• Basic underhood engine configuration.motor image by Petr Efremov from Fotolia.com
  
  Even if you have no intention of ever using a wrench on your car, you still need to be familiar with the components found under the hood. As a vehicle owner it is very important that you perform periodic checks of various components on a regular basis. By checking the things found under the hood of a car you can keep yourself informed about the basic condition of the vehicle, and spot problems before they worsen.
  
  

Battery

• The battery is a large square box that will have two large cables connected to it. One cable will be red, which is the positive cable, and one cable will be black, which is the negative. The battery should be inspected periodically and checked for corrosion buildup on the terminals.
  
  

Radiator

• The radiator is located at the front of the engine and will usually have a cap mounted either in the center of it or on one of the sides. The coolant level should be checked at least monthly and maintained at the proper levels by opening the cap and inspecting the level of the coolant. If there is no radiator cap, there will be a coolant reservoir which is usually located on the side of the engine bay under the hood, and will have the words "engine coolant" stamped into the plastic. It should be checked to make sure the coolant is between the marks on the body of the reservoir.
  
  

Hoses

• There are several hoses under the hood. The two most important are the radiator hoses. They are the largest hoses and will be connected to the top and the bottom of the radiator. All hoses should be inspected monthly for cracks, bulges and fraying.
  
  

Oil Dipstick

• The oil dipstick usually appears as a small round ring on the end of a long thin tube. It is usually located on the side of the engine or in the very front and will often be colored yellow. You pull the ring to remove the dipstick and inspect the oil level of the engine.
  
  

Transmission Dipstick

• The transmission dipstick looks similar to the engine oil dipstick. It will be mounted to a larger diameter tube than the oil dipstick, and the pull ring will usually be colored red. Checking the transmission fluid is best performed when the engine is running, and if you are not comfortable doing this, you should refer the check to someone who is familiar with performing it.
  
  

Belts

• Belts connect several accessories and components to the crank pulley which in turn provides the energy to turn them. They are located either at the front of the engine or on the side. They should be inspected monthly for cracks and fraying.
  
  

Washer Fluid

• The washer fluid reservoir contains the windshield washer fluid that is sprayed onto the windshield when the washer system is activated. The reservoir is usually located at the front right side of the engine compartment, and will have the words "washer" or "washer fluid" stamped onto its cap. This should be checked monthly and filled with replacement fluid as necessary.