| Alloy wheels |
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| Wheels usually made of aluminum alloy; installed to improve appearance. Alloy wheels are less prone to corrosion and can be significantly lighter than the equivalent steel wheels. |
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| Alternator |
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| A device that converts rotational energy to AC current. Alternators provide energy for the vehicle electrical system. The alternator also recharges the battery. |
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| American Automobile Labelling Act |
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| Regulations requiring vehicle manufacturers to include content information on vehicle labels for cars and trucks for sale in the U.S. after October 1, 1994. |
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| Anti-Dive |
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| A tuned-in front suspension characteristic that converts braking-induced forces in the suspension links into a vertical force that tends to lift the body, thereby reducing dive under braking. |
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| Anti-Lock-Braking System |
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| A braking system that senses when any of the wheels have locked up, or are about to, and automatically reduces the braking forces to keep the wheels rolling. Commonly called ABS, such a system can control all four wheels or only two.
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| Anti-Roll Bar |
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| A suspension element (used at the front, the rear, or both ends of a car) that reduces body roll by resisting any unequal vertical motion between the pair of wheels to which it is connected. An anti-roll bar does not affect suspension stiffness when both wheels are deflected equally in the same direction. Often incorrectly called a sway bar. An anti-roll bar improves the handling of a vehicle by increasing stability during cornering or evasive maneuvers. Most vehicles have front anti-roll bars. Anti-roll bars at both the front and rear wheels can reduce roll further. |
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| Anti-Squat |
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| Similar to anti-dive, this suspension characteristic uses acceleration-induced forces in the rear suspension to reduce squat.
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| Apex |
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| The point(s) or region on the line through a corner that touches the corner`s inner radius. |
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| Aspect Ratio |
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| Generally the ratio between two dimensions of an object. In tire terminology it applies to the unloaded sidewall height of the tire divided by its overall width. A lower aspect ratio implies a shorter, wider tire. When used to describe a wing it is the span of the airfoil (the long dimension perpendicular to the airflow) divided by its chord (the dimension parallel to the airflow).
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| Auto dealership or auto dealer |
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| A retail outlet that carries one (or in some cases in the U.S., a number of) manufacturer`s product line and sells to general consumers and fleet operators. The outlet will also provide service and sell parts for the brand of vehicle that it carries. In some instances, a dealer may dual for another manufacturer`s product line. |
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| Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS) |
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| Vehicles equipped with automatic guidance equipment which follow a prescribed path, stopping at each machining or assembly station for manual loading and unloading of parts.
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| Automatic Transmission |
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| A transmission that shifts its own gears according to the prevailing speed, load, and road condition. Also called automatic gearbox. Operation can be electrical or hydraulic.
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| Automobile |
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| Four-wheeled passenger motor vehicle having a seating capacity for not more than 10 people including police cars and racing cars but not including ambulances or hearses.
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| Axle Ratios |
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| The gear ratio of the differential gearbox. The differential gearbox distributes the engine`s power (via the transmission input shaft or propellor shaft) to the wheels. The axle ratio of the differential reduces the revolutions of the transmission input shaft before it reaches the wheels. Typical automotive axle ratios are in the range of 2.71 up to 4.31. The higher the ratio, the faster the engine will rev at a particular vehicle speed. Axle Tramp A form of wheel hop that occurs on cars with live axles, caused by the axle repeatedly rotating slightly with the wheels and then springing back.
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| Axle, Live or Rigid |
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| A solid or straight axle that allows the movement of one wheel to affect the opposite wheel. A live axle is inexpensive to manufacture and is useful for heavy duty applications.
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| Balance shaft |
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| A shaft designed so that, as it rotates, it vibrates in a way that reduces or cancels some of the vibration produced by an engine. Not essential to an engine`s operation, balance shafts are nonetheless becoming increasingly common as a means of engine refinement. Balance-shafted four-cylinder engines use two shafts turning in opposite directions on either side of the engine`s crankshaft. A single balance shaft is used when fitted to three-cylinder and V-6 engines |
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| Ball Joint |
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| A flexible joint consisting of a ball in a socket, used primarily in front suspensions because it can accommodate a wide range of angular motion. The ball joint allows the wheel to steer and move with the suspension and still receive power from the engine. The term ball joint can also be used to refer to how suspension components are attached.
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| Barrel |
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| For automotive applications, the reference applies to carburetors. "2bbl." means that the carburetor has 2 barrels or venturi (or fuel nozzles). A "4bbl." carburetor has 4 barrels, etc. The number of venturi determine the amount of fuel that the carburetor can supply. A 4bbl. carburetor can usually provide more fuel than a similar 2bbl. unit.
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| Beam Axle |
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| A rigid axle supporting the non-driven wheels. Also called a dead axle.
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| Belt drive |
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| A system where the final drive from gearbox to wheels is by leather or rubber belts that are contained on pulleys. Today many of the engine-driven auxiliaries use belt drives.
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| Beltline |
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| The line running around a car`s body formed by the bottom edges of its glass panels.
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| Belts |
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| Belts are used to drive many engine accessories. Most overhead cam(OHC) engines use cogged (toothed) belts to drive the camshaft(s). Belts drive the power steering pump, water pump, air-conditioning compressors, etc.
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| Berline |
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| From World War I, it described a closed luxury car with small windows, which allowed the occupants to see out but to be barely seen from the outside.
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| Bevel Gears |
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| A gearset employing gears shaped like slices of a cone, which allows the axes of the gears to be nonparallel. Bevel gears are used to transmit motion through an angle.
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| Boost Pressure |
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| The increase above atmospheric pressure produced inside the intake manifold by any supercharger. It is commonly measured in psi, inches of mercury, or bar.
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| Bore |
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| The diameter of a gasoline or steam reciprocating engine cylinder. The displacement can be increased by increasing the diameter (reboring). |
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| Brake Bias |
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| The front/rear distribution of a car`s braking power. For the shortest stopping distance, brake bias should match the car`s traction at each end during hard braking brake modulation: the process of varying pedal pressure to hold a car`s brakes on the verge of lockup. Ideally, the brakes will unlock with only a slight reduction in the pressure needed to lock them. Typically, however, a considerable pressure reduction is required |
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| Brake Horsepower (bhp.) |
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| The measure of an engine`s horsepower without the loss in power caused by the gearbox, generator, differential, water pump and other auxiliaries. The actual horsepower delivered to the driving wheels is less.
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| Brake Torquing |
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| A procedure generally used in performance tests to improve the off-the-line acceleration of a car equipped with an automatic transmission. It is executed by firmly depressing the brake with the left foot, applying the throttle with the car in gear to increase engine rpm, then releasing the brakes. Brake torquing is particularly effective with turbo charged cars because it helps overcome turbo lag.
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| Brakes, Antilock |
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| (ABS) An acronym for Antilock Braking System. ABS eliminates wheel lockup during braking and loss of steering control on slippery surfaces. Speed sensors monitor each wheel and reduce brake pressure on any wheel rotating significantly slower than the others. ABS systems are 2, 3, or 4-channel systems. 2-channel systems combine 2 wheels, such as the left front and right rear into one channel. The right front and left rear wheel form the other channel. Any wheel lockup causes brake pressure reduction on both wheels of each channel. 3-channel ABS systems combine the rear wheels into one channel. The front wheels have individual channels. The most sophisticated ABS systems use 4-channels, one for each wheel, for maximum control and braking power. |
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| Brakes, Calipers |
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| Brake pads are mounted to calipers, which float next to the brake disc. The caliper ensures that the brake pads exert even pressure on the disc.
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| Brakes, Disc |
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| A brake that uses a disc shaped rotor and calipers that hold friction pads. The rotor is attached to the wheel hub and spins with it. The calipers are stationary. When the brake pedal is depressed, the calipers press on the side of the side of the rotor. The friction pads slow the rotor as needed. Most vehicles use disc brakes on the front wheels. Disc brakes can shed heat and retain their braking power better than drum brakes |
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| Brakes, Drum |
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| A brake that uses an enclosed rotating drum or can and stationary pads(shoes). When the brake pedal is depressed, the brake shoes contact the sides of the can and slow the wheel. Drum brakes are usually mounted on rear wheels. Drum brakes are prone to fade, or heat buildup, which reduces their effectiveness.
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| Breathing (engine) |
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| A term used to describe an engine`s ability to fill its cylinders with air-fuel mixture and then discharge the burnt exhaust gases. In general, the more air-fuel mixture an engine burns the more power it produces.
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| Bushing |
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| A simple suspension bearing that accommodates limited rotary motion, typically made of two coaxial steel tubes bonded to a sleeve of rubber between them. The compliance of the bushing in different directions has a great effect on ride harshness and handling. |
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| By-pass Valve |
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| A general term for a valve that lets liquid or air circumvent a filter. For example, an oil bypass valve allows oil to circulate when the oil filter is clogged |
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| C-pillar |
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| The roof support between a car`s rearmost side window and its rear window. On a vehicle with four side pillars, the rearmost roof support may be called a D-pillar. |
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| Cabriolet |
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| Another term for a convertible. European manufacturers often call convertible models Cabriolets or Cabrios. Cabriolet A description of an auto with collapsible top (convertible) and seating two or four passengers. Also called a drophead coupé.
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| Cam |
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| An eccentric (off-center) lobe or projection on a rotating shaft; used to transmit a motion at a predetermined time during the rotation of the shaft.
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| Cam Profile |
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| The shape of each lobe on a camshaft. The profile determines the amount, or ""duration,"" of time the valve is open; it also largely determines the valve`s maximum opening, or ""lift."" camber: the angle between the plane of a wheel`s circumference and a vertical line, measured in degrees and minutes. The tops of a car`s wheels tilt inward when the camber is negative, outward when it is positive.
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| Camshaft |
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| Camshaft A rotating shaft with a number of cams or eccentric lobes used to open and close the engine cylinder valves, usually via pushrods and rocker arms. The crankshaft drives the camshaft through gears, belts, or chains.
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| Captive Import |
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| an imported motor vehicle or part manufactured by another automaker usually for sale under the brand name of the importer.
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| Carbon Fiber |
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| Thread-like strands of pure carbon that are extremely strong in tension (that is, when pulled) and are reasonably flexible. Carbon fiber can be bound in a matrix of plastic resin by heat, vacuum, or pressure to form a composite that is strong, light: and very expensive.
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| Carburetor |
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| A device through which air and fuel are atomized and drawn into the engine. It meters the proper proportions of fuel and air to form a combustible mixture and varies the ratio according to the engine operation. Air blowing over the fuel nozzles (jets) results in an air-fuel mixture burned in the cylinders. Carburetors were common on most vehicles before 1985. Currently, most vehicles use some form of fuel injection instead |
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| Caster |
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| The angle between a vertical line and the car`s steering axis when viewed from the side, measured in degrees and minutes. Casting technology that delivers a liquid molten metal into a purpose-built mould. After cooling, the solid metal surface has the shape of the mould cavity |
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| Catalytic Converter |
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| Often simply called a "catalyst": a stainless-steel canister fitted to a car`s exhaust system that contains a thin layer of catalytic material spread over a large area of inert supports. The material used is some combination of platinum, rhodium, and palladium; it induces chemical reactions that convert an engine`s exhaust emissions into less harmful products. So-called three-way catalysts are particularly efficient; their operation, however, demands very precise combustion control, which can be produced only by a feedback fuel-air-ratio control system.
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| Center Differential |
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| A differential used in four-wheel-drive systems to distribute power to the front and rear differentials.
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| Chain Drive |
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| The driving of one shaft by another by means of a toothed wheel on each shaft, with the wheels connected by an endless chain with special links engaging the teeth. |
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| Chassis |
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| A general term that refers to all of the mechanical parts of a car attached to a structural frame. In cars with unitized construction, the chassis comprises everything but the body of the car. The basic-strength auto frame including the engine, suspension, wheels, brakes and drive train. A car without its body or coachwork. In monocoque or unit construction it is integral with the body. |
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| Choke |
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| A temporary restriction in a carburetor throat that reduces the flow of air and enriches the fuel-air mixture to aid in starting the engine.
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| Clutch |
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| A mechanism that uses plates coated with a high-friction material to transfer power from the engine to the drive train. Used when changing gear ratios during accelerationClutches are also used to isolate rotating and non-rotating components. Clutches can allow slip between components to reduce shock loads between rotating and stationary components. Manual transmission vehicles use a clutch to transfer power from the gearbox to the wheels. Air conditioning compressors use clutches as well.
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| Coil Spring |
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| A bar of resilient metal wound into a spiral that may be compressed or extended without permanent deformation. Used to isolate a vehicle from the road. Coil springs are preferred over leaf springs for their superior ride and control. Coil springs have many automotive applications but are particularly important as suspension springs.
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| Combustion Chamber |
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| The space remaining at the top of the cylinder when the piston is at the top dead center position. Where the fuel-air mixture begins to burn. Since most of the air-fuel mixture`s combustion takes place in this space, its design and shape can greatly affect the power, fuel efficiency, and emissions of the engine.
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| Compliance |
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| A slight resiliency, or "give," designed into suspension bushings to help absorb bumps. Good compliance allows the wheels to move rearward a bit as they hit bumps but doesn`t allow them to move laterally during cornering. Component a raw material, ingredient, part or subassembly that goes into a higher level assembly, compound, or other item |
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| Component assembly |
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| a combination of two or more parts or sub-components to form an assembly |
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| Composite |
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| Any material that consists of two or more components, typically one or more of high strength and one an adhesive binder. The most common composite is fiberglass, which consists of thin glass fibers bonded together in a plastic matrix. The structural properties of composites can be altered by controlling the orientation and configuration of the high-strength components.
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| Compression |
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| In internal-combustion reciprocating engines, the squeezing of the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder of a spark-ignition engine or the squeezing of the air in a diesel engine. Compression makes combustion more effective and increases engine efficiency. |
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| Compression ratio |
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| The ratio between the combined volume of a cylinder and a combustion chamber when the piston is at the bottom of its stroke, and the volume when the piston is at the top of its stroke. The higher the compression ratio, the more mechanical energy an engine can squeeze from its air-fuel mixture. Higher compression ratios, however, also make detonation more likely.
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| Concept Vehicle |
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| a current production vehicle modified for installation of new design concepts for evaluation of environmental functional feasibility.
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| Connecting Rod |
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| The arm that connects the piston to the crankshaft and converts the reciprocating motion into rotary motion. Connecting rod The metal rod that connects a piston to a throw on a crankshaft. |
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| Constant Velocity Joint (CV Joint, Halfshaft) |
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| A shaft that transmits engine power from the transmission to the wheel. CV joints allow the wheel to steer and follow suspension motion while receiving power. CV joints are used in front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive vehicles. A particular kind of universal joint designed so that there is no cyclic fluctuation between the speeds of its input and output shafts.
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| Control arm |
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| A suspension element that has one joint at one end and two joints at the other end, typically the chassis side. Also known as a wishbone or an A-arm. |
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| De Dion Axle |
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| The nineteenth-century axle principle of Count de Dion. The wheels tied by a transverse tube curved to clear the final drive unit rigidly mounted to the car`s chassis frame. Drive to the wheels is by universally jointed half shafts. The tube moves vertically on a slide to allow the wheels to rise and fall independently. General use was dropped in 1914, but still is used on many sports and racing cars |
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| Dead pedal |
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| A footrest found to the left of the leftmost pedal. It provides a place for the driver to brace his left leg during hard cornering.
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| Dealer |
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| a firm that buys and sells, adding some value for the consumer in the process. Dealer often means a firm which operates closer in the distribution channel to the consumer than a distributor or wholesaler, and may add more value for consumers than either of the above-mentioned terms |
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| Detonation |
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| A condition in which, after the spark plug fires, some of the unburned air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber explodes spontaneously, set off only by the heat and pressure of air-fuel mixture that has already been ignited. Detonation, or "knock," greatly increases the mechanical and thermal stresses on the engine.
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| Die |
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| solid or hollow form used for shaping materials by stamping, pressing, extruding, drawing or threading.
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| Diesel Engine |
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| An internal-combustion engine in which the fuel is injected into the cylinder near the end of the compression stroke and is ignited by the heat of the compressed air in the cylinder. No spark plug or carburetor is needed.
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| Differential |
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| A differential allows the right and left wheels to rotate at different RPM. This is necessary because as a car goes around a curve, the outside wheel rotates faster than the inside wheel to "keep up". The differential allows the outside wheel to spin faster to compensate for the greater distance it travels. A special gearbox designed so that the torque fed into it is split and delivered to two outputs that can turn at different speeds. Differentials within axles are designed to split torque evenly; however, when used between the front and rear axles in four-wheel-drive systems (a center differential), they can be designed to apportion torque unevenly.
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| Differential Gears |
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| The gears that convey engine power to the driving axles and are arranged so as to permit the rear wheels to turn at different speeds as required when the vehicle is negotiating a turn.
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| Diffusion |
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| the way in which innovations spread through market or non-market channels. |
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| Disc brakes |
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| A type of brake in which two friction pads grip a steel disc that is attached to the wheel, with one pad on each side. Used on race cars, sports cars, and better passenger cars. Properly called caliper disc brakes: it consists of a disc that rotates at wheel speed, straddled by a caliper that can squeeze the surfaces of the disc near its periphery. Disc brakes provide a more linear response and operate more efficiently at high temperatures and wet conditions than drum brakes. |
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| Distributor |
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| A device that transfers voltage to the spark plug. A rotor in the distributor spins and touches contacts that are connected to spark plug wires. The wires then conduct the voltage to the spark plug. The moving part of the internal-combustion engine ignition system that directs the high-voltage current from the coil to the spark plugs in the proper firing order.
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| Dive |
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| The dipping of a car`s nose that occurs when the brakes are applied. Dive is caused by a load transfer from the rear to the front suspension; this transfer occurs because the car`s center of gravity, through which all inertial forces pass, is higher than its contact patches, the points where the braking forces are exerted on the ground |
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| Do-it-Yourself Market |
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| (DIY)the vehicle maintenance and repairs conducted by the vehicle owner or friend/relative who purchase auto parts from a retail outlet.
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| DOHC |
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| Acronym for dual/double overhead cam (see Overhead Cam), a DOHC engine has two camshafts in each cylinder head; one camshaft operates the intake valves, the other actuates the exhaust valves |
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| Door rates |
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| the hourly rates charged by dealers on standardized units of service work. Hourly rates may or may not correspond to an actual hour of work. |
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| Dos-A-Dos |
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| A four-seater auto in which four passengers face each other or sit back-to-back. Seldom seen after the early 1900s.
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| Downforce |
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| A vertical force directed downward, produced by airflow around an object: such as a car body.
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| Drag Coefficient |
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| A dimensionless measure of the aerodynamic sleekness of an object. A sleek car has a drag coefficient, or "Cd," of about 0.30; a square, flat plate`s is 1.98. Also signified by Cx. |
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| Dream Car |
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| A one-of-a-kind futuristic, experimental automobile usually appearing at auto shows to stimulate interest in the manufacturer`s products. Much design benefit spurs from dream cars and many reach the production stage. |
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| Drivability |
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| The general qualitative evaluation of a powertrain`s operating qualities, including idle smoothness, cold and hot starting, throttle response, power delivery, and tolerance for altitude changes.
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| Drive Train |
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| That combination of a car`s components; i.e. the engine, the transmission, the differential(s), the hubs, any interconnecting shafts, gears and clutches that transmits the engine power to the wheels |
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| Driveline |
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| Everything in the drivetrain, less the engine and the transmission.
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| Electric Vehicle |
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| cars, buses, vans or trucks which use dedicated or hybrid electric systems as their power source.
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| Electrical System |
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| In electric ignition internal-combustion engines, those components required to convert the electricity produced by the generator into a high-voltage spark for the plugs. Includes generator or alternator, points, condenser, coil, distributor and spark plugs plus wiring.
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| Engine Overhaul |
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| A general term for major engine work that usually requires removing the engine from the vehicle, and rebuilding or replacing internal components (e.g. pistons, connecting rods, valves).
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| Engine, Boxer or Flat |
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| A designation for an engine where the cylinders are arranged opposite(180 degrees apart) from each other. Boxer engines are relatively flat compared to inline or V engines. Common examples of boxer engines are the Porsche 911 flat-6 and the Subaru flat-4. |
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| Engine, Diesel |
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| An internal combustion engine that compresses fuel until it ignites. A gasoline engine, in contrast, uses a spark plug to start combustion. Diesel engines use kerosene as fuel. Diesel engines usually provide better fuel economy than a comparable displacement gasoline engine; at the cost of lower power.
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| Engine, Inline |
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| An engine configuration where all cylinders are in one plane. Most 4-cylinder and some 6-cylinder engines are inline. An inline engine is cheaper to manufacture than a V type of engine because the engine block can be a simpler casting |
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| Engine, V (e.g. V-8) |
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| A V engine has two banks of cylinders arranged like a V. V engines have an included angle of around 30-90 degrees that separates the individual banks. V engines are more compact than comparable inline engines. A V-8 is significantly shorter, and wider, than an inline-8.
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| Engine-control system |
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| A computerized brain that regulates an engine`s operation by monitoring certain engine characteristics (rpm, coolant temperature, intake airflow, etc.) through a network of sensors and then controlling key variables (fuel metering, spark timing, EGR, etc.) according to pre-programmed schedules. |
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| EPA fuel economy |
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| Laboratory fuel-economy tests administered by the Environmental Protection Agency using simulated weight and drag to re-create real driving conditions. The city fuel-economy test, also used to test emissions compliance, is based on a drive through typical Los Angeles urban traffic of about twenty years ago. Of course, such conditions are purely nostalgic these days. The highway test uses a higher, steadier speed, averaging 49.4 mph.
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| Epicyclic Gearbox |
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| A form of gear used by Benz in which small pinions revolve around a central or sun gear and mesh with an outer ring gear called the annulus. Type used in the Ford Model T. Also called planetary gears, sun-and-planet gears |
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| Epicyclic Gearbox |
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| A form of gear used by Benz in which small pinions revolve around a central or sun gear and mesh with an outer ring gear called the annulus. Type used in the Ford Model T. Also called planetary gears, sun-and-planet gears.
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| Exhaust |
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| The system of exhausting the burned gases from an internal-combustion engine consisting of piping or tubing, silencers, and, at times, resonators.
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| Exhaust Manifold |
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| The network of passages that gathers the exhaust gases from the various exhaust ports and routes them toward the catalysts and mufflers of the exhaust system. A manifold with free-flowing passages of a carefully designed configuration, called a "header," can improve breathing. |
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| Exhaust-gas Recirculation (EGR) |
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| A method of reducing NOx (oxides of nitrogen) exhaust emissions by recirculating some of the engine`s exhaust gas into the intake manifold. The exhaust gas serves as inert filler that absorbs heat during the combustion process and reduces the peak temperature reached during combustion.
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| Fastback |
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| A car that has an unbroken curved line from the top of the roof to the rear bumper as opposed to a drop in the line for a near-vertical rear window. In a fastback design the rear window slope follows the unbroken roof line and is often at less than a 45 degree angle.
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| Feedback Fuel-Air-Ratio Control |
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| A feature of a computer-controlled fuel system. By using a sensor to measure the oxygen content of the engine`s exhaust, the system keeps the fuel-air ratio very close to the proportion for chemically perfect combustion. Such tight control of the fuel-air ratio is mandatory for the proper operation of three-way catalysts.
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| Fiberglass |
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| A composite material that relies on small glass fibers for its strength. Fiberglass A very tough and durable plastic material with fibers running through the plastic. Used for race car bodies, many sports car bodies, and also enjoys considerable acceptance for passenger car bodies.
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| Final-Drive Ratio |
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| The reduction ratio, found in the gearset of a drivetrain, that is furthest removed from the engine. Typically, the differential ratio.
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| Fixed or One Price Selling |
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| Published fixed price displayed on a new vehicle eliminating need for negotiation. Fixture device for holding goods in process while working tools are in operation that does not contain any special arrangements for guiding the working tools.
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| Fleet sales |
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| The purchase of vehicles by a business that meet a minimum requirement of units sold.
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| Floorpan |
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| The largest and most important stamped metal part in a car`s body. Usually assembled from several smaller stampings, the floorpan forms the floor and fixes the dimensions for most of the car`s external and structural panels. It is also the foundation for many of the car`s mechanical parts |
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| Floorpan |
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| The largest and most important stamped metal part in a car`s body. Usually assembled from several smaller stampings, the floorpan forms the floor and fixes the dimensions for most of the car`s external and structural panels. It is also the foundation for many of the car`s mechanical parts.
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| Fluid Coupling |
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| Any device that transfers power through a fluid between its inputs and outputs. A fluid coupling basically consists of two fans in a sealed, oil-filled housing. The input fan churns the oil, and the churning oil in turn twirls the output fan. Such a coupling allows some speed difference between its input and output shafts.
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| Flywheel |
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| A large, heavy iron or steel disc attached to the rear of an engine crankshaft in order to provide sufficient centrifugal force thereby smoothing its power flow.
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| For Heading |
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| It is For Description |
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| Forecast |
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| Prediction of future production or sales in the automotive industry.
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| Forging |
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| A process that transforms solid metal into shapes of varying cross-sectional material thickness, often involving heating.
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| Four Valves Per Cylinder |
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| A valvetrain with a total of four valves in the combustion chamber, typically two intakes and two exhausts. Compared to the more common two-valve-per-cylinder designs, a four-valve layout offers improved breathing and allows the spark plug to be located closer to center of the combustion chamber |
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| Four Wheel Drive |
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| A part time system that transfers engine power to all four wheels. 4WD systems usually lack a center differential that allows use in dry conditions. 4WD provides superior traction compared with front or rear-wheel drive. |
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| Fuel Injection |
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| On internal-combustion engines, a system that injects a precisely measured amount of fuel into the cylinder at exactly the right moment. Dispenses with the carburetor and increases engine efficiency. Fuel injection provides better metering of fuel and air than carburetors. This results in more power, improved fuel economy, and lower emissions. The simplest systems use single or dual injectors in a central chamber to supply all cylinders. More sophisticated systems use an injector at each cylinder to precisely meter fuel.Any system that meters fuel to an engine by measuring its needs and then regulating the fuel flow, by electronic or mechanical means, through a pump and injectors. Throttle-body injection locates the injector(s) centrally in the throttle-body housing, while port injection allocates at least one injector for each cylinder near its intake port.
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| G |
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| The unit of measure for lateral acceleration, or "road-holding." One g is equivalent to 32.2 feet per second per second, the rate at which any object accelerates when dropped at sea level. If a car were cornering at 1.0 g: a figure that very few production cars are able to approach: the driver`s body would be pushing equally hard against the side of the seat as against the bottom of it |
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| G.T./ Grand Touring |
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| From the Italian Gran Turismo. A car combining sedan and sports car features in which engineering is the dominant feature. Combines excellent road handling qualities with relative comfort. Made in two- and four-seaters with the rear seats always cramped.
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| Gas Turbine |
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| An internal-combustion rotating engine with one main moving part the rotor with pinwheel-like blades attached. Air is compressed by the first rows of blades and delivered to the combustion chambers, from which the exhaust is directed to pass the remaining blades and to generate the power. Power is extremely smooth due to the absence of explosions and reciprocating parts.
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| Gears |
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| Wheels with meshing teeth to transmit power between rotating shafts. When the gear wheels are of different sizes, a change in speed ratio occurs. Gears are made of hard steel.
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| Gearset |
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| A group of two or more gears used to transmit power.
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| Generator |
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| A device that converts rotational energy to DC current. Generators were used in older cars to provide electrical energy for the vehicle.
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| Generator |
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| A device that converts rotational energy to DC current. Generators were used in older cars to provide electrical energy for the vehicle.
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| Grey market |
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| The grey market describes the purchase by intermediaries of product which is not supplied to them by the "authorized" distribution channel of the supplier. Thus, a warehouse club in Canada that sells a stereo bought in the U.S. or elsewhere from other than the manufacturer is supplying grey market goods. While grey market products are frequently the same as would be available from conventional channels, the grey market assumes responsibility for service or repair where the manufacturer declines this support.
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| Half Shaft |
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| An articulating, rotating shaft used in independent-suspension systems that transmits power from the final drive unit (differential) to a power wheel. Used in independent rear suspension and front-whe |
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| Hand Crank |
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| A crank handle for manually starting internal combustion engines. Used till about 1930. Now obsolete.
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| Handling |
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| A general term covering all the aspects of a car`s behavior that are related to its directional control.
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|
| Heavy-duty Vehicle |
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| Vehicle (truck) weighing from 26,001 to 33,001 lbs. Also included off-highway trucks. |
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| Heel-and-Toe |
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| A performance-oriented technique of down-shifting while braking that requires the driver to use all three pedals of a manual-transmission car simultaneously. To perform a heel-and-toe downshift, the driver brakes with the toe of his right foot and: while continuing to brake: uses the heel or the side of the same foot to blip the throttle and raise engine rpm as he downshifts. The left foot operates the clutch pedal in the normal fashion. The sequence is as follows: brake with the right toe; depress the clutch with the left foot; shift to neutral; while continuing to brake, blip the throttle with the side or the heel of the right foot to raise rpm; shift to a lower gear; let the clutch out; release the brakes. The technique is difficult to master, but after practice it can be performed in less than a second. This process is best for smooth power flow and long transmission life. |
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| Heim Joint |
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| An extremely rigid articulating joint, commonly known as a ""spherical rod-end,"" used in any precision linkage. Heim joints are often used in the suspension links of race cars because they locate wheels very precisely |
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| Helical Gear |
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| A gear in which the teeth are cut at an angle to the shaft. The advantage is that there are usually two teeth meshing at all times, making for smoother and quieter operation. Helical Gear A type of gear in which the teeth are cut at a slanting angle to the gear`s circumference. A helical design produces an even, constant tooth loading in a gearset, thereby reducing noise.
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| Hemi |
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| A term used to describe any engine that has hemispherical combustion chambers in its cylinder head. Although a four-valve design is more efficient, a hemi head provides room for a pair of large valves and offers good breathing characteristics. Used in many sports and racing cars |
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| Hemi-Head |
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| A hemispherically shaped combustion chamber at the top of the engine cylinder. The hemispheric shape provides improved efficiency because the forces of the explosion are directed to the piston by the curved surface of the combustion chamber.
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| Horsepower (BHP) |
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| The unit for measuring the power output of an engine. Net horsepower or bhp (brake horsepower) and Kw (kilowatts) are the standard units. Higher horsepower increases vehicle top speed. Equal displacement (size) engines that rev higher often produce more power than lower revving engines, because more air and fuel is burned in a given time. A typical 3.0L 24V V-6 produces 190 bhp @ 6400 RPM. A lower revving 3.0L 12V V-6 produces 160 bhp @ 5000 RPM. The 24-valve V-6 makes 190 bhp because it can rev higher (and breathe better) than the similar 12-valve V-6. One horsepower is defined as lifting 33,000 pounds one foot per minute. One horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second, the power needed to lift 550 pounds one foot off the ground in one second: or one pound 550 feet up in the same time |
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| Hydraulic |
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| A mechanical operation based on incompressibility of liquids, generally oil and sometimes water, and their ability to offer resistance when being forced into a small cylinder or through an orifice, thereby transmitting an increase in applied force. Hydraulic brakes and clutches use this principle. |
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| Ignition System |
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| Electrical system devised to produce timed sparks from engine spark plugs. Consisting of a battery, induction coil, capacitor, distributor, spark plugs and relevant switches and wiring.
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| Import Name Plate |
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| Vehicles sold by manufacturers primarily located outside North America whether assembled Overseas or in North America.
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| Importer |
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| An organization that typically operates at arms length or under contractual agreement with manufacturers to bring products made in one country into another |
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| Independent Repair Shops |
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| mall service outlet offering specialized repair services. They usually do not sell gasoline. |
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| Independent Suspension |
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| Suspension in which each wheel is sprung individually so that any disturbance on the wheel has no effect on the opposite wheel.
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| Inline Engine |
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| An engine having the cylinders in a straight line, one after the other. Also called a "straight" engine.
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| Intake Charge |
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| The mixture of fuel and air that flows into the engine.
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| Intake Manifold |
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| The network of passages that direct air or air-fuel mixture from the throttle body to the intake ports in the cylinder head. The flow typically proceeds from the throttle body into a chamber called the plenum, which in turn feeds individual tubes, called runners, leading to each intake port. Engine breathing is enhanced if the intake manifold is configured to optimize the pressure pulses in the intake system |
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| Intercooler |
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| Essentially a radiator or heat exchanger used to cool the heated compressed intake air for the engine. The cooled air is denser and can provide more power and also reduces pinging/detonation. Intercoolers are used for both turbocharged and supercharged engines. Most intercoolers are air-to-air type, which means that ambient air is used to cool the compressed intake air. Less common air-to-water intercoolers use engine coolant to shed heat from the intake air. An intercooler resembles a radiator; it houses large passages for the intake flow, and uses either outside air or water directed over it to lower the temperature of the intake flow inside.
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| Jounce |
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| The motion of a wheel that compresses its suspension.
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| Jounce Bumper |
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| An elastic cushion used to stiffen the suspension gradually as it approaches the end of its jounce travel |
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| Kamm Back |
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| Named for the German aerodynamicist W. Kamm, who discovered that drag begins to increase after the rear of a car`s cross-sectional area is reduced to 50 percent of the car`s maximum cross section.
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| Kickdown |
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| A downshift in an automatic transmission caused by depressing the throttle. |
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| Knock Sensor |
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| A sensor mounted on the engine that is designed to detect the high-frequency vibrations caused by detonation. By employing a knock sensor, a computerized engine-control system allows an engine to operate very near its detonation limit: thereby improving power and efficiency |
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| Knock-Off |
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| A single wing nut for fastening a wheel to the hub. Easily removed and replaced, it is struck (knocked off) with a mallet on the wings.
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| Kyoto Protocol |
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| International agreement among industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions negotiated in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997. Canada committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent of 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.
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| Lacquer |
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| A fast-drying pyroxylin paint often used to finish automobile bodies. |
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| Laminated Windshield |
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| A windshield consisting of a thin layer of rubbery plastic sandwiched between two sheets of glass. When struck by the head in an accident, it bows out without puncturing, and the plastic holds the glass to prevent it from splintering. |
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| Lateral Link |
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| A suspension link that is aligned to resist sideways motions in a wheel.
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| Leading Link |
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| A suspension link that is aligned to resist longitudinal motions in a wheel; it is mounted to the chassis behind the wheel.
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| Leaf Spring |
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| A number of slightly curved, flexible steel plates of varying lengths, mounted one atop the other. The plates are attached at the ends to the underbody. The curved shape of the plates allows them to flex and absorb bumps. Made of spring steel or various composite materials that deflects by bending when forces act upon it . Leaf springs are used primarily in suspensions. The ends are attached to the chassis, and the middle is fixed to the axle. Also called semi-elliptic springs. |
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| Lease |
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| Form of contract transferring the use of a vehicle in consideration of payment |
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| Lift |
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| A vertical force directed upward, produced by the airflow around a moving object: such as a car body.
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| Lift-Throttle Oversteer |
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| A handling characteristic that causes the rear tires to lose some of their cornering grip when the throttle is released during hard cornering. |
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| Light Truck |
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| Vehicle weighing less than 14,000 lbs. |
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| Lights, Halogen |
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| Lights that provide brighter, longer lasting illumination than standard incandescent lights. Halogen bulbs are filled with a gas such as iodine. This gas reduces the gradual evaporation of the tungsten filament and increases its life. |
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| Lights, Projector Beam |
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| A special type of headlight that uses a spherical reflector to tightly control the light beam. Projector beams are relatively expensive compared to standard headlights.
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|
| Limited Slip Differential (LSD) |
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| A differential that reduces speed differences between wheels. An LSD improves traction by preventing a slipping wheel from receiving all the engine power. The differential uses cone or disc clutches to lock the two separate axle shafts. This forces both driving wheels to transmit the same drive torque regardless of the traction available. It still allows differential action under normal driving conditions but improves traction in mud and snow. Limited slip ensures that some torque is always distributed to both wheels, even when one is on very slippery pavement.
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| MacPherson strut |
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| A combined damper(shock absorber) and spring unit.MacPherson struts also allow relatively long springs that can increase suspension travel and increase bump absorption capability.
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| Main Bearings |
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| The bearings in an engine block that support the crankshaft.
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| Make |
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| Brand name of a car or truck (ie. Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, Honda).
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| Manual Transmission |
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| A mechanism in the drive train with gears to vary the power and torque delivered to the driven wheels. It consists of a lever that the driver operates in conjunction with the clutch to change from one gear to another.
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| Manufacturer`s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) |
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| Margin or gross margin the return an intermediary achieves on the selling price of the article. That is, if the intermediary buys a product for $1 and sells it for $1.50, the margin is calculated. For example, .50 divided by $1.50, or 33%.
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| Market Share |
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| The percentage of total sales represented by an individual manufacturer/importer, make or nameplate.
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| Mechanic Installed Market (MIL) |
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| Vehicle maintenance and repair conducted by a mechanic/professional at a service outlet.
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| Medium-duty Truck |
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| Vehicle weighing from 14,001 to 26,000 lbs. |
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| Metal Forming |
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| Solid metal and molten metal process such as casting, forging, stamping and machining. |
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| Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl (MML) |
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| MMT is an organic manganese compound. It is used as a fuel additive designed to enhance octane levels in gasoline.
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| Mid-engine |
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| A chassis layout that positions the engine behind the passenger compartment but ahead of the rear axle.
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| Multi-link Suspension |
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| A rear suspension consisting of at least four links, or "arms," and no struts. Because multilink suspensions assign specific wheel-locating duties to each element, they provide great flexibility for optimizing both ride and handling.
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| Neutral Steer |
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| A cornering condition in which the front and rear slip angles are roughly the same. Although seemingly an ideal state of balance, perfect neutral steer is not as stable as slight understeer.
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| New Car Dealer |
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| Major car dealership with a parts and service operation.
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| Normally Aspirated |
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| An engine that intakes air or "breathes" without the assistance of a supercharger or turbocharger.
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| Octane |
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| A numeric rating of gasoline’s resistance to detonation(premature ignition). The higher the octane number, the less chance of detonation. High octane (above 91) is usually worthwhile only if the manufacturer specifically recommends it. Octane is actually a hydrocarbon(C8H18).
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| Off-Highway Vehicle |
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| Vehicle intended for operation on unmade surfaces or rough terrain (i.e. for construction or agriculture).
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|
| Oil |
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| Engine oil comes in various ratings SAE 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40, etc. For example, a 10W-30 rated oil will flow like a light SAE 10-weight oil at low temperatures. The W signifies that it is a winter rated oil. The 30 designation means that at engine operating temperatures, the oil will behave like a heavier SAE 30-weight oil. Low viscosity at colder temperature allows the oil to circulate more quickly and protect vital engine parts. Higher oil viscosity at elevated temperatures prevents direct metal-to-metal contact.
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| Oil Pump |
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| An engine-driven pump that delivers oil, under pressure, to the engine`s moving parts.
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| Oil Ring |
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| The lowermost piston ring that scrapes off excess oil from the cylinder walls and returns it to the oil pan via vents in the ring and piston.
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| Oil, Synthetic |
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| Oil that is not derived from raw petroleum. Synthetic oil has superior engine protection properties compared to conventional mineral oil. Synthetic oil costs 3-5 times more than mineral oil.
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|
| On Board Diagnostics (OBD) |
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| a unit that monitors the Electric Control Unit and system responses for errors during normal vehicle operations. When the vehicle is serviced, this information on the errors can be down loaded and displayed to the service personnel which will facilitate the trouble shooting process. |
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| On-Center Feel |
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| The responsiveness and feel of the steering when the wheel is approximately centered. In a car with good on-center feel, the steering wheel tends to return to center when slightly deflected, assisting straight-line stability. |
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| Opposite Lock |
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| A technique in which the steering wheel is turned in the direction away from where the car is turning. Opposite lock is used to control a car when it is oversteering and its tail is swinging wide.
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|
| Overcapacity |
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| The situation where maximum global prodution of automobiles exceeds the total global demand for automobiles.
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| Overdrive |
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| A small auxiliary gearbox that provides an additional gear ratio. It causes the drive shaft to turn faster than the engine crankshaft or "overdrive" it. Overdrive gears are used in most modern transmissions because they reduce engine rpm and improve fuel economy at highway speeds. It is engaged manually when under way. It has a transmission ratio below 11. For instance, a manual transmission fifth gear ratio could be 0.701.
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| Overhead Cam |
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| The type of valvetrain arrangement in which the engine`s camshaft(s) is in its cylinder head(s). When the camshaft(s) is placed close to the valves, the valvetrain components can be stiffer and lighter, allowing the valves to open and close more rapidly and the engine to run at higher rpm. In a single-overhead-cam (SOHC) layout, one camshaft actuates all of the valves in a cylinder head. In a double-overhead-camshaft (DOHC) layout, one camshaft actuates the intake valves, and one camshaft operates the exhaust valves.
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|
| Overhead Valve (OHV) |
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| An acronym for overhead valve. This simply means that the intake and exhaust valves are above the cylinder head. SOHC engines have a single cam over the cylinder head. DOHC engines have two cams above the cylinder head. All OHC, SOHC, and DOHC engines are also OHV.
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|
| Oversteer |
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| A situation that occurs when the rear wheels contribute to steering the vehicle more in a given direction. This often occurs under hard braking while turning. The rear of the vehicle loses adhesion and starts to rotate in the direction of steering. Oversteer can be used to better place the vehicle coming out of a corner. Usually, oversteer is undesirable because it is difficult to control and can result in a disastrous spin. Most cars are designed not to oversteer under normal conditions.
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|
| Panhard Rod |
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| A long lateral link that provides lateral location of a rigid axle. It usually sits roughly parallel to the axle, with one end attached to the body and the other attached to the axle.
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|
| Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles |
|
| Established in 1993, this partnership, between the United States Federal Government and the Automotive industry, was founded to establish global technical leadership in the development and production of affordable, fuel-efficient, low emission vehicles that meet today`s performance standards.
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|
| Passenger Vehicle |
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| Four wheeled motor vehicle that also includes mini-vans and sport utility vehicles.
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|
| Pent-roof |
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| A combustion chamber whose upper surface resembles a shallow peaked roof. Usually used with four valves per cylinder.
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|
| Petrol Engine |
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| This engine use in small cars. |
|
| Phaeton |
|
| The phaeton term was often applied to convertibles built in the1930`s and earlier. A phaeton is a sleekly styled car (usually 2-door) with a convertible top. The conventional body has 4 doors with convertible top and side curtains rather than roll-up windows. The four-seater was called a double phaeton, and the six- or seven- seater a triple phaeton |
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| Pinion |
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| A small diameter gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a much larger gear wheel or a toothed rod (rack). Used in rack-and-pinion steering and for speed reduction with an increase in power.
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|
| Piston |
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| A partly hollow, cylindrical metal engine part that is closed at one end and fits into the engine cylinder. Connected to the crankshaft via the connecting rod and usually fitted with rings to seal it in the cylinder.
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|
| Pitch |
|
| The rotation of a car about a horizontal axis, which causes its nose or tail to bob up and down. Dive and squat are pitching motions. |
|
| Planetary Gears |
|
| A gearset in which all of the gears are in one plane, grouped around each other like the planets around the sun. The central gear is called the "sun gear." In mesh with it is a circular grouping of gears, called "planet gears," mounted on a rotating carrier. The planet gears also engage teeth on the inner periphery of the "ring gear." By holding any one of the three gear elements motionless, different ratios can be produced between the other two. Planetary gearsets are common in automatic transmissions. |
|
| Plastic Moulding |
|
| a process that converts organic-based materials, by means of a general-purpose press and purpose-built tooling under controlled heat and pressure, and injects the hot material into a die cavity shaped in the final form of the intended part. |
|
| Platform |
|
| primary load-bearing structural assembly of a motor vehicle determining the basic size of the motor vehicle, and is the structural base that supports the driveline and links the suspension components of the motor vehicle. |
|
| Plenum chamber |
|
| A chamber, located between the throttle body and the runners of an intake manifold, used to distribute the intake charge evenly and to enhance engine breathing. |
|
| Pneumatic Tire |
|
| A circular tube of rubber or synthetic rubber and fabric, and sometimes also steel, attached to the rim of the car`s wheel, having resilience due to its containing air under pressure. |
|
| Pneumatic Tire Flexible |
|
| Hollow rubber forming the outer part of the vehicle wheel and inflated by air pressure. |
|
| Polar moment of inertia |
|
| The resistance of an object to rotational acceleration. When the mass of an object is distributed far from its axis of rotation, the object is said to have a high polar moment of inertia. When the mass distribution is close to the axis of rotation, it has a low polar moment of inertia. A mid-engined car has most of its mass within its wheelbase, contributing to a low polar moment of inertia, which, in turn, improves cornering turn-in.
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|
| Port fuel injection |
|
| A type of fuel injection with at least one injector mounted in the intake port(s) of each cylinder. Usually the injector is mounted on the air intake manifold close to the port. Port fuel injection improves fuel distribution and allows greater flexibility in intake-manifold design, which can contribute to improved engine breathing. |
|
| Pound-feet |
|
| The unit of measurement for torque. One pound-foot is equal to the twisting force produced when a one-pound force is applied to the end of a one-foot-long lever. |
|
| Power |
|
| The rate at which work is performed. Power is proportional to torque and rpm and is measured in horsepower. |
|
| Power Band |
|
| The subjectively defined rpm range over which an engine delivers a substantial fraction of its peak power. The power band usually extends from slightly below the engine`s torque peak to slightly above its power peak. |
|
| Powertrain |
|
| An engine and transmission combination.
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|
| Pre-selector Gearbox |
|
| An arrangement that enables the driver to select a gear speed before he needs it and then depress the clutch pedal when he desires to use the selected gear.
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|
| Product Design |
|
| The process of planning the product`s specifications.
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|
| Product Planning |
|
| a function whereby an enterprise is responsible for the efficient, planning, scheduling and coordination of production activities.
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|
| Product Testing |
|
| Rigorous methods whereby a product`s quality and durability are measured. |
|
| Production Engineering |
|
| Planning and control of the mechanical means of changing the shape, condition of materials toward greater effectiveness and value.
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|
| Productivity |
|
| relative measure of output per labour and/or machine output. |
|
| Progressive-rate spring |
|
| A spring with an increasing spring constant. For example, if the first inch of spring motion requires 100 pounds of force, the second inch would require more than an additional 100 pounds, and the third inch would require still more. Progressive-rate springs become stiffer as they are compressed, unlike single-rate springs, which have a fixed spring rate. |
|
| Prototype |
|
| The test model of a new car design that is intended to be produced in quantity. |
|
| Psi |
|
| Pounds per square inch, the common unit of measurement for pressure. Normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is 14.7 psi. |
|
| Purchasing |
|
| total materials purchased for manufacturing/assembly into auto parts (ie. steel, plastics, rubber, textiles, etc.). |
|
| Push |
|
| A slang term for understeer. |
|
| Pushrod |
|
| A metal rod that transmits the motion of the camshaft to the valve actuators. Pushrods are used by non-overhead cam engines to open and close valves. Pushrod A metal rod connecting the valve lifter or camshaft with the valve rocker arm on overhead-valve engines. Pushrod A general term for any rod that transfers force in compression. In a valvetrain, pushrods are used to transfer reciprocating motion from the cam followers to a more distant part of a valvetrain, typically the rocker arms. |
|
| Quadricycle |
|
| An early type of light, four-wheeled automobile using bicycle wheels and a frame of steel tubes.
|
|
| Rack-and-pinion Steering |
|
| A steering system having a pinion gear at the lower end of the steering column that engages a rack or a toothed rod that connects to the wheel steering arms. The ends of the rack are linked to the steered wheels with tie rods. When the gear is rotated by the steering shaft, it moves the rack from side to side: turning the wheels |
|
| Radial Ply |
|
| A tire in which the fabric cords run radially in a line from the wheel hub or straight out from the bead or around the tubular shape of the tire. Annular belts of fabric or steel mesh add rigidity. Ad |
|
| Rear Wheel Drive |
|
| The rear wheels receive all the engine power. RWD is preferred over front-wheel drive (FWD) for its superior handling and acceleration capabilities. RWD provides less traction than FWD in poor road conditions because less weight is available over the drive wheels. |
|
| Rebound |
|
| The motion of a wheel that extends the suspension. The opposite of jounce. |
|
| Reciprocating Motion |
|
| Reciprocating Motion of an object between two limiting positions. Applied to piston engines because of the limited up and down motion of the pistons. |
|
| Recirculating-ball |
|
| A steering mechanism in which the steering shaft turns a worm gear that, in turn, causes a toothed metal block to move back and forth. Ball bearings in a recirculating track reduce friction between the worm gear and the block. As the block moves, its teeth rotate a gear connected to a steering arm, which then moves the steering linkage. |
|
| Registration |
|
| Motor vehicle ownership that is filed with the province/state. |
|
| Research & Development |
|
| R&D expenditures (product and process development). |
|
| Ride Height |
|
| A measurement between the ground and some fixed reference point on a car`s body (the reference point varies according to the whims of the particular automaker). This dimension can be used to measure the amount of suspension deflection or the height of the body from the ground. |
|
| Ride Steer |
|
| A generally undesirable condition in which a wheel steers slightly as its suspension compresses or extends. Also called "bump steer." |
|
| Rigid Axle |
|
| A simple non-independent suspension, consisting of a rigid transverse member with wheel hubs solidly bolted to it. The axle can be attached to the body by leaf springs, or by a combination of suspension arms and links. |
|
| Ring Gear |
|
| One of the gears in the rear axle that transmits power to the differential from the drive shaft. |
|
| Ring-and-Pinion Gear |
|
| Any gearset consisting of a small gear (the pinion gear) which turns a large-diameter annular gear (the ring gear). |
|
| Road-load horsepower |
|
| The amount of power at the driving wheels needed to move a car down the road at a steady speed. This power varies according to the car`s speed, aerodynamic drag, and mechanical friction, as well as the tires` rolling resistance. Road-load horsepower is distinct from engine power because the output of the engine is sapped by various mechanical losses between the engine`s output at its flywheel and the driving wheels. |
|
| Roadster |
|
| A description of a two-seater open car of sporty appearance with side curtains, instead of roll-up windows. |
|
| Rocker Arm |
|
| A pivoted lever that transmits the action of the pushrod to the valve stem. (Pushrod upward action is converted to downward push on the valve stem. ) |
|
| Roll |
|
| The rotation of a car`s body about a longitudinal axis. Also less accurately called "sway" or "lean," it occurs in corners because the car`s center of gravity is almost always higher than the axis about which it rotates. |
|
| RPM |
|
| Revolutions per minute. RPM indicates how many times the engine crankshaft rotates per minute. |
|
| Rubber-isolated crossmember |
|
| A laterally aligned structural member that is attached to the body or the frame via vibration-absorbing rubber isolators. By bolting suspension or driveline components to such crossmembers, automotive engineers can reduce the transmission of noise and/or ride harshness to the body. |
|
| Runabout |
|
| An open sporting-type vehicle, lightweight, with two seats and with simple bodywork. |
|
| Running Board |
|
| A long flat board under the car doors that acts as a footstep for the passengers. |
|
| S.A.E. |
|
| Society of Automotive Engineers. The professional association of transportation-industry engineers. A group known for publishing research papers and defining various standards of measurement. The SAE |
|
| Safety Restraint Systems |
|
| Devices that reduce injury in the event of a accident. Typical examples include safety belts and airbags. |
|
| Sealed Beam |
|
| A one-piece, hermetically sealed headlight in which the filament is an integral part of the unit, and the lens itself is the bulb. |
|
| Sedan |
|
| A closed, fixed-roof car for four or more passengers with either two or four doors. (Called saloon in U.K.) |
|
| Selective Transmission |
|
| The conventional manual transmission of today in which any gear may be selected at will as opposed to the very early progressive transmission in which the gears had to be selected in order. |
|
| Semi-elliptic leaf spring |
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| A slightly curved leaf spring that is attached to a car`s body at its ends and to a suspension component near its middle. One of the two body attachments is a shackle, which allows for changes in the spring`s length as it flexes up and down. |
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| Semi-trailing-arm suspension |
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| An independent rear-suspension system in which each wheel hub is located only by a large, roughly triangular arm that pivots at two points. Viewed from the top, the line formed by the two pivots is somewhere between parallel and perpendicular to the car`s longitudinal axis. |
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| Series (tire) |
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| The numerical representation of a tire`s aspect ratio. A 50-series tire has an aspect ratio of 0.50. |
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| Shift Gate |
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| The mechanism in a transmission linkage that controls the motion of the gearshift lever. The shift gate is usually an internal mechanism; however, in some transmissions: including Ferrari five-speeds and Mercedes-Benz automatics : the shift gate is an exposed guide around the shift lever. |
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| Single-rate spring |
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| A spring with a constant spring rate. For example, if a 100-pound force deflects the spring by one inch, an additional 100 pounds will deflect it one more inch, and so on until the spring either bottoms or fails. |
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| Sleeve Valve |
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| Consists of metal sleeves located between the piston and cylinder wall. When moved up and down, holes in the sleeves coincide with inlet and exhaust parts to provide passage for the gases at the right time. |
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| Slip angle |
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| The angular difference between the direction in which a tire is rolling and the plane of its wheel. Slip angle is caused by deflections in the tire`s sidewall and tread during cornering. A linear relationship between slip angles and cornering forces indicates an easily controllable tire. |
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| Slushbox |
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| A slang for an automatic transmission.
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| SOHC |
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| Acronym for single overhead cam (see Overhead Cam). An SOHC engine uses one camshaft in each cylinder head to operate both the exhaust valves and the intake valves. |
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| Space frame |
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| A particular kind of tube frame that consists exclusively of relatively short, small-diameter tubes. The tubes are welded together in a configuration that loads them primarily in tension and compression. |
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| Spark Plug |
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| The spark plug converts high voltage energy into an arc that passes between its electrodes. The arc causes the gasoline-air mixture in the cylinder to ignite and expand, providing power by pushing down the piston. |
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| Sports Car |
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| An agile vehicle that is easily maneuverable, accelerates briskly, brakes positively, handles well and steers precisely. It is tightly sprung and does not wallow and heave as does a conventional passenger car and is therefore not as comfortable. |
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| Spyder or Spider |
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| In the early 1900s, a light two-seater car. In the 1950s the word was revived by some Italian manufacturers for an open two seater sports car.
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| Squat |
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| The opposite of dive, squat is the dipping of a car`s rear end that occurs during hard acceleration. Squat is caused by a load transfer from the front to the rear suspension. |
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| Stamping |
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| A process technology which manufactures automotive parts by shaping rolled sheet metal or by bending or stretching it in a sequence of purpose-built tools fitted to a general purpose press. |
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| Standard Industrial Classification (1980) |
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| Catalogue No. 12-E Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) industry class that represents a level of organization of production by type of specialization. Currently the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification is in effect identifying each industry at the 4 digit level.
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| Starter |
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| A motor powered by the battery that rotates the crankshaft before the engine is started. |
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| Steering Axis |
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| The line that intersects the upper and lower steering pivots on a steered wheel. On a car with a strut suspension, the steering axis is defined by the line through the strut mount on top and the ball joint on the bottom. |
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| Steering feel |
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| The general relationship between forces at the steering wheel and handling. Ideally, the steering effort should increase smoothly as the wheel is rotated away from center. In addition, the steering effort should build as the cornering forces at the steered wheels increase. Finally, the friction built into the steering mechanism should be small in comparison with the handling-related steering forces.
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| Steering gain |
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| The relationship between yaw and the steering wheel`s position and effort. All three should be proportional and should build up smoothly. |
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| Steering Geometry |
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| The group of design variables outside the steering mechanism that affect steering behavior, including camber, caster, linkage arrangement, ride steer, scrub radius, toe-in, and trail. |
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| Steering Response |
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| A subjective term that combines steering feel and steering gain. |
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| Steering, Power |
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| Assist provided by the engine to reduce steering effort. Power steering is essential to make large, heavy vehicles manageable. Small vehicles often do not require power steering.
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| Steering, Rack and Pinion |
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| A common steering type. The steering wheel is connected to a pinion gear that meshes with a rack, or linear gear. As the pinion rotates, the rack moves side to side, this moves the steering linkage, causing the wheels to pivot left or right.
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| Straight-line Tracking |
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| The ability of a car to resist road irregularities and run in a straight line without steering corrections. |
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| Stroke |
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| The back-and-forth motion of the piston. The length of the motion of the piston from top dead center to bottom dead center. |
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| Strut |
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| A suspension element in which a reinforced shock absorber is used as one of the wheel`s locating members, typically by solidly bolting the wheel hub to the bottom end of the strut.
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| Sump |
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| The space in the engine block under the crankshaft into which the oil drains from its various applications.
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| Supercharger (Blower) |
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| An air compressor used to force more air into an engine than it can inhale on its own. The term is frequently applied only to mechanically driven compressors, but it actually encompasses all varieties of compressors-including turbochargers. |
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| Supplier Cost Reduction Effort (SCORE) |
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| a United States program that urges suppliers to develop processes to cut costs. Suppliers are allowed to keep half the savings and pass on the other half to the automakers.
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| Suspension |
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| The assembly of springs, shock absorbers, torsion bars, joints, arms, etc., that cushions the shock of bumps on the road and serves to keep the wheels in constant contact with the road, thereby improving control and traction. |
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| SUV |
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| Sport Utility Vehicle.
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| Swing Axle |
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| Type of independent rear suspension using half shafts that have universal joints only at their inboard ends on both sides of the differential. This causes a camber angle change of the wheel with up-and-down wheel movements. |
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| tach |
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| an acronym for tachometer |
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| tach-dwell-meter |
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| An instrument used to measure engine speed and distributor dwell |
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| tachometer |
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| An instrument used to measure engine speed |
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| tack cloth |
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| A varnish-coated cheese cloth having a tacky surface used to clean metal prior to painting. |
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| tag axle |
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| The rearmost axle of a tandem-axle tractor used to increase the load-carrying capacity if the vehicle. |
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| tail lights |
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| Lights used on the rear of a vehicle. |
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| tailgate |
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| 1. The rear opening of a truck, station wagon or van. 2. To follow another vehicle closely. |
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| tailpipe |
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| The pipe from the muffler or catalytic converter to the rear of the vehicle 2. The outlet pipe from the evaporator to the compressor. |
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| tall block |
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| An engine assembly consisting of a short block and a cylinder head. |
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| tandem master cylinder |
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| A master cylinder that consists of a single bore with two pistons and separate fluid compression chambers used with "split" braking systems to ensure that there will be some braking power in one breaking circuit, even if there is a fluid loss in the other. |
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| tetraethyl lead (TEL) |
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| A chemical, Pb, once added to gasoline to increase its octane and aid in lubrication of the valves. Lead damages catalytic converters and oxygen sensors and therefore cannot be used in vehicles designed to operate on unleaded fuel. Leaded gasoline is no longer sold in the United States. |
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| thermostat |
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| A driver-operated device used to cycle the clutch to control the rate of refrigerant flow as a means of temperature control 2. A temperature-sensitive component located in a housing at the coolant outlet of the engine that restricts coolant flow to the radiator to maintain the desired engine-operating temperatures. Often referred to as Ranco control. |
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| tire |
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| 1. An air-filled or solid covering for a wheel, normally of rubber 2. A device made of rubber, fabric and other materials that, when filled with fluid or gas under pressure and mounted on a wheel, cushions and sustains the imposed load. Tires contribute to the ride and steering quality of a vehicle and play a significant role in vehicle safety. Tires must be designed to carry the weight of the vehicle, transfer braking and driving torque to the road, and withstand side thrust over varying speeds and conditions. |
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| Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) |
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| ULEV vehicles are usually electric or hybrid gasoline/electric vehicles. ULEV standards are the strictest emission standards in the USA.
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| Understeer |
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| Understeer occurs when the front wheels provide less steering than desired in a given direction. Usually the front wheels have lost adhesion and cannot steer effectively. This results in the vehicle pushing ahead and responding sluggishly to the steering wheel. Reducing speed can allow the front wheels to regain traction. Most vehicles are designed to exhibit understeer in normal conditions, because it is easier to control than oversteer. An understeering car is sometimes said to push, because it resists turning and tends to go straight. |
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| United States Council for Automotive Research |
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| an organization founded by Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors to strengthen the technology base of the domestic automotive industry through research and co-operation. |
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| Unitized Construction |
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| A type of body construction that doesn`t require a separate frame to provide structural strength or support for the car`s mechanical components. A unitized body can employ monocoque construction, or it can utilize strong structural elements as an integral part of its construction. |
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| Universal joint |
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| A joint that transmits rotary motion between two shafts that aren`t in a straight line. Depending on its design, a universal joint can accommodate a large angular variation between its inputs and outputs. The simplest kind of universal joint, called a "Hooke joint," causes the output shaft to speed up and slow down twice for every revolution of the input shaft. This speed fluctuation increases with the angular difference between the shafts. |
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| Used Vehicle |
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| Vehicle that has been previously owned or driven.
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| Value analysis (VA) |
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| Valve Device that opens and closes the combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine to admit the fuel-air mixture or exhaust the gases |
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| Valve Float |
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| A high-rpm engine condition in which the valve lifters lose contact with the cam lobes because the valve springs are not strong enough to overcome the momentum of the various valvetrain components. The onset of valve float prevents higher-rpm operation. Extended periods of valve float will damage the valvetrain. |
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| Valve Lifter |
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| Also called a "valve follower": the cylindrically shaped component that presses against the lobe of a camshaft and moves up and down as the cam lobe rotates. Most valve lifters have an oil-lubricated hardened face that slides on the cam lobe. So-called "roller lifters", however, have a small roller in contact with the cam lobe: thereby reducing the friction between the cam lobe and the lifter.
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| Valves (e.g. 24 valves) |
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| Signifies the total intake and exhaust valves in an engine. For example, a 24-valve V-6 would have 4 valves per cylinder 24/6=4. A 16-valve V-8 would have 2 valves per cylinder 16/8=2. More valves allow the engine to breathe better at high RPM and produce more power.
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| Valvetrain |
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| The collection of parts that make the valves operate. The valvetrain includes the camshaft(s) and all related drive components, the various parts that convert the camshaft`s rotary motion into reciprocating motion at the valves, and the valves and their associated parts.
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| VEE Engine |
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| An engine with cylinders arranged in two rows at an angle to the common crankshaft. Has a "V" shape when viewed from the front. |
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| VIS-A-VIS |
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| A four-seater in which two passengers faced the driver. Used around the turn of the century.
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| Viscous Coupling |
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| A particular kind of fluid coupling in which the input and output shafts mate with thin, alternately spaced discs in a cylindrical chamber. The chamber is filled with a viscous fluid that tends to cling to the discs, thereby resisting speed differences between the two shafts. Viscous couplings are used to limit the speed difference between the two outputs of a differential, or between the two axles of a car.
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| Voiture Legere |
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| A light car, especially a racing car falling between the heavy cars and the voiturette. Term seldom used to describe production cars. Not used after 1914. |
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| Voiturette |
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| Early two-seater touring car. Name first used by Leon Bollee and then applied to any small car.
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| Water Pump |
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| A pump that circulates coolant within the engine block and cylinder head. The water pump is driven by the engine crankshaft.
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| Wheel hop |
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| An undesirable suspension characteristic in which a wheel (or several) moves up and down so violently that it actually leaves the ground. Wheel hop can be caused by many problems, including excessive unsprung weight, insufficient shock damping, or poor torsional axle control |
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| Wheel Size (e.g. 15 X 7) |
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| Wheel size is defined by the diameter and width of the wheel. A 15 X 7 wheel has a 15-inch diameter and a 7-inch width.
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| Wheelbase |
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| The distance between the centers of the front and rear wheel axles as viewed from the side of the car.
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| Windsor Experiment |
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| Chrysler Canada, in partnership with government and educational institutions, has launched a number of initiatives collectively referred to as the Windsor Experiment. The Windsor Experiment conducts studies to benchmark "best practice" training and education in Europe, and applied the results in various skills development programs. |
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| Wishbone Suspension (Double Wishbone Suspension) |
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| An independent suspension that uses curved members (wishbones) to control suspension travel. A wishbone suspension offers good axle control, and limits undesirable suspension.
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| X-axis |
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| 1.The longitudinal axis around which a vehicle structure rolls from side to side. 2. Represents the total time across the face of the oscilloscope. |
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| X-chassis |
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| A conventional chassis design, used until the late 1960`s which narrows in the center, giving the vehicle a rigid structure that is designed to withstand a high degree of twist having a heavy front cross member to support the upper and lower suspension control arms and coil springs. |
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| Yaw |
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| The rotation about a vertical axis that passes through the car`s center of gravity. |
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| Zero-offset steering |
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| A steering system whose geometry has a scrub radius of zero. This configuration minimizes the steering effects produced during acceleration (with front drive) or braking on varying traction surfaces.
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