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10 Car Parts You Should Absolutely Know!

by Josip Charles
September 06,2023

10 Essential Things You Should Always Keep in Your Car

Car maintenance and safety go hand-in-hand most of the time. If you are diligent about your driving experience, you may often wonder, “what are the most important items that should be in my car at all times?” The answer to this question may depend heavily on your typical routines, your values, and your daily life. However, there are a few essentials that you should never be without. If you are one of those people who keeps their car full of junk, you may want to think about including a thorough car-cleaning in your near future. Not only is having a messy car a daily stress, but it can also hinder your ability to get through an emergency; leaving no room for the essentials that are needed for your safety in emergencies can be more than an inconvenience in the long run. Here are 10 items that you should keep in your car at all times.

A spare tire & a spare tire kit

Firstly, and most obviously, you should always keep a spare tire and a spare tire kit in your car. This kit should always include a tire iron and a tire jack. Even if you are a driver who relies on an emergency roadside service when a flat tire occurs, you should know the basic skills of how to change a tire, just in case.

Jumper cables

Secondly, keep jumper cables in your trunk. We have all been there; batteries can die because we left our lights on, or our key in the ignition for too long. When this happens, it’s important to have jumper cables, because if a nice soul drives by to give you a jump, they may not have the proper materials themselves.

Owner’s manual & a tire gauge

Another thing you should always keep in the car is your owner’s manual. Keep this in your center console or glove compartment at all times for quick references. This manual holds the key to all the specified information you need to know about your car, including the proper pressure level to fill your tires with. Fourthly, and along the same topic, keep a tire gauge with you at all times—it takes up very little space (about the size of a pen) and is essential for long drives especially.

First aid kit

Next, you may get stuck in a situation that is less than ideal, even less so than being stuck on the side of the road. In case someone gets hurt, you should always have a first aid kit in your car. You can purchase a ready-made first-aid kit at most convenience stores. Along the same lines of safety, you should also include an emergency bag with flashlights, a Swiss-army knife (or something similar), a few bottles of water, and some quick energy foods like protein bars.

A paper map

Even though modern conveniences have made us reliant upon our phones and GPS for navigation, sometimes satellites don’t reach us. It is important to keep maps in your car, especially of unknown areas that you are traveling in. When all else fails, you should make sure you know how to read an old-fashioned paper map.

Ice scraper

Another thing to keep in your car, especially if you live in colder weather regions, is an ice scraper. If your windshield freezes over, you may be breathing heavily on it for quite some time without an ice scraper. They are generally small and compact and take up little to no space.

Other important items

You should keep towels, paper towels, and/or tissues in your car at all times. You will find numerous occasions in which to use these items, and when you need them, you’ll be grateful they’re there. Lastly, keep spare change or an emergency fund of cash somewhere in your car. You can tape it under your seat, or hide it wherever you feel most comfortable. Unexpected parking meters, toll bridges, or hunger usually comes up without fail; good luck trying to use your credit card at that parking meter, or buying an apple at the only roadside fruit stand for miles without any cash on you.

Final words

In case of an emergency, or when you have little to no options, keeping some essential items in your car is important in order to remain alive and safe.

The Most Important Car Parts You Should Know About » 1-800-Injured

Do you ever think about how your car works? Do you know what parts are most important? It’s essential for a responsible vehicle owner to have basic knowledge and understanding about the vehicle he or she drives. Here are the most important car parts you should educate yourself about in case you run into some unexpected issues. 1-800-Injured is a lawyer referral service if you are in need of a car accident lawyer in your area.

The Battery

Without the battery, your car isn’t going to turn on. You may want to keep that in good condition.

Axles

Without them, your wheels wouldn’t be able to rotate.

Brakes

This is something you need to be very careful with. If your brakes start to squeak when you push down on the pedal, it may be time to get them replaced.

Pistons

Ideal, these should pump smoothly and quickly. They handle all gasoline explosions, so keep those in check. This is what determines your vehicle’s horsepower.

The Fuel Injector

This is what gets gas from your fuel tank into the engine. It is the carburetor’s successor.

The Radiator

The radiator keeps the engine from overheating. The coolant gives off heat into the air before going back into the engine to pick up more heat. If your car has overheating issues, the radiator is what is most likely at fault.

The AC Compressor

This is what puts the Freon into the air conditioning system, under high pressure, to then pass it down the line. Without this, your summer days are going to be hot.

The Clutch

The clutch is moved from gear to gear to keep you driving smoothly. It allows you to switch gears, and when you push down on the pedal, it allows transmission to keep running when the car is in neutral. Without the clutch, the car would stall.

The Engine Fan

These help keep air flowing over the radiator, which makes the cooling of the engine coolant process easier.

A Spare Tire

This isn’t technically a car part, but it should be common sense for you to keep one in your car at all times. Towing your car is never fun.

A Car Jack

Yes, once again… with a spare tire but no tools, the process may be a bit tricky.

Shock Absorbers

These help keep your wheels’ grip on the road, and help, well, absorb shock, to make your ride smoother. Shock absorbers are actually very important for many reasons, which we will discuss in Tips & Education.

Transmission

This turns power into movement. The energy generated by the engine is transmitted to the wheels and allows movement with the use of the transmission.

The Spark Plug

This is what starts the car by using an electrical spark ignite fuel into the engine’s ignition.

Air Filter

The air filter will keep your AC from causing you to sneeze or get allergies. Keep it clean to keep yourself dust-free.

The Muffler

This is what keeps your car from making an uncontrollable ruckus. The gas coming from the combustion in the pistons of the engine would generate very loud noises straight into the exhaust valves if the muffler didn’t tone it down.

The Catalytic Converter

This helps reduce emission from your vehicle.

The Alternator

This charges the vehicle’s battery while the engine is running. This is why your lights can kill your battery if you leave them on when the engine isn’t running.

The Pressure Gauge

This is once again technically not a car part, but this will help inflate your tires properly and help avoid flat tires. They also help reduce your gas consumption.