C-Pillar
The roof support between a vehicle's rearmost side window and its rear window. Also known as a C-Post. On a vehicle with four side pillars, the rearmost roof support may be called a D-pillar.

CAFE
The acronym for Corporate Average Fuel Economy. This single mileage figure is determined by taking a sales weighted average of the fuel consumption for all models produced by a manufacturer. The minimum required figure is an established U. S. government standard. Manufacturers which do not meet the minimum standard are fined.

Caliper
In a disk brake, a housing for cylinder, pistons and brake shoes, connected to the hydraulic system. The caliper holds the brake shoes so they straddle the brake disc.

Camber Angle
The inward or outward angle which a front-wheel spindle makes with a vertical line, as viewed by either the front or the rear of the vehicle. Positive camber results when the top of the tire tilts out further than its bottom. The adjustment of this setting affects both tire wear and vehicle handling.

Camshaft
The shaft in the engine which is driven by gears, belts or chain from the crankshaft. The camshaft has a series of cams that opens and closes intake and exhaust valves as it turns.

Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
Implemented in January 1989 to eliminate all tariffs on U.S. and Canadian goods by January 1998 and to reduce or eliminate many non-tariff barriers.

Canadian Automotive Repair and Service Council (CARS)
a not-for-profit organization established to serve the human resource and training needs of the Canadian car and truck repair and service industry.

Capitalized Cost
The price of the leased vehicle plus any other charges such as fees or taxes that become the cost basis for calculating the terms of a lease.

Caster Angle
The forward or backward tilt of the steering axis as viewed from the side. If the point of load is ahead of the point of contact, the caster angle is positive. The caster angle tends to keep wheels in a straight line. Proper caster adjustment improves both tire wear and fuel economy.

Casting
a process technology that delivers a liquid molten metal into a purpose-built mould. After cooling, the solid metal surface has the shape of the mould cavity.

Catalytic Converter
Often simply called a "catalyst", this is a stainless steel canister that is part of a vehicle's exhaust system and contains a thin layer of catalytic material spread over a large area of inert supports. It induces chemical reactions that convert an engine's exhaust emissions into less harmful products prior to entering the environment.

Center of Gravity
Point where the weight of a vehicle appears to be concentrated and if suspended at that point would balance front and rear.

Closed Crankcase Ventilation (CCV)
A system in which crankcase vapors are discharged into the engine intake system (usually via the intake manifold) where they are burned during the combustion process rather than being discharged into the atmosphere.

Closed End Lease
A lease in which the lessee is not responsible for the value of a vehicle when the lease is done. Under this arrangement the lessee may return the vehicle at the end of the term and have no further obligation for the car. Also known as a "walk-away" lease.

Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
A rating, measured in amperes. Used for comparing cranking strength of automotive batteries during extremely cold (0 F or lower) weather.

Coulomb
After Charles Augustin de Coulomb, French (1736-1806). The coulomb is a unit of electrical charge.

Combustion Chamber
The volume of space at the top of the cylinder where burning of the air/fuel mixture begins.

Composite Headlamps
Usually manufactured with replaceable halogen bulbs and separate hard acrylic or glass lenses. This type of lamp provides superior illumination compared to the long-conventional sealed beam unit.

Compression Ratio
The volume of the combustion chamber and cylinder when the piston is at the bottom of its stroke, divided by the volume of the combustion chamber and cylinder when the piston is at the top of its stroke. Higher compression ratios tend to increase engine efficiency.

Compressor (Air Conditioning)
The machinism is an air conditioner that pumps vaporized refrigerant out of the evaporator, compresses it to a relatively high pressure, and then delivers it to the condenser.

Condenser
A device for storing electrical energy. In A/C application, an air conditioning component used to remove heat from the inside of a vehicle.

Connecting Rod
The metal rod that connects a piston to the crankshaft.

Contact Patch
The area of a tire's tread that is in contact with the ground.

Control Arm
A suspension element that has one joint at one end and two joints at the other end, typically on the chassis side. Also known as a wishbone or an A-arm.

Coolant
The mixture of water and anti-freeze that picks up heat from the engine and transfers it to the air passing through the radiator. This transfer of heat keeps the engine operating within its optimum temperature rant preventing premature engine wear.

Cooling System
The system that removes heat from the engine by the forced circulation of coolant and thereby prevents engine overheating. In a liquid-cooled engine, it includes the water jackets, water pump, radiator, and thermostat.

Cost of Ownership
Several items enter into the calculation of how much it actually costs to own a vehicle. Understanding these items can help determine what is the best purchase for each person. Ownership costs are divided into fixed costs and running costs. Fixed costs are the same whether the car is used or just sits. These costs usually decrease each year. Running costs are variable and are incurred when the vehicle is used. Running costs could increase as the vehicle ages.

Crankcase
A case that encloses the crankshaft. In most engines, the oil pan and the lower portion of the cylinder block form the crankcase.

Crankcase
A shaft with one or more cranks, or "throws," that are coupled by connecting rods to the engine's pistons. The combustion process creates reciprocating motion in the rods and pistons which in turn is converted to a rotating motion by the crankshaft.

Crossmember
One of several horizontal members in a vehicle frame which join the side members and add to overall strength and stability.

Cylinder Block
The basic part of the engine to which other engine parts are attached. It is usually a casting and includes engine cylinders and the upper part of the crankcase.

Cylinder Head
The removable part of the engine that attaches to the cylinder block directly above the cylinders. The head is cast from aluminum or iron and houses the combustion chambers, the intake and exhaust ports, spark plugs and much or all of the valve train. It has oil and water passages for cooling and lubrication.

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