Names of Car Body Parts (Exterior And Interior)

by Ronel Forbes

March 9, 2023

Deconstructing your car to its bare essentials is the greatest approach to comprehending it. Your car essentially has an engine, a cooling system, a chassis, a steering wheel, four wheels, and a seat for the driver, similar to a go-cart.

With the addition of gearboxes and convenient technologies, modern car models have elevated these key components to a new level.

Knowing the components of a vehicle’s body may not appear vital to some owners. However, there are some advantages to being aware of the various automotive body part names and their roles.

For instance, knowing the functions of various auto parts can greatly aid in proper vehicle maintenance. Knowing the function of each component enables you to see issues early and take the appropriate actions to fix them.

The following advantages can come from knowing the names of your car’s body parts:

A clearer grasp of the value of your car
Safe driving
Rely on oneself for maintenance, troubleshooting, and more
Knowledge need to hire qualified auto repair services

The names of ten external and ten interior car body parts names are covered here, along with an explanation of each part, to assist you in realizing these advantages and more.

Names of Exterior Car Body Parts

Wheels and Tires

The ring-shaped components of an automobile known as tires serve as the main point of contact between your car and the ground. Tires typically have a body comprised of rubber and a tread layer. The body gives the tire the support it needs, and the tread’s network of patterns gives it traction.

Your car’s wheels, which are the rims that hold the tire in place and are often available in a variety of sizes and designs, are located in the wheel cylinders.

Trunk

The area of your car where you can store the items you bring with you, like bags and luggage, is the trunk. Every trunk has a lid, which controls access by allowing or disallowing people to open it.

The trunk of your car is typically found in the back. Manufacturers will, however, put the trunk in front when the engine is positioned at the back. As an alternative, trunks are located on the front and rear sides of cars with the engine positioned in the center.

Roof And Pillars

The top portion of your automobile, the roof, is in charge of shielding you and your passengers from the weather. Depending on the brand and type of your car, these come in a wide variety.

The support beams that hold up the roof of your car are called pillars. They also give the roof, windshield, and other upper frame components a sizable amount of structural stiffness. Your vehicle’s length will determine how many pillars it has. Additionally, slanted pillars will be present in car designs like the hatchback.

Hood

The front of the car, where the engine is, is where the hood is generally found. The hood’s position can fluctuate, though, because it is usually mounted on the same side as the engine although some cars have their engines in the trunk.

This piece of your car’s body is in charge of shielding the engine and other connected parts from environmental hazards like rain, dust, snow, and more. You can also access the engine of your car using this for future repairs.

Windows and doors

Doors and windows are the most basic external automobile components. The portions of your car that you open to enter and exit are known as the doors. They are in charge of keeping you safe while you are driving.

The door lock, panel, handle, and storage box are just a few of the components that make up a car door. Depending on the model, your car could have anywhere from two to four doors. Additionally, even though most automobile doors may be opened by hand, it is not unusual to have remote-controllable car doors.

The windows that shield you from the outdoors also act as mounts for the doors. The window glass controller is located in the door, and unlike the windshield, it allows you to raise and lower these windows.

Windshield

The glass in the front of the car that gives you and the person in the front seat visibility of the road is called the windshield or windscreen. Its main objective is to shield you from the elements and the wind that your fast-moving car produces.

Although it was originally comprised of a single piece of glass, modern windshields are constructed utilizing laminated safety glass to protect the occupants of the car from being hurt by flying glass.

Back and Front Bumpers

Your car’s bumper is an exterior component that is connected to the front and back ends. It is primarily in charge of protecting the body components of your car from crashes and minor bumps.

Although historically formed of metal, modern bumpers can be built of a variety of materials, including aluminum, plastic, and carbon fiber. The components’ construction materials significantly contribute to the bumper’s ability to absorb stress during collisions.

Front and rear bumpers not only assist prevent physical damage to your automobile but also help make it seem better. As a result, it is typical to discover a variety of fashionable bumpers, such as:

Cowboy bumpers
Tube bumpers
Standard bumpers
Step bumpers

Front and backlights

The headlight, which is also known as a headlamp and is located in the front of your automobile, is what gives you visibility while driving at night. You can adjust the lighting produced by your headlights to a variety of modes, including full-beam, fog, dipped, and more.

The group of lights at the back of your car, often known as the taillights or tail lamps, are called taillights. They increase the visibility of your car to oncoming drivers. Brake lights, for instance, alert other vehicles when you are slowing down or stopping entirely. By doing this, you can avoid having cars rear-end your vehicle.

Head and tail lights today come in a variety of styles, including halogen, laser, HID, and LED. However, due to their energy effectiveness, LEDs are more widely used. Additionally, they are brighter than the majority of other types of bulbs.

Signal Lights

A group of lights at the front and rear of your car called signal lights blink when they are turned on. They are in charge of alerting other drivers to the direction you want to go. In a right-hand drive car, the signal light controls are often located on the left side of the steering wheel column.

In order to increase visibility, modern cars have hazard lights, front and rear signal lights, and hazard lights that all blink concurrently.

Names of Interior Car Body Parts

Please read: CLEANING YOUR CAR’S INTERIOR

Engine

Your car’s engine is regarded as its heart. By transferring the heat from burning gas, it generates the force required to turn your vehicle’s wheels and move them ahead.

Although it seems straightforward, the duty the engine completes is actually rather complicated. It must has sufficient strength to support the enormous weight. Fortunately, there are many various kinds of engines, and each one has a unique structure that affects how effectively they operate. Drivers also have the choice to further alter the performance of their engine.

Alternator

Your car’s alternator is a crucial component. The alternator is the main portion responsible for powering the car’s electrical components, despite the fact that most people attribute this duty to the battery.

Since your vehicle’s engine is where it draws its mechanical power from, alternators are frequently mounted in front of or next to the engine. They are in charge of producing the electricity needed to keep the engine running and charge the battery. Additionally, it provides several car components with this electrical power.

Battery

Another essential component for keeping your car running is its battery, which enables all of its electrical parts to work properly. Batteries were useless in the past because most automotive parts were manual. However, they are now essential thanks to current technology.

The structure of modern batteries is not particularly intricate. Most are just six-cell wet cell batteries. But there are different battery types, and each one has advantages of its own.

Radiator

Your vehicle’s efficiency is greatly enhanced by the radiator, which is in charge of keeping your engine cool while it is running. Overheating brought on by a broken radiator might harm the engine.

The transmission cooler, core, pressure cap, intake tank, and outflow tank are all crucial components of the radiator. By absorbing the heat from the liquid and gas that enter the engine, these components help to keep the engine cool. The vehicle’s radiator disperses the heat it absorbs outside.

Muffler

The muffler, which is a component of your car’s exhaust system and is located at the bottom of the vehicle at the rear, helps to quiet the engine and dampen pollutants.

Although its operation is simple, the science underlying it can be somewhat complicated. Burnt gases are released into the exhaust system when the exhaust valve opens. The muffler muffles the loud sound wave produced by these burned gases before releasing it outside.

The majority of mufflers are frequently constructed from steel with an aluminum coating, giving them the strength to withstand extreme heat.

Converter Catalytic

Your car’s exhaust gas contains nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitric oxide as a result of the engine operation. These emissions are converted into water vapor and carbon dioxide by the catalytic converter using chemical reactions.

Transmission

The term “transmission” describes the gearbox of your car. The complete drive train, comprising the clutch, gearbox, prop shaft, differential, and final drive shaft, is referred to by some as the transmission.

The transmission uses gears and gear trains to assist you in changing your speed and torque. Depending on the speed fluctuation, you can select between a few gear ratios that are included.

Additionally, whereas manual gearshifting was required in earlier car models, an increasing number of cars today have automated gearboxes.

Axle

Your car’s axle is a shaft that you can find there. It keeps the wheels attached, allowing them to turn freely. The component aids in carrying your vehicle’s weight.

The front axle, rear axle, and stub axle are the three main categories of axles. The rear axle connects the back wheels, whereas the front axle keeps the front wheel of your car together. The stub axle is in charge of attaching the wheels to the central axle.

The size of your car determines how many axles it has. The front axle, however, is often in charge of responding to steering wheel movements.

Fuel tank

The place where the fuel that makes your car operate is kept is called the fuel tank. Fuel is inserted into the aperture that fuel tanks have. They also have a hole via which fuel is directed toward the engine.

Depending on the size of your car, the tank’s size will change. For instance, compared to other cars, compact cars have smaller gasoline tanks. Fuel tanks are often constructed utilizing a variety of materials to prevent contamination of the fuel. Additionally preventing the fuel from oxidation, doing renders the tanks rustproof.

Center Console

The transmission tunnel, which is located between the centerline of your car, is positioned on top of the center console. It is also the location of the gear shifter’s default position and the start of the dashboard.

Depending on the brand and type of the car, center consoles might differ significantly. While some center consoles contain storage compartments and cup holders, others operate the onboard entertainment system and comfort equipment.

Conclusion

Only a handful of the common car body part names you need to be familiar with are those for the outside and interior. Even if the descriptions we have provided are succinct and easy to understand, further research could be useful as well.

For further information and updates, go to MGS Insurance News and Articles.