An elegant exercise in simplicity. This incredibly responsive steering system consists of only two primary components: a steering rack and pinion gear. The pinion gear is located at the end of the steering shaft, and turns left or right with the steering wheel. The teeth of the pinion gear mesh with the horizontal rack, which is mounted near the centerline of the front wheels. When you turn the steering wheel, the rack moves left or right, changing the vehicle’s direction.

Helps your Toyota keep its cool. In automotive terms, a radiator is a device that transfers engine heat from the liquid coolant to the atmosphere. Located at the front of the vehicle, the radiator is exposed to the incoming air, which passes through the radiator and cools the liquid within. The radiator, along with the cooling fan(s) and thermostat, helps prevent the engine from overheating.

A boon for your tunes. RDS is a communications protocol for embedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radio broadcasts, including time, station identification and program information. Most commonly, an FM station will embed the name of the artist and title of the song currently playing.

People of Seattle, this one’s for you! Using a combination of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that send out infrared rays, and photo diodes that receive the rays, the sensor on a rain-sensing windshield wiper system is designed to detect water on the windshield and adjust the wiper speed accordingly. The wipers are fully automatic, but also have a manual control for conventional operation.

Located on the video terminal included on rear-seat DVD entertainment systems, RCA video jacks allow pampered rear-seat occupants to play video games through the rear display screen (lucky them!). The video terminal can be located in the rear of the center console or in an interior side panel.

(see “Locking Differential”)

(see “Leaf Spring”)

A piece of parsley? A radish, lovingly carved into a rose, perhaps? That would be cute, but no. This garnish is a stylized frame that is usually stamped into the trunk, cargo door or rear bumper of a vehicle, creating a home for the license plate and license plate lights. The vehicle’s make and model may also be stamped or inscribed into the garnish.

A sagging rear end isn’t attractive—so this suspension system on Toyota Sequoia uses the internal pumping action of specially engineered shock absorbers to help raise the rear suspension ride height when carrying heavy loads or towing [20]. When the vehicle is in motion, the internal piston of the shock functions like a pump, moving hydraulic fluid through a series of chambers controlled with check and relief valves. A leveling port in the hydraulic system stops pumping the hydraulic fluid when the rear suspension reaches the correct height.

Load it down—it’ll pump you up. Available on some Toyota body-on-frame SUVs, this system replaces the rear coil springs with inflatable cushions or “air springs” designed to automatically adjust the rear ride height based on driver control, vehicle load, speed and terrain. Sensors measuring ride height feed information to a computer that controls a small air compressor, which can inflate or deflate the air springs to adjust ride height as needed.

Look fast even when you’re standing still. This visual and functional element mounted on the roof or trunk helps to reduce aerodynamic drag by controlling the airflow exiting the rear of the vehicle.

You can see clearly now. Using a wire-heating element that’s built into the window, rear window defrosters can help remove a light layer of snow, ice or fog.

Let the sun shine in—or not. Retractable mesh blinds that scroll down into the rear parcel shelf of a sedan or the side door panels of a sedan, minivan or SUV.

You like classical, they like to rock. With this system, the driver and front passenger can listen through the speaker system to audio from any source: satellite radio, AM/FM/CD or digital audio device like an iPod^®. At the same time, the rear passengers can listen through headphones [21] to audio played in an alternative media source. Problem solved!

Long drive? Lucky for your family, this system allows passengers in the second- and third-row seats to watch video or play games on the DVD player’s display panel while the driver and front passenger listen through the speaker system to audio from another source, such as satellite radio, AM/FM/CD, etc.

The counterpart to rack-and-pinion steering, this durable design transmits turning forces through ball bearings from a worm gear on the steering shaft to a toothed metal block, thereby activating the steering linkage.

It’s a seat! It’s a bed! Use it to increase cargo-carrying flexibility or create a comfy resting place when the vehicle is parked.

Your engine would like it, but can live without it. Recommended fuel is gasoline with a higher octane rating than the vehicle’s required fuel. In vehicles that recommend a higher grade of fuel, the increased octane rating can enhance engine performance and possibly fuel economy.

Yes, another amazing feature of Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive^® system. Regenerative braking uses resistance within the main electric drive Motor/Generator 2 (MG2) to slow the vehicle, spin the motor/generator, and send electricity back into the HV battery. Simply stated, when the driver steps on the accelerator, MG2 acts as a drive motor, and when he or she lifts off the accelerator, MG2 reverses polarity and acts as a generator.

A cool feature—literally. Toyota Prius models equipped with this system have a button on the remote-controlled key fob that activates the air conditioning system without turning on the engine. The air conditioning will operate for three minutes or until a door is opened, cooling the cabin to a preset temperature.

Impress your friends and confuse bystanders with this available feature. When it’s particularly hot or cold outside, the Remote Engine Starter allows you to start the engine from a distance using the key fob. If the heater or air conditioner was left on when the car was last shut down, it will turn on when the car is restarted, helping to heat or cool the car.

When activated, the panic/alarm button on the remote keyless entry system fob will sound the vehicle horn intermittently, turn on selected interior lights and flash the headlights, taillights and turn signals. A great way to scare off baddies, or to find your car at Disneyland.

Required fuel defines the minimum octane rating required for safe and efficient engine performance.

A secondary muffler designed to cancel certain frequencies of engine noise that escape from the main muffler. Resonators can be built into the main muffler or fitted to the end of the tailpipe.

The main players in a differential. The engine drives the pinion gear via the drive shaft, the pinion gear drives the ring gear, and the ring gear drives the left- and right-side axles, which ultimately drive the wheels.

Tell the world your 4-wheeling exploits extend beyond gravel driveways. Rock rails look sort of like running boards, but help protect the lower panel of the body between the wheels when rock crawling.

The lower body panels that run the length of the wheelbase below the doors.

Side spoilers that look cool and prevent air from creating turbulence under the vehicle. Also referred to as side air dams.

RSCA are integrated with additional sensors including two roll-rate sensors and a lateral deceleration sensor. Coupled with the conventional side curtain airbag sensors in the b- and c-pillars, Roll-Sensing Side Curtain Airbags can be triggered by a vehicle rollover or an initial collision that results in a rollover. In addition, the supplemental sensors provide unique deployment logic for the curtain airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners.

The main load-bearing component for attaching cross bars or a roof rack system, these rails run from front to rear along a vehicle’s roof.

Got a flat? No need to call a tow truck—a run-flat tire is designed to be driven on for up to 100 miles with no air at speeds up to 55 mph. Constructed with extra stiff sidewalls that can support the vehicle’s weight, a run-flat tire allows the driver to continue to a dealership or repair shop for replacement of the damaged tire. Run-flat tires eliminate the need for a spare tire (which in some cases provides more space in the cargo area), and they help the driver to get off the road without damaging the vehicle’s rim.

When you think about it, they should really be called “stepping boards.” These are side steps that help passengers climb into high-riding vehicles like trucks and SUVs.

Also known as parking lights, running lights are low-intensity exterior lamps used to help make the vehicle more visible to other drivers.