GETTING TO KNOW
PARTS OF YOUR CAR

YOU'VE PASSED YOUR TEST
PURCHASED YOUR FIRST CAR
AND DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT'S WHAT?

In this section we'll try and break down bit by bit the main parts of your car so that they make a little more sense to you.
There possibly isn't a point in us going into the tiniest parts as if they go wrong you'll probably going to need a professional, but we'll discuss some of the more popular items. 

So let's start first with the lights.
The 3 most common lights at the front of a car are:-

SIDE LIGHTS
By turning your light switch to this position your front and rear sidelights will illuminate.
Rear sidelights are the red lights you see on at the rear of a vehicle at night time that remain on permanently.
The brighter red lights at the rear of a vehicle that illuminate when a vehicle slows down are brake lights.
Other bright red lights that may come on at the rear of a vehicle could be FOG lights, but these should only be used when visibility is less than 100 metres.

The white lights that illuminate to the front of the vehicle that are not very bright at all are sidelights.

DIPPED BEAM
Dipped beam (formerly know has Headlights)
Are the standard lights to the front of a vehicle that are used at night time.
MAIN BEAM
Main Beam lights (formerly know as High Beam)
Are lights that are used traditionally on rural roads where streetlights might not be present and additional visibility is required for distance along the road.
These are normal illuminated by using one of the stalks to the side of the steering wheel and notification that they are on are by the blue symbol being illuminated on the dashboard.
When using these you need to be very mindful that they are on as they may dazzling oncoming vehicles by keeping them on at the wrong time.
Sidelights
Graphic
Dipped Beam
Graphic
Main Beam
Graphic

FRONT FOG LIGHTS

Front Fog
Lights
Control Switch
To allow the Fog lights to work the Dipped Beam lights must be on as well
Front Fog Light
Symbol
Some drivers refer to this symbol as the
Green Jellyfish
Front Fog lights on
Graphic
You can see lights illuminated either side of the dipped beam, beam pattern.

REAR FOG LIGHTS

Rear Fog Lights
Control Switch
Dipped Beam lights MUST be switched on for the Fog lights to work
Rear Fog Light Symbol
Some drivers refer to this symbol as the 
Amber Jellyfish
Rear Fog Light Graphic
Some vehicle have 2 rear fog lights others only have 1.
Always ensure these are switched off when visibility increases further than 100 metres.

Signal Indicators

Stalk control for Indicators
By lifting this stalk upwards you will put on the right hand signal indicator.
By lowering the stalk you will put on the left hand signal indicator.
Dashboard symbol
for Indicators
Both left and right symbols will illuminate when the
Hazard Warning lights are switched on.
Rear Indicator
Always ensure light lenses are clean.

Brake Lights

Foot Controls
Commonly referred to as ABC
When the brake pedal is pressed the car slows down and the brake lights illuminate.
Brake Lights
This vehicle has a 3rd brake light in the rear window, This helps highlight that the vehicle is slowing down if one of the other lamps should fail or to avoid them being missed if Fog lights were on.

Reversing lights

Gear Lever selecting reverse illuminates reversing lights
The position for reverse gear can change from manufacturer to manufacturer
Reversing lights
Some vehicles have one reversing light and others have two.

Important Items under the bonnet

Engine Bay
of a Ford Focus
Engine Coolant reservoir
This reservoir can contain just water but it is advisable to add summer coolant/winter anti-freeze.
Always check with manufacturer for the correct type. 
Clutch and brake fluid reservoir
There are many different types of fluid for this, always ensure you check with the manufacturer for the correct grade.
Washer  fluid reservoir
Water can be used on it's own in this reservoir, but to help avoid the water freezing and to help clear off road dirt which may be oily, we suggest screen wash to be added. You can purchase ready to use fluid or concentrated and dilute it.
Oil dipstick
When checking if you have sufficient oil in your engine always let the vehicle sit for a while before checking it. Ideally check it first thing in the morning before starting the engine.
To check it, pull out the Dipstick, wipe it off with a cloth and then reinsert it fully. Pull it out once more and you will see from the Minimum/Maximum marks if you have sufficient.
Oil top up point
If you do not have sufficient oil in your engine you risk causing damage, and possibly irreparable damage.
To add oil simply remove this cap, add little amounts at a time, then allow time for it to reach the bottom of the engine and then recheck the dipstick level.
Fuse Box
If electrical items are not working this box may be the first port of call to see whether a fuse may have blown.

Relays may also be housed in this unit.
Relays are used to manage high-current loads.
Things like headlights, fuel pumps etc can draw substantial current.
Battery
All cars have a battery. The battery is required to turn over the engine to make it start. It is also used when the car is running to keep a constant flow of power to all the ancillary items such as lights, radio, heating fans, ECU etc.
Always ensure if you need to replace one, that you purchase one that is the correct size for your vehicle and that the positive and negative terminals are the same type and in the same configuration as your previous one.
A lot of modern cars have Smart Charge facilities built in to the cars electrical system, this function allows a cars battery life to be prolonged on that of a traditional style battery. If your vehicle has the type of battery that for Smart Charge it is very likely that it will also have a Battery Monitor Module. If the battery is ever changed or goes flat, you will need to have the Battery Monitor Module reset. If it does not get reset the battery will only charge to approximately 75%. This is adequate for most cars, but runs the chance of running flat quicker than a battery that is fully charged. Most garages will be able to reset the BMM and it usually takes seconds to do it, but once done, will allow the battery to charge to 100%. 
Air Filter
You car sucks in air whilst the engine is running. A filter helps keep that air clean for a better combustion inside the engine. Obviously sucking in air from following other vehicles all day, dust created from the road, pollen and any other pollutants will eventually clog up the air filter and cause the engine not to run as efficiently. They are not very expensive and well worth changing at each service. 

Wiper controls

On Fords
usually located on the right hand side steering stalk
.
Various types of wiper controller depending on age of vehicle.
More modern vehicles have the options for:-
1 swoop
Front wipers automatic mode.
Automatic mode is where a windscreen sensor detects the rain and wipes the screen Front 
 Front wipers Permanent slow.
Front wipers Permanent fast.
Wash front windscreen.
Wash rear windscreen.
Wipe rear windscreen intermittently.
wipe rear windscreen permanently.

Climate Control

Climate control panel
Heated seats controllers
Climate control in Auto mode
Front Windscreen
electric 
demister
Rear Demister control
Max heat
Air con
control
Windscreen Blower control
Body Blower control
Feet Blower control
Max cold 
Air Con control
Air conditioning on control
Air recirculation control
Blower speed down
Blower speed up
Heated Steering wheel control
Individual Temperature controllers
Actual Blower Speed

Dials and controls on the Dashboard and steering wheel.

Rev Counter
Lets you know how many revolutions per minute your engine is rotating at. The higher the revs the more fuel you use, the more wear and tear happens to your engine, the more pollutants you dispel from your exhaust, and the noisier your vehicle will be.
Use your gears wisely to keep the revs down and save yourself money on fuel.
Temperature Gauge
To alert you that your engine may be overheating. If your engine does overheat it could cause it to seize up. You should keep an eye on this, especially on a long journey or when sat for some time in traffic. 
A radiator fan is designed to come on if the engine gets too hot but all things are capable of failing and you wouldn't want a seized up engine as it's usually expensive to replace.
Fuel Gauge
To notify you how much fuel you have in the petrol tank.
Normally a warning light and maybe a tone will notify you when there is approximately 50miles worth of travel before your fuel runs out.
It advisable to not let your fuel run low at any time as this can drag sludge from the bottom of the fuel tank into your fuel system and cause blockages.
It's also illegal to not have enough fuel in your car for your journey.
Stop/Start
Button
This switch can be used in different ways.
If you just press the button the ignition will be switched on as well as some ancillary items.

If however, you press the clutch pedal and pressed the button it would do as above but will also start the engine.

Modern cars with a Stop Start button require the clutch to be depressed before starting the engine.
This is a safety feature to avoid starting the car with the gears engaged and cause the car to leap in the direction of the selected gear.
Speedo
To notify you of the current speed you are travelling at.
Be VERY aware that you are looking at the correct scale.
Certain cars will show KPH  on the outside scale and others show MPH  on the outside scale.
MPH is the standard used in the UK.
MPH = Miles per hour
KPH = Kilometres per hour
Cruise Control, Speed Limiter & media volume controls
Cruise control will allow you to set a specific speed via the controls and remove your foot from the accelerator. The vehicle will then continue along at that speed until you disengage it.
Various models of cars have different ways of disengaging it so get used to how yours works.
Some may allow it to disengage by pressing the clutch pedal, brake pedal, or by pressing the Cruise control button again.
The speed limiter allows you to set a specific speed and "should" allow you to not exceed that set speed.
However, going downhill the vehicle could run away with you so you must still use the footbrake when required.
Info Bar controls & hands free controls
The top half of this control panel allows you to access the information panel on your dashboard to look at certain setting or change those settings.
These may include tyre pressures, mpg for fuel consumption, distance meter, when the lights come on and go off etc and many other things.
Check what yours is capable of doing.
The lower half controls are for hands free operation of your phone once you have connected the phone to your car.
Parking Brake/Auto mode
The "P" symbol is the electronic version of a manual hand brake.
You lift it to put the hand brake on and press it down to release the hand brake.
The switch to the rear of it is to allow you to place the cars handbrake into "Automatic mode" this will allow the handbrake to set itself once you come to a stop as long as you exert enough pressure to the brake pedal, and it will automatically release the hand brake once you go to move off and the biting point has been found on the clutch.
Proximity
Sensor cancel
If your car is fitted with parking sensors and you get too close to an object the parking sensors are designed to beep to notify you that you are getting close.
Some vehicles also have a graphic display that changes from green to amber to red in colour.
At RED you are very close to an object. If the beeping annoys you, you can press this switch and it will turn off the beeping but be sure you know the position of your car otherwise you may hit something.
Engine Mode.
Traction Control.
Stop/start disable
This is the button at the top.
It will allow you to adjust the settings
(which have been factory set)
to allow a more economical form of driving, or give you a bit more of a sporty (higher revs) engine.

Traction control system TCS  is on as a default mode when a car starts. There may be situations where it may be beneficial to turn it off. This button allows you to do that.

Stop/Start (off) button. As a default, cars fitted with stop start will usually switch off the engine when coming to a stop, selecting neutral and removing your foot from the clutch pedal. Other vehicles (especially Hybrid) may switch the engine off at low speeds when slowing down. The battery side of the Hybrid then takes over all the ancillary items such as lights, radio, heater etc. Once a gear is selected again the engine automatically will restart.

If the Stop/ Start (off) button is pressed the engine will remain running at every stopping point on your journey.
Hazard Warning Lights Control
When this button is pressed, usually to notify other road users of heavy slow moving traffic ahead on a Motorway, or to notify others that you may have a problem with your vehicle. It will make ALL indicator lamps around the car flash together .
Internal door locking switch
And ideal adaption to allowing a driver to lock themselves into a car if they feel insecure.
When the switch with the locked padlock on is illuminated then ALL the doors are locked.

Windows and Mirrors Controllers

Door Mirror controllers &
all window controllers
The top two switches are to activate left and right door mirrors so that when the joystick button (round button with arrows on) is pressed in the directions as shown, the door mirror selected will move in that direction.
The 4 switches at the rear of this panel are laid out as though you are looking at your car from above.
Each one of them operate the window as located by their position.
The other two switches, the left one allows the door mirrors to fold in toward the car when you are parked up to avoid them being hit by a passing vehicle, and the right one is to disable the two rear windows from being operated by the passengers in the back.


Media Controls
As with most modern vehicle media systems, although the panel looks quite simple, there are buttons that can be pressed more than once to bring up other menus to facilities such as  :- CD Player, Satellite Navigation system,
Climate control controls, Phone etc.
Again get familiar with these while stationary rather than when on the move as it's much safer.
If you are ever unsure, pull over and make changes at the side of the road.
6 Speed Gear lever
Traditional 6 speed gear box lever.
The position of 1-6 is standard on any geared vehicle, but you may find that reverse can change place depending on manufacturer.