Land Transportation - Vehicle Maintenance and Restoration

Here you will learn some English words related to vehicle maintenance and restoration such as "breakdown", "paintwork", and "car wash."

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Land Transportation

a situation in which something fails to work properly, especially because of a mechanical failure

Ex: The factory halted production due to a machinery breakdown .

(of a machine or vehicle) to stop working as a result of a malfunction

Ex: The printer suddenly broke down , causing a delay in printing documents .
backfire [noun]

a loud, sudden explosion of unburned fuel in the engine or exhaust system

Ex: The mechanic diagnosed the backfire as a result of a faulty spark plug .

(of a vehicle or engine) to fail to ignite properly or skip a beat during operation

Ex: The mechanic is fixing the issue that causes the engine to misfire .
to stall [verb]

(of a vehicle or engine) to stop suddenly and unexpectedly, especially because of a lack of fuel or mechanical issues

Ex: She has stalled twice this week due to a faulty ignition system .
blowout [noun]

a sudden and serious failure of a part or device, leading to immediate malfunction or stoppage

Ex: The computer 's motherboard suffered a blowout after a power surge .
puncture [noun]

a small hole or tear in a tire caused by a sharp object

Ex: A puncture can lead to gradual loss of air pressure .

an extra tire kept in a vehicle for use in case one of the main tires becomes flat or damaged

Ex: It 's important to check the air pressure of the spare tire regularly to ensure it 's ready for use .

a mechanic or someone who works on cars

Ex: They hired a skilled grease monkey to restore the classic car .

to fix something that is damaged, broken, or not working properly

Ex: She learned how to repair the flat tire on her bicycle .
service [noun]

periodic maintenance of a car, machine, or equipment

Ex:

a special road feature designed to stop trucks that have lost control due to brake failure or other reasons

Ex: Drivers are instructed to use the runaway truck ramp only in emergencies to prevent accidents and damage to their vehicles .
hot rod [noun]

a car that has been modified for high speed and performance

Ex: Building a hot rod involves modifying and tuning the engine .
jack [noun]

a mechanical device for lifting heavy objects or vehicles

to raise a vehicle off the ground using a jack

Ex: They carefully jacked up the car before rotating the tires .

a tool for loosening or tightening the nuts that hold a wheel in place on a car

Ex: They upgraded to a heavy-duty lug wrench for easier use .

the outer layer of paint applied to a surface, such as a vehicle or a building

Ex: The painter inspected the house 's paintwork for any signs of wear or peeling .
bodywork [noun]

the process of constructing, repairing, or restoring the exterior panels and structural components of a vehicle

Ex: He did bodywork on his motorcycle all weekend .

to apply a new layer of paint to something that already has paint on it

Ex: He will respray the old bicycle with a vibrant color before selling it .

the practice of changing the position of a vehicle's tires to ensure even wear and prolong their lifespan

Ex: During tire rotation , each tire is moved to a different position on the vehicle , such as front to back or left to right .

the adjustment of the angles of the wheels to ensure they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other

Ex: Incorrect wheel alignment can cause steering problems and uneven tire tread , leading to increased fuel consumption .
car wash [noun]

a place where vehicles are cleaned using water and cleaning products

Ex: It 's important to choose a reliable car wash to avoid any damage to your vehicle 's paint .

to thoroughly clean or decorate something, paying attention to small or specific aspects

Ex: The auto shop offers a service where professionals detail your car , leaving it spotless inside and out .
to valet [verb]

to clean and polish a car meticulously

Ex: Last month , he valeted a vintage car for a collector .
beater [noun]

a vehicle that is in poor condition, typically used for rough or off-road driving

Ex: The beater they borrowed from their neighbor struggled to start in the cold mornings .
clunker [noun]

an old car that is in poor condition and often unreliable

Ex: She bought a used bicycle to replace her clunker , which was costing too much in repairs .
jalopy [noun]

an old, dilapidated car in poor condition

Ex: The jalopy barely made it up the hill due to its worn-out engine .
junker [noun]

an old, beat-up car that is not in good shape

Ex: He bought a cheap junker to practice fixing cars before starting his mechanic training .
wreck [noun]

a badly damaged building, ship, car, etc.

exhaust [noun]

the waste gases or air expelled from an engine, furnace, or other machinery

Ex: The factory installed air filters to reduce the release of particulate matter in the exhaust expelled into the atmosphere .
wreckage [noun]

the remains of something that has been severely damaged or destroyed, especially after a disaster or accident

Ex: The storm left a trail of wreckage along the coastline .
junkyard [noun]

a location where various old, damaged items such as vehicles, machinery, and other items are collected, stored, and often sold for parts or recycled

Ex: The mechanic found a rare antique engine part buried in the depths of the junkyard , much to his excitement .

a place where old or broken vehicles and machinery are kept and taken apart to sell the usable parts or recycle the materials

Ex: Maria discovered a vintage bicycle frame at the salvage yard , which she planned to restore as a weekend project .

a tire of a car, bike, etc. that has been deflated

Ex: Driving with a flat tire can damage the wheel .