Under the Hood

The Under the Hood Channel explores the systems that make your car function correctly. Learn about car parts and systems and how to do routine maintenance.

Learn More / Page 16

Lowriders are decked-out cars with lowered suspensions that rumble, growl and even dance their way to parks, streets and cruise-ins. So how do you lower and raise a car's suspension?

By Jamie Page Deaton

People drive underwater all the time in movies. But this isn't the movies. In reality, your car would stop running almost immediately.

By Marshall Brain

Engines need a certain amount of oxygen to make the car run. Exactly how much is needed? And if an engine used more, what would happen to the car?

By Marshall Brain

Advertisement

Most cars have a 120-horsepower engine, and SUVs have a 200-horsepower engine. But mopeds have a 1-horsepower engine, and they get great gas mileage, too. So why can't I put the small engine in the big car?

By Marshall Brain

Car accidents occur often at night, and part of the reason might be that your headlights just aren't good enough. Adaptive headlights alleviate the visibility problems you experience every time you take the car out after dark.

By Ed Grabianowski

Anyone with a manual transmission knows that a clutch connects and disconnects the engine and transmission. But did you know that automatics have clutches, too? Read on to discover how a clutch car works!

By Karim Nice, Charles W. Bryant & Kristen Hall-Geisler

For more than 100 years, vehicles have used pneumatic, or air-filled, tires. Michelin's alternative is the Tweel Airless Tire. Could it replace traditional tires?

By Ed Grabianowski

Advertisement

Ford's Sync system pioneered many of the mobile connectivity features that are now commonplace in new cars. However, you don't necessarily need to be a social media fanatic to enjoy all the benefits Sync has to offer.

By Ed Piotrowski & Jamie Page Deaton

If you have a lead foot you may have invested in a radar detector. Find out how these devices pick up police radar and lidar and learn what a jamming signal does.

By Tom Harris

The GMC PAD is basically a futuristic motor home -- part apartment, part vehicle, and part telecommunications center.

By Ed Grabianowski

Most people know that cars come with two basic transmission types: manuals and automatics. But there's also something in between that offers the best of both worlds -- the dual-clutch transmission. Check it out.

By William Harris

Advertisement

Its critics call the popular telematics service "Big Brother" and claim that it can lead to an invasion of privacy. Explore the technology behind OnStar and learn about the controversy.

By Shanna Freeman

Superchargers add power to make a normal-sized engine more efficient. Here's how they do it.

By William Harris & Kristen Hall-Geisler

Traction control helps limit tire slip in acceleration on slippery surfaces. Many of today's vehicles employ electronic controls to limit power delivery for the driver, eliminating wheel slip and helping the driver accelerate under control.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The quasiturbine engine takes the Wankel concept and improves on it: Instead of three combustion chambers it has four and the setup of a quasiturbine allows for continual combustion. Learn all about the quasiturbine.

By William Harris

Advertisement

Your car's suspension maximizes friction between the tires and road and provides steering stability. But how have suspensions evolved over the years and where is the design headed in the future?

By William Harris & Kristen Hall-Geisler

In a regular transmission the gears are literal gears -- interlocking toothed wheels. Continuously variable transmissions, on the other hand, don't have interlocking gears. The most common type operates on a pulley system. Learn all about the smooth-operating ultra-efficient CVT.

By William Harris

Self-inflating tires perform two crucial functions: They automatically maintain ideal tire pressure and they allow you to alter psi on the fly to adjust to changing terrain. Learn about self-inflating tires.

By Lee Ann Obringer

Our engine roundup page page takes you straight to the power. See what's under the hood from the HEMI to the Wankel.

Advertisement

Even if you don't know much about cars, the word "HEMI" might still mean something to you. It's become a synonym for big, powerful engines.

By Marshall Brain

Combine the ease of an automatic with the driver control of a manual and what you've got is a sequential manual transmission. A simple forward push advances the gear. Learn all about the sequential gearbox.

By Marshall Brain

They beep wail and some yell at you (yes yell!). Auto alarms are complex these days with sensors that set off the siren before a potential thief even touches the car. Learn all about car alarms.

By Tom Harris & Sascha Bos

This may sound silly but on the back of my car there is a little sign that says "2.4 liter" and every morning I see that and wonder "What does that mean?" So what does it mean?

Advertisement

When it comes to crucial automotive systems, steering is right up there with the engine and the brakes. The inner workings of this important component are pretty cool. Find out all about car steering systems.

By Karim Nice

To most drivers turn signals seem pretty simple: There’s a lever that makes your signal lights flash. But there’s actually some cool technology at work. Find out how this under-used device operates.

By Karim Nice