Skip to main content
Motoring Reference

The Motor Encyclopedia

A plain-English reference to how modern cars work — terms, systems and components

A car is not one machine but several, each with its own vocabulary. This encyclopedia is a plain-English reference: the terms you will see on a garage invoice, a service schedule, an MOT advisory or a manufacturer recall, defined in the order they would matter to an owner.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1 — The four-stroke engine, in the order it matters

    8 min

    Intake, compression, combustion, exhaust — and the systems that hang off each stroke: valvetrain, ignition, fuelling, emissions.

  2. Chapter 2 — Transmissions: manual, torque-converter auto, DCT and CVT

    5 min

    How each gearbox works, what fails on each, and which fluids are change-on-schedule versus sealed for life.

  3. Chapter 3 — Suspension and steering geometry

    5 min

    MacPherson struts, multi-link rear, anti-roll bars, camber/caster/toe, and why a misaligned car eats its front tyres.

  4. Chapter 4 — Brake systems: discs, drums, ABS, ESC and AEB

    5 min

    Hydraulics, electronic stability control, autonomous emergency braking and how each fails differently.

  5. Chapter 5 — 12V and high-voltage electrical systems

    4 min

    Starter, alternator, battery types (lead-acid, AGM, lithium), and the 400/800V architecture of modern EVs.

  6. Chapter 6 — EV powertrains: motor, inverter, battery and charging

    5 min

    Permanent magnet vs induction motors, single- and three-phase AC charging, DC rapid charging and battery state of health.

  7. Chapter 7 — ADAS: lane keep, adaptive cruise, BLIS and AEB

    5 min

    The sensor types (radar, camera, ultrasonic, lidar), the SAE levels of automation, and what calibration after a windscreen replacement involves.

  8. Chapter 8 — A common glossary of motoring terms

    4 min

    The terms that appear on V5Cs, MOT certificates, garage invoices and recall notices, defined.