
  • Vibration reducer
  • Impact absorber

Shock absorbers were designed to dampen or cushion impact while driving across roads that are very bumpy so that drivers can have a smoother ride and passengers don’t feel like they’re on a roller coaster.

Shock absorbers were designed to dampen or cushion impact while driving across roads that are very bumpy so that drivers can have a smoother ride and passengers don’t feel like they’re on a roller coaster.

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What is the name of the metal cage in racing cars?

  • Roll cage
  • Slide cage
  • Safety girder
  • Support pipe

A roll cage is designed to keep a driver and passengers safe if a car is rolling over. But this design isn’t just for race cars. Some expensive vehicles have computers that deploy roll hoops in the event that a car starts to roll over.

A roll cage is designed to keep a driver and passengers safe if a car is rolling over. But this design isn’t just for race cars. Some expensive vehicles have computers that deploy roll hoops in the event that a car starts to roll over.

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What is hiding behind the grill of the front of most cars?

  • Radiator
  • Heater
  • Evaporator
  • Cooler

A radiator is designed to take the hot coolant from the car’s engine and release it into the atmosphere. If a driver's car breaks down on the side of the road and the radiator is hot, the car may have overheated.

A radiator is designed to take the hot coolant from the car’s engine and release it into the atmosphere. If a driver's car breaks down on the side of the road and the radiator is hot, the car may have overheated.

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A lot of sports cars have one of these on top of the back of the car. What are they called?

  • Down wing
  • Stabilizer
  • Spoiler
  • Trunk topper

The spoiler was designed to spoil the airflow over the back of a car to reduce dragging and boost fuel efficiency. But most car owners would agree that it adds a sense of style, too.

The spoiler was designed to spoil the airflow over the back of a car to reduce dragging and boost fuel efficiency. But most car owners would agree that it adds a sense of style, too.

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What is the name of the top part of a car seat?

  • Head pillow
  • Head cushion
  • Skull Cushion
  • Headrest

The headrest was designed to help prevent drivers and passengers from getting whiplash. But most people only think of it as a place to rest their heads on when they lean back.

The headrest was designed to help prevent drivers and passengers from getting whiplash. But most people only think of it as a place to rest their heads on when they lean back.

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Which vehicle component is responsible for creating electricity?

  • Alternator
  • Fuel core
  • Electricity core
  • Carburetor

An alternator is responsible for generating the electricity needed to power electronic devices in a vehicle like the radio and even external devices like headlights and taillights. It also helps the battery to recharge while the car is in motion.

An alternator is responsible for generating the electricity needed to power electronic devices in a vehicle like the radio and even external devices like headlights and taillights. It also helps the battery to recharge while the car is in motion.

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How does gasoline enter the combustion chamber in a modern vehicle?

  • Fuel coil
  • Fuel injector
  • Muffler
  • Carburetor

The fuel injector sprays combustible material into the engine. But back in the day, older models relied on carburetors to pump air and gasoline in the combustion chamber which led to the engine flooding.

The fuel injector sprays combustible material into the engine. But back in the day, older models relied on carburetors to pump air and gasoline in the combustion chamber which led to the engine flooding.

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