Automotive Glossary

Car is its own language—luckily, we’re fluent. Our Automotive Glossary will help you learn automotive lingo and better understand the terminology of your vehicle.

A

ABS Brakes

Also referred to as an anti-skid braking system, this feature increases vehicle safety by preventing wheels from locking up, helping to keep your car’s tires from skidding during an emergency.

ABS Sensor

For your ABS system to function properly, your vehicle needs to know the difference between locked wheels and rolling wheels. When your wheels are locked up under heavy braking, friction between the road surface and your tires decreases. Your ABS system uses a sensor to help modulate your brakes for maximum friction under heavy braking.

A/C Compressor

An engine-driven pump in the air conditioning system that increases the pressure of the refrigerant.

A/C Compressor Bypass Pulley

To bypass or remove the factory A/C system, the bypass pulley is installed in place of the factory compressor. 

A/C Compressor Clutch

When the A/C is switched off, the pulley on the A/C compressor spins freely. This frees up power and increases fuel economy when the A/C is not being used. When the A/C is activated, the compressor clutch transfers power from the engine’s crankshaft to the pulley mounted on the A/C compressor.

A/C Condenser

A tube-and-fin heat exchanger that is exposed to outside airflow. As refrigerant vapor flows through the tubes, it condenses to liquid and releases heat that the air stream carries away. The condenser is on the high side.

AGM Battery

AGM is an advanced battery technology that allows the electrolyte (acid) to be uniformly distributed across the battery plate active material. This allows the battery to tolerate repeated deep discharges and provides an overall longer service life.

Air Breathers

You'll find air breathers attached to rubber hoses on your vehicle's intake system. Air breathers are nothing more than tiny air filters designed to filter out contaminants before they reach your engine. 

Air Cleaners

Air cleaners are designed to filter dust, dirt, sand, and even water out of the outside atmosphere before these contaminants have a chance to reach your engine. 

Air Filters

Air filters are vehicle components that are designed to prevent abrasive particles from entering car engine cylinders. They help to minimize wear and tear on your vehicle’s engine. They range in size and shape and are designed to fit your vehicle application.

Air Intake Hose

Your vehicle's air intake hose helps feed your engine the air it needs to run properly. 

Air Shocks

Installing a pair of air shocks on your vehicle allows you to increase its ride height, helping to bring the vehicle level when hauling a heavy load. When air shocks are installed with heavier springs on a truck chassis, they help to increase the useful load of the vehicle.

Alignment Sensor

To help you avoid disaster while driving, your ESC system needs to know where your steering wheel is pointed. Resetting your steering angle sensor (SAS) is an important last step for all alignment services performed on vehicles manufactured after 2012.

Alignment Shim

Metal or plastic spacers used in the alignment process to alter camber, caster and/or toe. On rear-wheel drive applications, shims may be added to or removed from stacks of shims on the front control arms to change camber and/or caster. On front-wheel drive applications, partial shims or full contact shims may be positioned behind the rear axle spindle to vary rear toe and/or camber. Camber shims are also available for 4x4 axle applications. Some shims are adjustable or can be indexed various ways to provide incremental alignment corrections.

Alternator

An alternator is an electrical generating device that produces an alternating current (AC). In transportation applications, the alternator uses diode rectification to transform the AC voltage produced be the winding.

Antifreeze

Antifreeze is a liquid that helps to protect the vehicle’s operating system in particularly cold (or hot) environmental conditions. It is added to the cooling system to make sure that the water contained within the radiator and engine block does not solidify or evaporate if the temperature goes beyond a certain point.

Axle Flange Gaskets

Axle drive flange gaskets are designed to fit between your axle tube housing end and the bearing retainer plates. They are made from quality materials and are available for most rear-wheel drive applications.


B

Backing Plate Gaskets

Backing plate gaskets protect your car's rear axle and keep water and debris out of it. It also helps prevent metal-to-metal contact and seal off any gaps between the metal surfaces.

Balance Shaft Belt

Your balance shaft belt turns your engine’s balance shaft. Some engines use belts, but others use a chain to drive their balance shafts.

Ball Joint

Ball joints act as the pivot point for suspension articulation. Ball joints are designed to allow the suspension to move independently without interfering with the action of the wheel. This independent motion isolates the movement of the car or truck wheel from the chassis of the vehicle, creating a smooth and quiet ride.

Ball Joint Assembly

Ball joints allow the wheel hubs to pivot on an axis and are a vital part of your vehicle’s suspension and steering systems. You’ll find ball joints attached to the end of the control arms on many front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles. Ball joints are bolted or pressed into the vehicle’s control arms. On some vehicles, you may need to replace the entire control arm ball joint assembly in order to replace the ball joint.

Battery Cable

Battery cables connect your vehicle’ battery terminals to the rest of its electrical system, including its starting, charging, and ignition systems.

Battery Charger

Battery chargers and maintainers are similar but not the same thing. Both tools are designed to charge your battery. A maintainer is designed to charge a nearly full battery with a small amount of power.

Belt Tensioner

Tensioner is a device that applies a force to an object to maintain it in tension. Often the amount of force is adjustable. There are tensioners for applying a tensioning force to drive belts and chains, fibers, and bolts.

Blower Motor

The motor that regulates the fan in the heating and air conditioning system.

Boost Gauge

In any vehicle with forced induction, extra power is delivered to the engine by compressing the air that enters the combustion chamber. It’s important to regulate the amount of air going in and to make sure that it is monitored at all times, so that the mixture of fuel to air is correct. This is where a special instrument known as a boost gauge comes in, as if the situation were not monitored, damage could be caused to the engine itself.

Brake Calipers

Brake calipers hold the brake pads. They are hydraulic actuators that transfer force from application of the brake pedal to the friction material (brake pads) via hydraulic fluid contained in lines that interconnect the brake pedal assembly and the calipers. 

Brake Drums

Brake Drums are cylindrical brake system components that are shallow and drum-like in shape. They transfer friction into torque used to slow the vehicle. Drum brake components include the backing plate, brake drum, wheel cylinder, brake shoe, and various springs and pins.

Brake Fluid Reservoir

Brake fluid reservoirs are canisters that connect to the brake master cylinder. The brake fluid reservoir stores your vehicle’s brake fluid and protects it so that your hydraulic braking system can work properly.

Brake Kit

Many individual components must work in harmony to effectively stop a moving vehicle, but at the core of the system are the rotors, calipers and pads that are attached to a hub at each corner. While these components are reliable enough out-of-the-box and are carefully fitted by the factory before a car is sold, some owners decide that they want to upgrade them for better performance and durability. 

Brake Lines

Brake lines carry the brake fluid and are critical to the function of your brakes. Without properly functioning brake lines, your vehicle’s brake system would fail to stop when needed.

Brake Pads

Brake pads convert the kinetic energy of the car to thermal energy by use of friction. When a brake pad is heated up in contact with a rotor, it starts to transfer small amounts of friction material to the rotor. The pad and rotor will then 'stick' to each other to provide stopping power. The friction of the pad against the rotor is responsible for the majority of stopping power.

Brake Rotors

Brake rotors are disc-shaped brake system components mounted to either the wheel hub assembly or onto the spindle. They function by transferring friction into torque. Rotors are used to slow your vehicle.

Brake Shoes

Brake shoes convert your car’s kinetic energy to thermal energy by use of 'friction.' When a brake shoe is heated up in contact with a drum, it starts to transfer small amounts of friction material to the drum. The brake drums (both now with friction material on), will then 'stick' to each other to provide stopping power. The friction of the shoe against the drum is responsible for the majority of stopping power.

Breathers

Breathers are the other half of a crankcase emission system. A breather filter cleans the air that is drawn to the crankcase and later let out by the PCV valve.


C

Cabin Air Filter

Air that is blown inside your vehicle passes through the cabin air filter to be purified and cleansed, making it healthier for you and your passengers. Cabin air filters are designed to protect drivers and passengers from pollen, smoke, smog, mildew, dander, fungus, mold spores, dust, and other pollutants and contaminants.

Caliper Covers

Caliper covers are designed to fit snugly over a vehicle’s existing brake calipers and can be configured in a variety of colors and styles. They are made to be long-lasting and sturdy and can also help to dissipate the excess heat that normally builds up during brake operation.

Caliper Pistons

Brake calipers are an essential component of your overall brake system, and the piston is the key component of the brake caliper. Pistons are responsible for forcing the brake pads to make contact with the brake rotor to bring your vehicle to a stop.

Cam Bearings

The camshaft is a cylindrical shaft that opens and close the valves. To host the camshaft and allow rotation, cam bearings are installed into “bearing bores” and specifically designed so that they are adequately lubricated during operation.

Camshaft

For an engine to operate, a mixture of air and fuel needs to be introduced to the combustion chamber which, when detonated by a spark, causes the pistons to move and turn a drive-producing crankshaft. Some engines have one camshaft, while others may have two, but the job is the same – to operate the valves and control compression.

Camshaft Position Sensor

The camshaft positioning sensor is usually fitted into the cylinder head of the motor. The reading mechanism is designed to determine how the cylinders are moving, to precisely synchronize how fuel injectors or electronic coils activate. These sensors provide a different array of data to the other important positioning sensor linked to the crankshaft, which is designed to help control the ignition timing and speed of the engine itself.

Car Lights

Your car's lights help you see and be safe on the road. From turn signals, to headlights, they all have an integral function in keeping you and other drivers safe on the road.

Clutch

At the most basic level, a clutch connects and disconnects your engine from your transmissions (and everything else) in your car or truck. Your engine is constantly turning, and the clutch helps to transmit this power to your gearbox, so that you can successfully shift gears.

Clutch Flywheel

The clutch mechanism enables instructions given by the driver to be converted into a variety of different speeds and crucial to the clutch mechanism is the flywheel, which is a heavy-duty disc that is mounted on the back of the engine and spins vigorously when the motor is running.

Coil Connector

The ignition coil requires consistent low voltage delivery to provide amplified power. The coil connector is a device that links this system together.

Coil Springs

A suspension spring made from coiled wire having a cylindrical or conical outline.

Control Arms

The primary function of a control arm is to provide the connection point between the body of the vehicle and wheel. This allows the wheel to move up and down while the body frame and passengers stay smooth and level. Key components that are normally found on a control arm include the control arm bushing and the ball joint.

Conversion Gasket

Conversion gaskets are a specific set of gaskets that are required during a rebuild process on any vehicle’s engine. They are not to be confused with the main (or upper) gaskets required for a rebuild when the cylinder head is being worked on.

Coolant Check Valve

One-way or two-way valves allow the movement of liquids through a system according to certain parameters. The coolant check valve helps to maintain the right amount of pressure in the cooling system.

Coolant Recovery Tank

For a vehicle to operate efficiently, its engine needs to run within a specific temperature range and this requires a cooling liquid to be pumped through the system on a constant basis. This liquid is stored in a coolant recovery tank.

Coolant Temperature Sensor

Usually, the coolant temperature sensor is located very close to the engine’s thermostat and the sensor is designed to record the temperature of the coolant by measuring the liquid directly or connecting to the thermostat. 

Crankshaft

A main rotating shaft running the length of the engine. The crankshaft is supported by main bearings. Portions of the shaft are offset to form throws to which the connecting rods are attached.

Crankshaft Seal

Usually, the Crankshaft Seal is located very close to the engine’s thermostat and the sensor is designed to record the temperature of the coolant by measuring the liquid directly or connecting to the thermostat.

CV Axle

The CV Axle is a vital part of your vehicle emissions control system. Its job is to reduce toxic air by converting harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions, such as water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

CV Joint

A CV joint enables the axle to which it is fitted to move through a range of different directions, while still functioning perfectly. If it weren’t for the CV joint, then an axle would detach itself from the transmission or gearbox component to which it is fitted, or would likely fail completely. The CV joint essentially links a road wheel that moves up and down with the component providing the power, which is always stationary and there are CV joints on either end of the axle for full flexibility.


D

Diesel Engine Oil

The purpose of diesel engine oil is to protect and lubricate internal parts and to help ensure the engine does not overheat during typical operation. It is similar to oil used in a gasoline powered engine, but there are significant differences that make diesel oil unsuitable for use in the other types of engine.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid

Diesel exhaust fluid is a solution designed to break down nitrogen oxide emissions typically created as part of the combustion process in diesel vehicles. It is composed of deionized water and urea and is sprayed into the exhaust gases of the vehicle to turn the nitrogen oxides into separate parts of water and nitrogen.


F

Fan Clutch

The Fan Clutch is a vital part of your vehicle emissions control system. Its job is to reduce toxic air by converting harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions, such as water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Floor Mats

Carpet or rubber mats designed to protect the floor of a vehicle from outside dirt, debris, and other elements, floor mats typically come standard with a new vehicle, but a number of aftermarket replacements and custom options are also available. Floor mats can be easily removed, cleaned, and replaced.

Fuel Filters

Fuel filters capture contaminants in the fuel that can damage the engine.

Fuel Pump

The fuel pump assembly is the heart of a vehicles fuel delivery system. Its function is to supply clean pressurized fuel to the fuel injectors. In addition to this, it provides the fuel level reading to the vehicles instrument cluster, shuts off the fuel nozzle when refueling, among many other critical functions.


G

Gear Oil

Gear oil is specially formulated for the often-violent action found when two shafts come into contact with each other via the gears. Whenever a driver goes through a range of gears during acceleration, friction is generated each time the clutch engages and disengages and different gears mesh with each other in order to regulate the power provided by the engine.


H

Head Gaskets

A head gasket is a gasket that sits between the engine block and cylinder head(s) in an internal combustion engine. Its purpose is to seal the cylinders to ensure maximum compression and avoid leakage of coolant or engine oil into the cylinders.

Heater Core

The heater core is a heat exchanger that serves to warm the vehicle passenger compartment. Outside air or existing air from the passenger compartment is directed over the radiator-like surface of the heater core by the blower motor and into the passenger compartment.


I

Idler Arm

The purpose of the idler arm is to support the center link and to ensure the center link is always at the proper height. The position of steering linkage must be parallel with the control arm. Optional steering linkage position maintains directional stability and minimizes wear on the tires.

Ignition Coil

A step-up pulse transformer which is a part of the ignition system. It receives a small amount of electrical voltage from the battery and steps up the low primary voltage and amplifies it into a big jolt of secondary voltage of volts, and sends it to the spark plugs. It is made of two windings and a core of iron. Also called just coil.

Intake Manifold

The intake manifold is an aluminum, steel or plastic cover that sits on top of the engine. It is attached to the top of the engine by an intake manifold gasket that is made of plastic and rubber. The intake manifold directs the air-fuel mixture in the engine to the corresponding cylinder where it is burned to produce power.


L

Lead Acid Car Battery

The lead acid car battery was the first rechargeable battery produced for commercial use. The battery is a storage device, which stores energy and provides a power source for all of the electrical and electronic accessories. 


M

MAP Sensor

The Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP) is a component of the engine management system as used in many modern internal combustion engines. The MAP sensor creates a variable electrical output signal based on intake manifold vacuum. 

Marine Battery

Marine batteries are a variety of starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) batteries. They can be the conventional flooded-cell lead-acid design or absorbed glass mat (AGM).

Mass Airflow Sensor

The mass airflow sensor (MAF) provides feedback to the powertrain control module (PCM or engine computer) proportionate to engine load.

Motor Oil

Modern-day motor oil is designed to help improve performance and enhance longevity, in addition to protecting valuable moving parts within an engine. It is carefully engineered to protect expensive internal components that are under intense pressure and moving at great speeds.

Muffler

Mufflers are commonly known as the silencer. They play a major role in your exhaust system by reducing the amount of noise emitted by your internal combustion engine. Your muffler also helps prevent fumes from getting inside your vehicle, and they improve your engine and fuel efficiency.


O

Oil Filter

A component, located near the oil pump, that removes abrasive particles from the motor oil by a straining process as the oil circulates through the lubrication system.

Oil Pan Gaskets

An oil pan is a metal container that contains the engine oil. The oil pan gasket seals the oil pan to the bottom of the engine.

Oil Seals

Oil seals are devices that hold or separate fluids of various types to ensure larger assemblies (transmissions, differentials, engines, etc.) continue to function where lubrication or fluid separation are required to reduce friction and wear.


P

PCV Valve

The PCV valve is a spring-loaded valve with a specific orifice size designed to restrict the amount of air that's siphoned from the crankcase into the intake manifold.

Pitman Arm

A short lever arm splined to the steering gear cross shaft , the pitman arm transmits the steering force from the cross shaft to the steering linkage system.

Power Steering Fluid

Power steering fluid is a crucial component in making the driver’s job easier and safer. It provides hydraulic assistance to the steering system when the driver turns the steering wheel. 

Power Steering Pump

The power steering pump transfers power steering fluid under pressure to other power steering system components, allowing the driver to steer with minimal effort.

Power Window Regulator

Power windows run on a switch-activated motor inside the car door. The power window regulator feeds the window glass up through two channels on either side of the door, and the drive mechanism is designed to operate in a precise range of motion.


R

Radiator

A heat exchanger used to remove heat from the coolant in the cooling system containing a vertical or horizontal-finned tubing section connected between two tanks.

Refrigerant

The substance used in the air conditioning system in order to create a cooling effect, its chemical compound can be changed from liquid to gas.

Relays

Auto relays are fitted in between circuits with different amperage ratings, so that output or input from each circuit is regulated and they can safely "talk" to each other. In addition, an auto relay is used to operate multiple components when only one command is issued so that a complex electrical gadget becomes fully functional with no delay.

Running Board

A running board is a rectangular-shaped flat board mounted close to the rocker panels on the side of an SUV or a truck. They’re intended to give passengers assistance as they enter or exit the vehicle and are equipped to provide an element of grip in slippery conditions. 


S

Serpentine Belt

Serpentine Belts, also known as Poly-V, Multi-Rib, Multi-V or Poly Rib belts, are the unsung hero of your car's engine. This single, continuous belt is used to drive many components, including your vehicle's alternator, water pump, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, air pump and more.

Shocks

A component using friction to dampen and control a vehicle's suspension up and down movement. Modern shocks are of the hydraulic type, using an oil to dissipate the heat of friction to the outside air. They contribute to your vehicle's ride quality.

Snow Chain

Snow chains are devices that wrap around vehicle tires and help to establish traction on slippery driving surfaces. They originated in the northern United States where winter conditions were punitive and enabled drivers to continue motoring when roads were covered with snow.

Spark Plug

A device containing two electrodes across which electricity jumps to produce a spark to fire the fuel charge. The center electrode is insulated from the spark plug shell by means of a molded insulator resembling Porcelain. The side electrode protrudes from the bottom edge of the spark plug shell and is so positioned that there is a gap between it and the center electrode.

Starter

The electrical starter holds the chief responsibility for carrying out the process involved in starting up vehicles. Mounted low near the back of the engine, the starter is comprised of a powerful direct current (DC) electric motor and starter solenoid, which is attached to the motor.

Steering Gear Box

The steering gear box (or steering gear) responds to the movement of the steering wheel and steers the wheels in the corresponding direction.

Struts

Struts are part of your vehicle's suspension, and do the same job as a shock absorber. A vehicle will either have struts or shock absorbers, or a combination of both (i.e. struts in the front, and shock absorbers in the rear). They regulate how much your vehicle can move up and down, and keeps the tires in contact with the road surface after going over a bump.

Switch

An automotive switch is a simple electromechanical device that is fitted within an electrical circuit and controls whether the circuit is “on” or “off.”


T

Timing Belt

The timing belt controls the camshafts in your engine, opening and closing valves at just the right time for smooth operation. It's a part of the internal combustion engine, and has teeth that turn the camshaft in time with the crankshaft.

Tonneau Cover

You have a variety of options when it comes to functionality and material, but tonneau covers designed to completely cover the truck bed, providing not only security and protection, but also aesthetic appeal.

Trailer Hitch

Trailer hitches mount to the frame of the towing vehicle and provide a connection for the next component, the ball mount. Trailer hitches come in a wide variety of sizes for different applications and are typically rated according to the expected maximum towing weight.

Transmission Filter

Transmission filters prolong the life of the transmission and its fluid by trapping potentially harmful particles and abrasives. A properly functioning filter ensures that transmission fluid is free from contaminants.

Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid is a form of lubricant used to protect internal components of a vehicle’s transmission system in order to avoid premature failure and damage due to friction. There are many types of transmission fluid, and the solution used to protect automatic systems is generally more finely engineered. 

Transmission Line Connector

The fluids in your transmission need to stay clean and cool for your vehicle to work properly. Transmission line connectors help this happen by forming the junction between your transmission, lines, and transmission cooler.

Transmission Mount

The transmission mount is one of many drivetrain mounts found on most cars and trucks. Most vehicles have two or three engine mounts and at least one, and sometimes two or more, transmission mounts. Along with bell housing bolts, the transmission mount keeps the transmission safe and secure underneath the hood.

Transmission Pan

The transmission pan and gasket keeps automatic transmission fluid in the transmission, where it belongs, and off the ground. 

Transmission Seal

Both automatic and manual transmissions use rubber or plastic seals to keep fluids inside.

Turbocharger

Two things determine gas and diesel engine power: air and fuel. Turbochargers are snail-shaped devices that use spent exhaust gases to increase the pressure in a vehicle’s intake manifold. This increases power output over a similar engine that lacks a turbocharger.


U

Universal Joints

A coupling between rotating shafts set at an angle to one another, allowing for rotation in three planes (.i.e. the shaft and two wheels).


V

Valve Stem Seals

Valve stem seals are engineered to allow a small amount of oil to pass through their oil-metering to lubricate the valve stem interface of an engine.

Valve Timing Solenoid

Certain cam profiles work well for producing power at low RPMs, and other cam profiles work well for producing power at high RPMs. Variable valve timing lets engines switch between cam profiles based on how fast the engine turns. The valve timing solenoid allows the engine management system to seamlessly change between these profiles as the engine accelerates. 

Vapor Canister

A vehicle’s vapor canister is an important part of its federally mandated emissions control system. When properly installed and maintained, the vapor canister reduces the amount of evaporated fuel a car or truck emits.

V-belts

V-Belts are traditionally found in older motors. A series of v-belts come off the crankshaft, each powering its own individual accessory group such as alternator, a/c compressor etc. 

Voltage Regulator

A voltage regulator is a device that controls the charging output of an alternator or generator so as to maintain charge volts within defined parameters.

Voltmeter

A volt meter is a device that measures and indicates the voltage within an electrical system or electrical circuit.


W

Water Neck

The thermostat contained in the water neck opens as the engine reaches operating temperature. The water neck helps to hold the vehicle’s thermostat in place as it opens and closes to regulate the flow of coolant through your engine. The opening in the water neck created by the thermostat allows coolant to flow from the radiator back to the engine.

Water Outlet Gasket

The water outlet, water neck, or thermostat housing requires a gasket to seal properly.

Water Pump

A vehicle’s water pump circulates coolant through its engine and radiator. Water pumps are typically mounted on the front of the engine, which is the side opposite the transmission.

Water Temperature Gauges

This gauge is designed to tell you when your engine is overheating or running too cool.

Wheel Bearing

Wheel bearings keep your wheels fixed to their axles, so your vehicle rolls down the road straight and true.

Wheel Cylinder

Wheel cylinders hold the hydraulic pistons that act on the drum brake shoes. Think of the wheel cylinder as a drum brake’s version of a brake caliper. Many modern, front-wheel drive vehicles have calipers and discs mounted to the front and a rear wheel cylinder and drum mounted to the rear.

Wheel Hub

The wheel hub assembly holds the brake rotor, which typically slips over the lug studs, and forms the attachment point for the wheel. There is a bearing or bearing race mounted inside the wheel hub. The front wheel hub creates a fixed attachment point for the wheel to roll and pivot as you drive the vehicle. The rear wheel hub stays largely fixed in place while it pivots on the rest of the suspension.

Wheels

Also known as rims, wheels are used to mount tires onto a vehicle. Along with your tires, your wheels are the last thing that separates you from the road and are integral to steering.

Wheel Speed Sensor

The wheel speed sensor “sees” when your brakes are locked up. When your wheels are locked up, your tires fail to produce sufficient friction to stop you and your vehicle. When the sensor sees your brakes are locked up, it sends a signal to your vehicle’s ABS module. The ABS module then releases a small amount of brake pressure, which allows your tires to maintain friction against the road surface.

Wheel Studs

The studs on your wheel hubs, along with the lug nuts, keep your wheels firmly attached to the wheel hubs and axles on all four corners of your vehicle. Wheel studs are nothing more than large bolts that are designed to fit securely into your wheel hubs.

Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers rely on an electric motor and gearbox to provide power to a pair of blades that move back and forth very quickly across the surface of the windshield. 

Wiper Arm

While power and speed are regulated by the combination motor and gearbox, several different mechanical components are also crucial to convert the power into function. The wiper arms help to support the frames and blades and make sure that movement is carefully regulated.

Wiper Motor

The wiper motor incorporates a simple brush driven engine that is linked to a worm gear to help convert the energy produced into usable power. The primary job of the motor is to produce reliable output, and a typical motor also contains a mechanism that allows its output to be varied and switched off strategically.