The 20 Basic Car Interior Parts You Need to Know

In the previous article, we examined the exterior parts of the car in detail, and I think we all want to get into the interior parts of the car. So in this blog, we turn to the world of interior parts of a car, and we will be discussing their names and functions.

By knowing how each one of the interior parts operates and its role, we can think about and examine when we are shopping for a car or when we make a change to part of the car as part of maintaining an optimal and safe environment for our driving experience.

All of these parts can also be customized in addition to having the added LED lighting options, tactical seat covers, modern gauges, and useful gadgets to help create an enjoyable driving experience or enhance your vehicle’s interior.

Car Interior Parts Name

The following are the main interior parts of the car:

Interior Car Parts Diagram

Car interior parts

The Interior parts of a car include:

#1. Steering Wheel and Car Horn.

The steering wheel controls the direction of a car. The driver turns the steering wheel to rotate the front wheels.

Some steering wheels are multi-function as well. You can have cruise control, audio selector and volume built into the steering wheel, and some wheels are heated!

The steering wheel cover is a car mod for the interior of the car. A new steering wheel cover can improve the appearance and feel of the steering wheel. The variety of patterns and options for steering wheel covers are extensive, including soft leather covers!

Finally, the horn is an important safety feature on a car. The driver can alert other road users to its presence or warn of a possible danger by using the horn. The horn is activated by pressing a button on the steering wheel, which activates the horn buzzer on the vehicle.

#2. Ignition.

The ignition system is the system that you use to turn on your engine when you insert your car key. The ignition system is found under the steering column, on the dashboard of the vehicle.

When the driver turns the ignition key or presses the start button, the ignition switch will turn on and send power to the ignition system, which sends power to the movement of the vehicle.

#3. Pedals.

When you look down from the driver’s seat, you’ll see two pedals. The skinny one to your left is your gas pedal. This pedal directly gives gas to the car’s engine, and it is how you control the speed of your car.

The big one on the right is the brake pedal, and when pressed, it will slow your ride and eventually stop it when you want to.

But there is a third pedal if you are driving a manual gearbox, called the clutch. Automatic vehicles do not have a clutch, but a manual car does change gears and, within those gears, more or less has a driving speed.

So if you are driving a manual, just remember, the clutch is on the left, the gas is on the far right, and the brake is in between the two, but close to the gas.

#4. Gear Shifter.

To change the gears in a car with a manual transmission, a driver uses the gear shifter, which is located between both seats in the front of a vehicle. The gear shifter has a shift knob that has shift pattern.

The gear shifter on an automatic transmission vehicle is the gear selector. It is sometimes called the “PRNDL” (pronounced as “prindle”) for any vehicle regardless of the letters or numbers shown on the gear selector.

For cars with a manual transmission, a driver must press the clutch pedal to shift. The moment the clutch pedal is pressed down, pressure is removed from the clutch to disengage the clutch and transmission from the engine by the clutch pressure plate located on one side of the clutch.

When the driver moves the gear shifter, the driver moves the shifter fork, which fits into the groove of the synchronizer sleeve. When the driver makes a shift, the synchronizer sleeve moves toward the speed gear and presses the stop ring against the cone area of the speed gear.

The friction developed between the speed gear and stop ring develops equal speed from both and allows the synchronizer sleeve to engage the gear clutch teeth of the speed gear and which completes the gear shifting mechanism of the car.

#5. Dashboard.

The car dashboard is one element of a car interior that is almost always located at the front. It usually has numerous indicator panels for each part of the car and serves as a divider between the front of the car and the driver.

The designs of dashboards differ tremendously, depending on the brand and the characteristics being utilized; the more intelligent the use of its characteristics, the higher the quality of the dashboard. It has, at least, the following four plates.

• Fuel Gauge: Shows the current fuel level in the fuel tank of the vehicle, which aids the drivers in checking how much fuel they have for the drive and to keep track of when to refuel.
• Speedometer: Shows the current speed of the vehicle and is often represented by a circular gauge with a pointer or digital readout, which helps the driver maintain a safe and legal speed while driving.
• Tachometer: Displays the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the engine, which helps the driver ensure the engine is operating at safe levels, and helps vehicles that have a manual transmission to assist in shifting gears.
• Temperature gauge: mainly displays the working temperature of the engine. This gauge can alert the driver if the engine is running hot, which indicates that something could be wrong or the vehicle could be losing coolant.

There are also a number of warning lights and indicator lights which are found on the dashboard; these warning/alarm or indicator lights are lit to alert the driver that there is a potential problem or failure within the vehicle system.

#6. Emergency Flashers.

Hazard lights are turned on when a driver pushes the hazard light button and/or switch. Hazard lights tell other drivers that you may be in a tough spot or that your vehicle is parked on the side of the road.

When you turn on emergency hazard lights, the four turn signal lights will all flash on.

#7. Car Seat Belts.

Seatbelts and car seats work very well to stop deaths and lower injuries when they are used and when used properly. But seatbelts and car seats can only work properly if they are used properly.

People who are not buckled up at all are much more likely to be ejected from the vehicle period. People that are thrown out a window or door skid down the pavement and may be crushed or pinned under the vehicle.

Even if they are not ejected, unrestrained people are a hazard to both themselves and to other people inside the vehicle. In a crash anything that is not restrained, including people, will fly around the inside of the vehicle. Unrestrained people can and do injure or kill other people in the vehicle who are properly restrained.

#8. Airbags.

Airbags are inflatable cushions that are built into a vehicle to protect occupants from hitting the interior of the vehicle or objects outside of the vehicle (other vehicles, trees, etc.) in the event of a collision.

As soon as a crash begins, sensors will begin calculating the severity of the impact. If the impact is severe enough, the sensors signal the inflators to fill the bags with gas in a small fraction of a second.

Airbags require no maintenance unless they deploy in a crash. If the airbags deploy, they must be replaced at a shop that uses original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts; otherwise, there is a chance that the replacement airbag is counterfeit.

Counterfeit airbags can fail to deploy or can deploy, releasing metal shrapnel.

#9. Rearview Mirrors.

A rearview mirror is an adjustable reflective device that gives the driver a view of the road, vehicles, and objects directly behind the automobile.

According to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, all passenger automobiles shall have an inside rearview mirror, an outside driver’s side rearview mirror, and an outside passenger side rearview mirror.

The regulation specifies each mirror’s size specifications, reflective requirements, with an important note on mirror types.

The inside rearview mirror is required to mount securely in the center of the base of the windshield or top of the dashboard. It is a unit magnification mirror, meaning it is a flat mirror with the reflective surface also flat.

When you look at an object in the rearview mirror, it will appear the same size as a direct view at the same distance.

#10. The Emergency Brake.

The parking brake or emergency brake is similar to what you push for stopping, but it is designed to work separately on purpose so you have a second braking system when the usual brakes fail.

It is a hydraulic stopping system that is much more sophisticated than the emergency brake, because it is designed to stop your vehicle. The first or main braking system slows or stops your car, while the emergency brake is designed to hold or secure your car. But it can also be used to slow or stop your vehicle when the main system fails.

You should be using your parking brake every time you park, no matter if you are on flat ground or a hill, using an automatic or manual transmission, or nice or horrible weather.

And as the name implies, you should use your emergency brake in an emergency. If you can’t stop your vehicle, just slowly pull up on the emergency brake handle, or press the emergency brake pedal to stop your car.

#11. Car Signal Lever.

The signal lever, or turn signal lever, or indicator stalk, is a control mechanism of a vehicle located on the steering column. It is used to activate a turn signal, or indicator. The turn signal is how a driver indicates their intention to change direction while driving.

As a part of the vehicle’s safety system, the signal lever communicates the driver’s intentions to other road users.

#12. Center Console.

A center console is the compartment where the driver and the passenger sit. If you have a bench seat in the front, you can’t have a center console.

The logical way to design this in a modern car is to put the center console behind the gearstick. The center console deals with the floorplan of a car, where the transmission tunnel takes place, but the center console area can include the central part or area of the dashboard.

A center console can contain many things, including a compartment, gadgetry, and vehicle control information.

If the center console is taken as the central and dashboard area, it could have, in addition to a storage area, cupholders, a cigarette lighter or auxiliary power point, audio controls, climate control/air condition system, and possibly a display screen.

#13. Glove Compartment.

A glove compartment or glove box is a storage area that is usually found in the dashboard above the passenger foot well of a car.

It is called a glove compartment because that’s what it was intended to store; however, the glove compartment is used for storing random things.

You might store a few of the following common items in a glove compartment: owner’s manual, car insurance, maps, flashlight, napkins, or a tire gauge.

#14. Power Window or Door Lock Control.

Power windows are windows that can be raised and lowered by pressing a button or switch instead of using a crank handle.

Power door locks allow the driver or front passenger to simultaneously lock or unlock all the doors of an automobile or truck at once by pressing a button or flipping a switch.

#15. Interior Door Handle.

Interior door handles release the door latch so that you can push the door open. Most modern interior door handles are made of plastic.

The attachment for the interior and exterior door handles is located within the door, under the door panel.

#16. Audio System.

A car audio system is the sound system used in a vehicle, including the speakers, amplifiers, and source units. A car audio system is used to play music and audio in a vehicle.

#17. Car Central Control Screen.

The car central control screen, commonly referred to as the infotainment system or multimedia display, is a feature of modern vehicles that serves as the hub for various functions and information.

Infotainment is two words combined – ‘information’ and ‘entertainment’; therefore, the infotainment system in a car is the system that delivers a mix of information and entertainment content/services.

Furthermore, infotainment systems are car computers that come with a range of functions – from digital radios, in-built reversing cameras, and so on.

The IVI could be described as a combination of existing vehicle systems that are used to provide entertainment and information to the driver and passengers through an audio/video interface, control interfaces like touchscreen displays, button panels, voice commands, and so forth.

#18. Sun Visor.

A sun visor is the component of an automobile located on the interior of the car, directly above the windshield. These are designed with a hinged flap, adjustable to help obscure the eyes of drivers and passengers from excessive glare from sunlight.

#19. Car Seats.

A standard car seat often has a reliable frame and padding for support and comfort. The seat frame is usually made of metal or high-strength material, while the padding is designed to contain cushioning and absorb shocks.

A car seat is routinely equipped with adjustable fixtures or components, and the height of the seat, angle of the chair back, lumbar support, etc., can be adjusted by adjusting the seat handle so that occupants can have a personalized and comfortable seat.

For repair and maintenance of the seat, you can vacuum the seat regularly to remove soil, dirt, dust, etc., and you can apply leather or fabric conditioner to the seat to keep it soft and prevent your seat from cracking and fading.

While we can feel burdened to take these steps to maintain and care for our seat, but wish to keep it comfortable, we can choose to install a car seat cover on the seat, and that is what most car owners will do.

A car seat cover is easy to take apart and replace, and should you have used leather, is unlikely to leave soil that is difficult to remove, is easy to clean, and maintain.

#20. Floor Mats.

Floor mats are an important tool for the cleanliness and protection of vehicle interiors. Their main purpose is to keep the vehicle clean; they generally can be removed from the vehicle, cleaned, and reinstalled.

Some have fixing points that will hold the mat in place. Mats are anticipated to be fitted as a standard component of vehicles that come with fixed rubber carpets; i.e. commercial or rental vehicles (trucks, vans), or heavy off-road and agricultural vehicles.

#21. Roof and Headliner.

Automotive roofs and headliners operate together, providing structural support, insulation, and aesthetic features within vehicle interiors.

The roof provides structural rigidity to the body, allowing loads to be transmitted and protects the occupant in the event of a rollover/crash.

The roof will help to mitigate the harmful effects of various weather elements and will help to maintain a dry and comfortable car interior, contributing to the overall vehicle safety and stability.

The headliner assists in sound absorption and thermal insulation. In addition, the headliner acts as a temperature control mechanism to prevent heat transfer from the roof to the headliner when the inside temperature becomes uncomfortable.

In general, the roof and headliner system provides the occupant with a useful, comfortable, and aesthetic cabin space.

FAQs.