Automotive Glossary
This page presents a list of mnemonics and abbreviations used in automotive jargon and provides a short description - in essence an automotive glossary.
A
| ABS | anti-lock braking system |
| AC | alternating current |
| A/C | air conditioning |
| A/D | analog-to-digital |
| ADC | analog-to-digital converter |
| AFM | air flow meter |
| AFR | air/fuel ratio (sensor) |
| AFS | air flow sensor |
| APS | atmospheric pressure sensor |
| ATDC | after top dead center |
| ATF | automatic transmission fluid |
| ATS | air temperature sensor |
| AWD | all wheel drive |
B
| BA | brake assist |
| BC | body computer |
| BCM | body control module |
| BDC | bottom dead center |
| BHP | brake horsepower |
| BOB | breakout box |
| BPP | brake pedal position |
| BPS | back pressure sensor |
| BSI | built-in system interface (PSA) |
| BTDC | before top dead center |
C
| CAN | controller area network |
| CAS | crank angle sensor |
| CAS | car access system (BMW term) |
| CARB | California Air Resources Board |
| CB | circuit breaker |
| CCO | catalytic converter for oxidation |
| CDI | capacitor discharge ignition |
| CFI | central fuel injection |
| CFI | continuous fuel injection |
| CHA | channel A (of scope) |
| CHB | channel B (of scope) |
| CHC | channel C (of scope) |
| CHD | channel D (of scope) |
| CHT | cylinder head temperature sensor |
| CID | cylinder identification |
| CKP | crankshaft position (sensor) |
| CMP | camshaft position (sensor) |
| CO | carbon monoxide |
| COP | coil-on-plug |
| CPC | coil per cylinder |
| CPP | clutch pedal position |
| CPS | combustion pressure sensor |
| CPS | crankshaft position sensor |
| CRD | common-rail diesel |
| CTS | coolant temperature sensor |
| CVVL | continuous variable valve lift |
D
| dB | decibels |
| DC | direct current |
| DI | direct injection |
| DIS | distributorless ignition system |
| DLC | diagnostic link connector |
| DLI | distributorless ignition |
| DOHC | double overhead camshaft |
| DOT | department of transport (USA) |
| DPF | diesel particulate filter |
| DPFE | differential pressure feedback electronic system (Ford term) |
| DSG | direct shift gearbox |
| DSO | digital storage oscilloscope |
| DTC | diagnostic trouble code |
E
| EAC | electronic accelerator control |
| EBCM | electronic brake control module |
| EBM | electronic body module |
| ECD | electronically controlled diesel |
| ECM | engine control module, or electronic control module |
| ECT | electronically controlled automatic transmission |
| ECU | electronic control unit |
| EDIC | electronic diesel injection control |
| EDIS | electronic distributorless ignition system |
| EDL | electronic differential lock |
| EDU | electronic driver unit |
| EGO | exhaust gas oxygen |
| EGR | exhaust gas recirculation |
| EGS | electronic gearbox control |
| EI | electronic ignition |
| EMF | electromotive force |
| EML | elektronische motorleistungsregelung (electronic throttle control - BMW term) |
| EOBD | European on-board diagnostics |
| EPS | electronic power steering |
| ESP | electronic stability program |
| ESPS | eccentric shaft position sensor |
| ETC | electronic throttle control |
| ETCS-I | electronic throttle control system - intelligent |
| EV | electric vehicle |
| EV-RE | electric vehicle with range extender |
| EVAP | evaporative emission control |
| EVR | electronic vacuum regulator (Ford term) |
F
| FFT | fast fourier transform |
| FI | fuel injection |
| FT | fuel trim |
| FTS | fuel temperature sensor |
| FWD | front wheel drive |
G
| GDI | gasoline direct injection |
H
| HBA | hydraulic brake assist |
| HC | hydrocarbon |
| HDI | high-pressure diesel injection |
| HEGO | heated exhaust gas oxygen (sensor) |
| HEV | hybrid electric vehicle |
| HGV | heavy goods vehicle (UK term for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes) |
| HID | high intensity discharge (headlight) |
| HT | high tension |
| HVAC | heating, ventilation and cooling |
| Hz | hertz (cycles per second) |
I
| I-BUS | instrumentation bus |
| IAC | idle air control |
| IAT | intake air temperature |
| IATS | intake air temperature sensor |
| ICM | ignition control module |
| IDI | indirect injection |
| IDS | integrated diagnostic system (Ford’s diagnostic system) |
| IMI | Institute of the Motor Industry |
| IMRC | intake manifold runner control |
| ISC | idle speed control |
| ISCV | idle speed control valve |
J
K
| K-CAN | body CAN-bus |
| KAM | keep alive memory |
| kHz | kilohertz (1,000 cycles per second) |
| KOEC | key on, engine cranking |
| KOEO | key on, engine off |
| KOER | key on, engine running |
| KS | knock sensor |
| kV | kilovolt (1,000 volts) |
L
| LFTRIM | long-term fuel trim |
| LH | left-hand |
| LIN | local interconnect network |
| LNG | liquefied natural gas |
| LPG | liquefied petroleum gas |
| LT | low tension |
M
| MAF | mass air flow |
| MAP | manifold absolute pressure |
| MFI | multi-port fuel injection |
| MHz | megahertz (1,000,000 cycles per second) |
| MIL | malfunction indicator light |
| MOT | Ministry of Transport (UK roadworthiness test) |
| MPI | multi-point injection |
| MRS | multiple restraint system |
N
| NOP | needle opening pressure |
| NTC | negative temperature coefficient |
O
| O2 | oxygen |
| OBD | on-board diagnostics |
| OE | original equipment |
| OEM | original equipment manufacturer |
| OHC | overhead camshaft |
| OHV | overhead valve |
P
| PAIR | pulsed secondary air injection |
| PAM | parking aid module |
| PAS | power assisted steering |
| PATS | passive anti-theft system |
| PCM | powertrain control module |
| PCO | PC oscilloscope |
| PHEV | plug-in hybrid electric vehicle |
| PID | Parameter ID (OBD-II) |
| PIP | profile ignition pickup (Ford term) |
| PPE | personal protection equipment |
| PPS | progressive power steering |
| psi | pounds force per square inch |
| PSV | passenger service vehicle |
| PT-CAN | powertrain CAN |
| PTC | positive temperature coefficient |
| PSP | power steering pressure |
| PSPS | power steering pressure switch |
| PWM | pulse width modulation |
Q
R
| RH | right-hand |
| RFI | radio frequency interference |
| RMS | root mean squared |
| RPM | revolutions per minute |
| RSS | road speed sensor |
| RWD | rear wheel drive |
S
| SAE | Society of Automotive Engineers |
| SAW | spark advance word (Ford term) |
| SC | supercharger |
| SFTRIM | short-term fuel trim |
| SMG | sequential manual gearbox |
| SOC | state of charge |
| SOHC | single overhead camshaft |
| SPI | single point injection |
| SRM | speech-recognition module |
| STFT | short term fuel trim |
| SUV | sports utility vehicle |
T
| TBI | throttle body injection |
| TC | turbocharger |
| TCM | transmission control module |
| TCU | transmission control unit |
| TD | turbocharged diesel |
| TDC | top dead centre |
| TDI | turbocharged direct injection |
| TPP | throttle position potentiometer |
| TPMS | tyre pressure monitoring sensor |
| TPS | throttle position sensor |
| TWC | three-way catalyst |
U
| USB | Universal Serial Bus |
V
| VAG | Volkswagen Audi group |
| VAN | vehicle area network |
| VANOS | variable valve timing control (BMW term) |
| VCDS | VAG-COM diagnostic system |
| VCM | vehicle control module |
| VIN | vehicle identification number |
| VPS | variable power steering |
| VR | variable reluctance |
| VSC | vehicle stability control |
| VSS | vehicle speed sensor |
| VVC | variable valve control |
| VVT | variable valve timing |
| VVT-I | variable valve timing — intelligent |
W
| WOT | wide-open throttle |
| WSS | wheel speed sensor |
X
Y
Z