Section Glossary of abbreviations and acronyms
OBD2/SAE terminology
ABS antilock brake system
A/C air conditioning
AC air cleaner
AIR secondary air injection
A/T automatic transmission or transaxle
B+ battery positive voltage
BARO barometric pressure
CAC charge air cooler
CFI continuous fuel injection
CKP crankshaft position sensor
CKP REF crankshaft reference
CL closed loop
CMP camshaft position sensor
CMP REF camshaft reference
CO carbon monoxide
CO2 carbon dioxide
CPP clutch pedal position
CTOX continuous trap oxidiser
CTP closed throttle position
DEPS digital engine position sensor
DFCO decel fuel cut-off mode
DFI direct fuel injection
DLC data link connector
DPF diesel particulate filter
DTC diagnostic trouble code
DTM diagnostic test mode
EBCM electronic brake control module
EBTCM electronic brake traction control module
EC engine control ECL engine coolant level
ECM engine control module
ECT engine coolant temperature
EEPROM electrically erasable programmable read only memory
EFE early fuel evaporation
EGR exhaust gas recirculation
EGRT EGR temperature
EI electronic ignition
EM engine modification
EPROM erasable programmable read only memory
ESC electronic stability control
EVAP evaporative emission system
FC fan control
FEEPROM flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory
FF flexible fuel
FP fuel pump
FPROM flash erasable programmable read only memory
FT fuel trim FTP federal test procedure
GCM governor control module
GEN generator
GND ground
HC hydrocarbon
H2O water
HO2S heated oxygen sensor
HO2S1 upstream heated oxygen sensor
HO2S2 up or downstream heated oxygen sensor
HO2S3 downstream heated oxygen sensor
HVAC heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
HVS high-voltage switch
IA intake air
IAC idle air control
IAT intake air temperature
IC ignition control circuit
ICM ignition control module
IFI indirect fuel injection
IFS inertia fuel shutoff
I/M inspection/maintenance
IPC instrument panel cluster
ISC idle speed control
KOEC key on, engine cranking
KOEO key on, engine off
KOER key on, engine running
KS knock sensor
KSM knock sensor module
LTFT long-term fuel trim
MAF mass airflow sensor
MAP manifold absolute pressure sensor
MC mixture control
MDP manifold differential pressure
MFI multiport fuel injection
MIL malfunction indicator lamp
MPH miles per hour
MST manifold surface temperature
MVZ manifold vacuum zone
NOx oxides of nitrogen
NVRAM non-volatile random access memory
OBD on-board diagnostics
OBD I on-board diagnostics generation one
OBD II on-board diagnostics, second generation
OC oxidation catalyst
ODM output device monitor
OL open loop
O2S oxygen sensor
OSC oxygen sensor storage
PAIR pulsed secondary air injection
PCM powertrain control module
PCV positive crankcase ventilation
PNP park/neutral switch
PROM program read only memory
PSA pressure switch assembly
PSP power steering pressure
PTOX periodic trap oxidiser
RAM random access memory
RM relay module
ROM read only memory
RPM revolutions per minute
SAP accelerator pedal
SC supercharger
SCB supercharger bypass
SDM sensing diagnostic mode
SFI sequential fuel injection
SRI service reminder indicator
SRT system readiness test
STFT short-term fuel trim
TB throttle body
TBI throttle body injection
TC turbocharger
TCC torque converter clutch
TCM transmission or transaxle control module
TFP throttle fluid pressure
TP throttle position
TPS throttle position sensor
TVV thermal vacuum valve
TWC three-way catalyst
TWC OC three-way oxidation catalytic converter
VAF volume airflow
VCM vehicle control module
VR voltage regulator
VS vehicle sensor
VSS vehicle speed sensor
WOT wide open throttle
WU-TWC warm up three-way catalytic converter
OEM and other terminology
A amps
AAV anti-afterburn valve (Mazda)
ABS antilock brake system
ABSV air bypass solenoid valve (Mazda)
A/C air conditioning
AC alternating current
ACTS air charge temperature sensor (Ford)
AERA Automotive Engine Rebuilders
Association
A/F air/fuel ratio
AFM airflow meter
AFR air/fuel ratio
AFS airflow sensor (Mitsubishi)
AIR Air Injection Reaction (GM)
AIS Air Injection System (Chrysler)
AIS automatic idle speed motor (Chrysler)
ALCL assembly line communications link (GM)
ALDL assembly line data link (GM)
API American Petroleum Institute
APS absolute pressure sensor (GM)
APS atmospheric pressure sensor (Mazda)
ASD automatic shutdown relay (Chrysler)
ASDM airbag system diagnostic module
(Chrysler)
ASE Automotive Service Excellence
A/T automatic transmission
ATC after top centre
ATDC after top dead centre
ATF automatic transmission fluid
ATMC Automotive Training Managers Council
ATS air temperature sensor (Chrysler)
AWD all-wheel drive
BARO barometric pressure sensor (GM)
BAT battery
BCM body control module (GM)
BHP brake horsepower
BID Breakerless Inductive Discharge (AMC)
BMAP barometric/manifold absolute pressure sensor (Ford)
BP backpressure sensor (Ford)
BPS barometric pressure sensor (Ford & Nissan)
BPT backpressure transducer
BTC before top centre
BTDC before top dead centre
Btu British thermal units
C Celsius
C3 Computer Command Control system (GM)
C3I Computer Controlled Coil Ignition (GM)
C4 Computer Controlled Catalytic Converter system (GM)
CAAT Council of Advanced Automotive Trainers
CAFE corporate average fuel economy
CALPAK calibration pack
CANP canister purge solenoid valve (Ford)
CARB California Air Resources Board
CAS Clean Air System (Chrysler)
CAS crank angle sensor
CC catalytic converter
CC cubic centimetres
CCC Computer Command Control system (GM)
CCD computer controlled dwell (Ford)
CCIE Coolant Controlled Idle Enrichment (Chrysler)
CCEV Coolant Controlled Engine Vacuum Switch (Chrysler)
CCOT clutch cycling orifice tube
CCP controlled canister purge (GM)
CCV canister control valve
CDI Capacitor Discharge Ignition (AMC)
CEAB cold engine air bleed
CEC Crankcase Emission Control System (Honda)
CECU central electronic control unit (Nissan)
CER cold enrichment rod (Ford)
CESS cold engine sensor switch
CFC chlorofluorocarbon
CFI Cross Fire Injection (Chevrolet)
cfm cubic feet per minute
CID cubic inch displacement
CID cylinder identification sensor (Ford)
CIS Continuous Injection System (Bosch)
CMP camshaft position sensor (GM)
COP coil on plug ignition
CP canister purge (GM)
CP crankshaft position sensor (Ford)
CPI Central Port Injection (GM)
CPU central processing unit
CSC Coolant Spark Control (Ford)
CSSA Cold Start Spark Advance (Ford)
CSSH Cold Start Spark Hold (Ford)
CTAV Cold Temperature Actuated Vacuum (Ford)
CTO Coolant Temperature Override Switch (AMC)
CTS charge temperature switch (Chrysler)
CTS coolant temperature sensor (GM)
CTVS choke thermal vacuum switch
CVCC Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion system (Honda)
CVR control vacuum regulator (Ford) dB decibels
DC direct current
DEFI Digital Electronic Fuel Injection (Cadillac)
DERM diagnostic energy reserve module (GM)
DFS deceleration fuel shutoff (Ford)
DIS Direct Ignition System (GM)
DIS Distributorless Ignition System (Ford)
DLC data link connector (GM)
DOHC dual overhead cams
DOT Department of Transportation
DPF diesel particulate filter
DRBII Diagnostic Readout Box (Chrysler)
DRCV distributor retard control valve
DSSA Dual Signal Spark Advance (Ford)
DVDSV differential vacuum delay and separator valve
DVDV distributor vacuum delay valve
DVOM digital volt ohm meter
EACV electronic air control valve (Honda)
EBCM electronic brake control module (GM)
EBM electronic body module (GM)
ECA electronic control assembly
ECCS Electronic Concentrated Control System (Nissan)
ECM electronic control module (GM)
ECS Evaporation Control System (Chrysler)
ECT engine coolant temperature (Ford & GM)
ECU electronic control unit (Ford, Honda & Toyota)
EDIS Electronic Distributorless Ignition System (Ford)
EEC Electronic Engine Control (Ford)
EEC Evaporative Emission Controls (Ford)
EECS Evaporative Emissions Control system (GM)
EEPROM electronically erasable programmable read only memory
EFC electronic feedback carburettor (Chrysler)
EFC electronic fuel control
EFCA electronic fuel control assembly (Ford)
EFE Early Fuel Evaporation system (GM)
EFI electronic fuel injection
EGO exhaust gas oxygen sensor (Ford)
EGRPS EGR valve position sensor (Mazda)
EGR-SV EGR solenoid valve (Mazda)
EGRTV EGR thermo valve (Chrysler)
EI electronic ignition (GM)
ELB Electronic Lean Burn (Chrysler)
EMI electromagnetic interference
EOS exhaust oxygen sensor
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EPOS EGR valve position sensor (Ford)
EPROM erasable programmable read only Memory
ESA Electronic Spark Advance (Chrysler)
ESC Electronic Spark Control (GM)
ESS Electronic Spark Selection (Cadillac)
EST Electronic Spark Timing (GM)
EVP EGR valve position sensor (Ford)
EVRV electronic vacuum regulator valve for EGR (GM)
F Fahrenheit
FBC feedback carburettor system (Ford&Mitsubishi)
FBCA feedback carburettor actuator (Ford)
FCA fuel control assembly (Chrysler)
FCS fuel control solenoid (Ford)
FDC fuel deceleration valve (Ford)
FI fuel injection
FLS fluid level sensor (GM)
FMVSS Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
ft. lb. foot pound
FUBAR Fracked Up Beyond All Repair
FWD front-wheel drive
gal gallon
GND ground
GPM grams per mile
HAIS Heated Air Intake System (Chrysler)
HEGO heated exhaust gas oxygen sensor
HEI High Energy Ignition (GM)
Hg mercury
hp horsepower
IAC idle air control (GM)
IAT inlet air temperature sensor (Ford)
IATS intake air temperature sensor (Mazda)
IC integrated circuit
ICS idle control solenoid (GM)
ID inside diameter
IGN ignition
IIIBDFI If it isn’t broke don’t fix it
IM240 inspection/maintenance 240 program
IMI Institute of the Motor Industry
I/P instrument panel
ISC idle speed control (GM)
ISO International Standards Organisation
ITCS Ignition Timing Control System (Honda)
ITS idle tracking switch (Ford)
JAS Jet Air System (Mitsubishi)
kHz kilohertz
KISS Keep It Simple Stupid!
km kilometres
kPa kilopascals
KS knock sensor
kV kilovolts
L litres
lb. ft. pound feet
LCD liquid crystal display
LED light-emitting diode 344
MACS Mobile Air Conditioning Society
MAF mass airflow sensor
MAMA Midwest Automotive Media Association
MAP manifold absolute pressure
MAP Motorist Assurance Program
MAT manifold air temperature
MCS mixture control solenoid (GM)
MCT manifold charge temperature (Ford)
MCU Microprocessor Controlled Unit (Ford)
MFI multiport fuel injection
MIL malfunction indicator lamp
MISAR Microprocessed Sensing and Automatic Regulation (GM)
mm millimetres
MPFI multi point fuel injection
MPG miles per gallon
MPH miles per hour
MPI multi-port injection
ms millisecond
MSDS material safety data sheet mV millivolts
NACAT National Association of College Automotive Teachers
NATEF National Automotive Technician’s Education Foundation
NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Nm Newton metres
OBD on-board diagnostics
OC oxidation converter (GM)
OD outside diameter
OE original equipment
OEM original equipment manufacture
OHC overhead cam
ORC oxidation reduction catalyst (GM)
OS oxygen sensor
OSAC Orifice Spark Advance Control (Chrysler)
P/B power brakes
P/N part number
PA pressure air (Honda)
PAFS Pulse Air Feeder System (Chrysler)
PAIR Pulsed Secondary Air Injection system (GM)
PCM powertrain control module (supersedes ECM)
PECV power enrichment control valve
PERA Production Engine Rebuilders Association
PFI port fuel injection (GM)
PGM-FI Programmed Gas Management Fuel Injection (Honda)
PIP profile ignition pickup (Ford)
PPM parts per million
PROM program read only memory computer chip
PS power steering
Glossary of abbreviations and acronyms
TACH tachometer
PSI pounds per square inch
pt. pint
PVA ported vacuum advance
PVS ported vacuum switch
QS9000 Quality assurance standard for OEM part suppliers
Qt. quart
RABS Rear wheel Antilock Brake System (Ford)
RFI radio frequency interference
RPM revolutions per minute
RPO regular production option
RWAL Rear Wheel Antilock brake system (GM)
RWD rear-wheel drive
SAE Society of Automotive Engineers
SAVM spark advance vacuum modulator
SCC Spark Control Computer (Chrysler)
SDI Saab Direct Ignition
SES service engine soon indicator (GM)
SFI Sequential Fuel Injection (GM)
SIR Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (airbag)
SMPI Sequential Multiport Fuel Injection (Chrysler)
SOHC single overhead cam
SPOUT Spark Output signal (Ford)
SRDV spark retard delay valve
SRS Supplemental Restraint System (airbag)
SS speed sensor (Honda)
SSI Solid State Ignition (Ford)