How It's Made: Vehicle Parts

We're sure you can tell us a lot about driving a car, but how much do you know about making one? Take this quiz to find out!
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How many lead-acid car batteries are manufactured every year?

990,000

9.9 million

99 million

9.9 billion

You chose: You chose:
Ever year, 99 million lead-acid car batteries are manufactured, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. At an average weight of 20 pounds (9 kilograms) each, those batteries weigh close to a million tons all told. No wonder most states have laws that require car batteries to be recycled.
What percent of car batteries are recycled every year in the U.S.?

55 percent

73 percent

86 percent

99 percent

You chose: You chose:
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 99 percent of car batteries are recycled, which is more than twice the percentage of aluminum cans recycled.
What does a fuel pump do?

It gets the fuel flowing.

It acts as a holding tank for gas.

It monitors your vehicle's fuel usage.

none of the above

You chose: You chose:
Without a pump to keep the fuel traveling to where it needs to go, your car (and you) wouldn't go anywhere.
In many cars, the fuel pump is located here:

in the engine

in the gas tank

in the trunk

in a special detachable compartment

You chose: You chose:
The fuel pump typically sits in the gas tank where it's responsible for pushing the gas out of the tank into injectors that aerate the gas and send it to the engine cylinders.
A fuel pump is an electrical system that's submerged in gasoline. Why doesn't it explode?

Liquid fuel can't explode.

Automotive experts aren't quite sure why.

Actually, occasional explosions do occur, but your insurance should cover it.

There's not enough fuel in there.

You chose: You chose:
Strangely enough, liquid fuel can't explode, so the gas tank winds up being a safe place for this critical electrical system.
Which of the following areas do your shocks affect?

steering

stopping

stability

all of the above

You chose: You chose:
You might think shock absorbers are only charged with guaranteeing you a smooth ride, but these multitasking car parts affect steering, stopping and stability, so take care of them.
True or false: Regardless of vehicle, all shocks are the same.

true

false

You chose: You chose:
No way. Shocks differ widely depending on what kind of car you're cruising around in.
What key comforts weren't really present in the first cars?

springs

padding

springs and padding

seat backs

You chose: You chose:
Seats have come a long way. If you rode in one of the first cars back in the 19th century, you might find it a tad uncomfortable without springs and not much padding.
Nowadays though, you'll usually find springs attached to what part of the seat?

the seatbelt

the seat's metal framework

the floorboards

the upholstery

You chose: You chose:
If you were to watch a car seat being put together, you might see the operator attach springs to the seat's metal foundation.
True or false: An operator may have only 88 seconds to complete his or her job on a seat-making assembly line.

true

false

You chose: You chose:
At some plants, speedy operators complete their particular task on a seat-making assembly line in 88 seconds or less. Get moving.

Correct

You may have taken your eye off the steering wheel on this one. Why not take it again?

Correct

Not bad. You probably know more about your car than you think, but you could brush up on your auto trivia.

Correct

Nobody can beat your car smarts. Congrats!
 
 

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