The Workings Of The Flux Capicitor

The operation of the DeLorean time machine is consistent throughout all three films. The operator sits inside the DeLorean, (except for the first time, when a remote control isused), and turns on the time circuits, activating a unit containing multiple seven-segment displays that show the destination, present, and last-departed dates and times. Afterentering a target date, the operator accelerates the car to 88 miles per hour (141.6 km/h), which activates the flux capacitor. As it accelerates, several rails around the body ofthe car glow blue. Surrounded by large sparks, the whole car vanishes in a flash of blue light seconds later, leaving a pair of fire trails where the vehicle's tires will passarriving at the destination time. Observers outside the vehicle see an implosion of plasma as the vehicle disappears, while occupants within the vehicle see a quick flash of lightand instantaneously arrive at the target time in the same spatial location (relative to the Earth) as when it departed. In the destination time, immediately before the car'sarrival, three large and loud flashes issue forth from the point from which the car emerges from its time travel. After the trip, the DeLorean is extremely cold, and frost formsfrom atmospheric moisture all over the car's body.[1]
A few technical glitches with the DeLorean hinder time travel for its inhabitants; in the first film, the car has starterproblems and has a hard time turning over once stopped, much to Marty's repeated frustration.[1] In the second movie, the time display malfunctions and shows random dates, whichpartially cause Doc to be sent to 1885.[2] In the third movie, the fuel line rips while the car is off-road, preventing the car from running under its own power (see below).[3]