The purpose of an automobile engine's cooling system is to circulate coolant around the engine so it can absorb and dissipate heat. The water pump pumps coolant through the various components in the system and the radiator cools down coolant after it has heated up after passing through the engine. The thermostat controls the flow of coolant based on engine temperature while the cooling fan draws air through the radiator when the car isn't moving fast enough for unforced air to cool things down on its own.

The ignition coil steps up the 12 volts available from the battery or alternator to a voltage of 30,000 or more volts at the spark plug. Converting a lower voltage input into a higher voltage output makes the ignition coil a step-up transformer.

An automobile's electrical system runs on DC power and the bulk of that power is supplied by the battery. The alternator converts the motion of the rotor into AC power which is then fed through the rectifier to convert it to DC power that both the car and the battery can use.

Both drum brake and disc brake assemblies use friction to stop a car's wheels from turning but each do it in a slightly different way. A drum brake assembly uses a large iron drum attached to the wheel and brake shoes that press against the drum to slow the rotation of the drum and, consequently, the wheel. A disc brake assembly employs friction in the same way as a drum brake but instead uses a rotor, also attached to the wheel, and two brake pads that squeeze against the surface of the rotor.

Control arms (upper and lower) connect a vehicle's suspension to the frame. The connection to the wheels is through ball joints which allow the control arms to turn and move up and down simultaneously. The frame connection uses bushings.