Cars - http://maxpages.com/carsinhistory/A

aerodynamic stance: In order to create less drag, the vehicle is lowered closer to the ground. This improves the flow of air over the vehicle. A better aerodynamic stance helps the vehicle to go faster when it is going in a straight line as well as give better fuel economy. Also, when a vehicle sits lower to the ground, it has a low center of gravity which makes it more stable when going through turns and enables the driver to maintain a higher speed.

aerofoil: A body shaped like a wing so as to produce lift. See air foil.

A/F: [1] Abbreviation for "across flats" which is the distance on a nut (for instance) from one flat surface to the opposite flat surface, i.e., this is the size of the wrench needed to install or remove the nut. Also see across corners. [2] Abbreviation for "air/fuel." See air-fuel ratio.

AFB: Acronym for "Aluminum four-barrel," as in Carter AFB carburetor.

A-Frame: A chassis fram which is shaped like the letter "A" where the crossbar is often the axle. It is usually found as the frame of a trailer.

A/F ratio: See air-fuel ratio.

after bottom dead center: (ABDC) The position of the piston as it starts its way up.

afterburner: A device for burning excess carbon wastes produced by the engine so that air pollution is reduced.

aftercooler: A device in a diesel engine which removes the relatively warm air which enters the engine.

aftermarket: All products and services used in the repair and maintenance of vehicles after the vehicle has been sold.

aftermarket equipment: Accessories and replacement parts added to a vehicle after it has been sold.

aftermarket overdrive: An overdrive device which is not original equipment, but has been added after it has been sold.

aftermarket part: goods not for use as original equipment in the production of light-duty vehicles or heavy-duty vehicles, i.e., products and services used in the repair and maintenance of these vehicles.

aftermarket rustproofing: Although most vehicles come from the manufacturer with some rustproofing, there is no guarantee that every part of the exposed chassis and frame will be protected from the elements and the possibility of rust. Therefore rustproofing is applied by the owner of the vehicle to reduce the possibility of rust. If this rustproofing is not done when the vehicle is new, it might seal in the rust and create a greater problem.

after-start enrichment: When an engine is first started, it needs a little richer fuel-air mixture (i.e., more fuel, less air). In a carbureted engine, this is accomplished by the choke (which restricts the amount of air). In a fuel injected engine, the after-start enrichment device increases the amount of fuel. As the engine warms up, the device gradually reduces the amount of enrichment. Some devices just reduce the amount gradually over time without sensing the temperature of the engine.

after top dead center: (ATDC) A term used in timing the relation of the spark and the crankshaft. The position of the piston as it starts its way down.

aged catalyst: A catalyst which has already been in service. Opposite to a fresh catalyst.

age-hardening: Aluminum and some metal alloys will become hard and even brittle with age which is an unwanted characteristic. On the other hand when paint or cement harden over time, this process may be a desirable characteristic.

ageing: See aging.

agent: An intermediary with legal authority to operate on behalf of the manufacturer.

agent fee: Although you can register your vehicle and obtain your licence from a government office, some states and provinces permit an agent to perform that same service and allow the agent to collect an extra fee for the service. In this way the lineup at the government office is reduced.

aggressive: A French expression to indicate the reinforced front, rear, and side safety structures of a vehicle. If the strengthened structure causes more than normal damage to another vehicle, a pedestrian, or the occupants of the vehicle, then that structure is aggressive.

aggressive agent: A corrosive material or chemical which attacks metal to pit them. Also called "aggressive medium."

aggressive medium: A corrosive material or chemical which attacks metal to pit them.

aggressivity: See aggressive.

aging: [1] The deterioration of rubber properties by oxidation over a period of time. [2] A change in the properties of some metals after heat treatment or cold working (i.e., hammering or bending when metal is cold).

agitation cup: A type of spray gun paint container which has an agitator.

agitator: A device for mixing paint by shaking the container.

AGVS: Acronym for "Automated Guided Vehicle System."

a.h.: Abbreviation for ampere-hour.

AHAI: Acronym for "Association of the Hungarian Automotive Industry" on http://www.gepjarmuipar.hu/.

AHAP: Acronym for "As High As Possible."

AHARA: Acronym for "As High As Reasonably Achievable"

ahoogah: The sound of a particular kind of horn. See horn.

AHRA: Acronym for "American Hot Rod Association."

AH Rim: A wheel rim which is able to run even when the tire is flat and provides safety in case of a puncture.

AIADA: Acronym for "American International Automobile Dealers Association" on http://www.aiada.org/.

AIAM: Acronym for "Association of International Automobile Manufacturers" on http://www.aiam.org/.

AIA-SAP: Acronym for "Automotive Industry Association" (Czech Republic) on http://www.autosap.cz/.

AIA-ZAP: Acronym for "Automotive Industry Association" (Slovakia).

AIMA: Acronym for "Associação dos Industriais de Montagem de Automóveis" (Portugal).

aimer: A tool for aiming headlights.

aiming: Adjusting the direction of the headlight beams to shine without blinding oncoming traffic and yet providing the maximum illumination whether in low beam or high beam.

air: [1] Abbreviation for "air conditioner." [2] A gas containing approximately 80% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, and a small portion of other gases. One of the essential factors in a combustion engine (fuel, air, proper proportion of mixture, compression, timing, and spark).

AIR: An acronym for "Air Injection Reactor" system of reducing objectionable exhaust emissions. Also see air injection.

air bag: A device which is part of the passive safety system. In the event of an accident, sensors will cause the airbag to be deployed so that your head will be pillowed by the bag instead of hitting the dash.

airbag: A device which is part of the passive safety system. In the event of an accident, sensors will cause the airbag to be deployed so that your head will be pillowed by the bag instead of hitting the dash.

airbag module: All the components that make up the airbag system: airbag, inflator, cover, and sensor. Also called "airbag unit."

airbag restraint system: A system which uses an airbag to restrain occupants in the event of a collision. They may be placed on the dash or doors or even in the shoulder strap. Also called "passive restraint system."

airbag unit: All the components that make up the airbag system: airbag, inflator, cover, and sensor. Also called "airbag module."

air bellows: A rubber bladder or sleeve filled with compressed gas or air. Found on some suspension systems to provide cushioning. See air suspension.

air bleed: See compensating jet.

air bleed screw: See idle air bleed screw.

airbox: The container which holds the air filter.

air brake: A system of braking which is usually found on large truck in which compressed air pushes against a brake piston or diaphragm in order to apply the brakes to stop or slow the vehicle.

airbrush: [1] A paint spray gun used for precise detailing work and custom painting. [2] The act of using an airbrush.

air capacity: See breathing capacity.

air charge temperature: (ACT) The temperature of the air being forced into the carburetor or fuel injection system

air cleaner: A device which filters the air entering the engine to remove dust, dirt, and bumblebees. Also called "air filter." Also see oil bath air cleaner and paper air cleaner

air cleaner element: The replaceable filter which prevents impurities from the air which enters the combustion chamber. Also called "air filter element."

air cleaner horn: Many air cleaner canisters have a spout or horn extending from the edge of the canister into which the air is taken in. See heated intake.

air compressor: A device which compresses air and stores the air into a tank so that the compressed air can be used in a shop to fill tires, run tools, spray paint, etc. In a vehicle, it can be used in brake systems, levelling systems, automatic tire inflation systems, and air supply systems.

air-conditioned: The state of exchanging warm air for cold so that a vehicle or home is cooler than the outside temperature.

air conditioner: (A/C) or (Air) A system of devices which causes a reduction or control of the temperature and humidity within the cab of a vehicle. It was first offered on the 1941 Packard. Two types are used in vehicles: receiver-dryer type and accumulator type. Also see compressor and condenser.

air cooled: See air cooled engine.

air cooled engine: An engine which generally has large fins or ribs and is often exposed to the outside air. The heat of the engine is dissipated through the fins of the engine. In contrast, the heat in a liquid-cooled engine is reduced by channels throughout the inside of the engine through which liquid (antifreeze) passes. Most older Volkswagens and motorcycles use air cooled engines.

air correction jet: A small orifice which permits air to enter the emulsion tube of a carburetor.

air cushion: See airbag.

air dam: An attachment called a "spoiler" which is usually located below the front bumper. Its design shape and placement helps to reduce the flow of air under the vehicle. It may help to increase the flow of air to the radiator and engine compartment, affect aerodynamic drag, or affect positive and negative lift.

air deflector: A panel which is positioned at an angle on the roof of a truck or on the front of the hood to cause the air to flow over the vehicle. The hood air deflector (often made of transparent plastic) is designed to prevent bugs from hitting the windshield. British term is "air shield."

air dry: Allowing paint to dry at ambient (surrounding) temperatures, without the aid of an external heat source.

air-dry: Allowing paint to dry at ambient (surrounding) temperatures, without the aid of an external heat source.

air duct: A tube or channel which permits heated and ventilated air to enter the passenger compartment.

air filter: A device for removing impurities from the air which enters the combustion chamber. See air cleaner.

air filter element: The replaceable filter which prevents impurities from the air which enters the combustion chamber. See air cleaner element.

air filtration: See air filtration system.

air filtration system: A system that cleans smog, pollen, exhaust, smoke, and odors out of the air. Cleans both interior circulated air and that coming from the outside.

airflow: The passage of air which moves around an object (esp. a vehicle) or through an air duct (e.g., ventilation system or exhaust system).

airflow sensor: A device in an electronically controlled fuel injection system which detects the amount of air entering the combustion chambers. By means of a flap it controls the amount of air required. Some are also combined with a temperature sensor.

air foil: An aerodynamic device used to improve traction by increasing the downward force on either end of the car. It can be compared to an airplane wing with this primary difference: a wing is designed to provide lift so it can fly; the air foil pushes the vehicle closer to the ground. Although they may be called "wings," they are properly air foils. They increase the cornering ability, improve stability, but add aerodynamic drag.

air fuel: See air-fuel ratio.

air-fuel: See air-fuel ratio.

air/fuel: See air-fuel ratio.

air fuel ratio: See air-fuel ratio.

air-fuel ratio: (A/F ratio) The mass of air supplied to the engine divided by the mass of fuel supplied in the same period of time. The stoichiometric, or chemically correct, air-fuel ratio is the exact ratio necessary to burn all the carbon and hydrogen in the fuel to carbon dioxide and water with no oxygen remaining. The fuel-air ratio is the reciprocal of the air-fuel ratio.

air gap: [1] Usually found on regulators, it is the distance between the contact armature and the iron core that when magnetized, draws the armature down. [2] It is also the distance between the two electrodes of a spark plug.

air gulp system: A system in vehicles with secondary air injection or induction, which prevents an very rich mixture of air-fuel from entering the inlet manifold during deceleration. If it did enter, unburned fuel would be forced over the hot exhaust system causing backfiring (i.e., uncontrolled detonation). The air gulp system prevents this condition by allowing a quantity of air to combine with the rich mixture in the inlet manifold.

air hold fitting: A tool which uses air pressure to keep the valves closed when working on an OHV engine. The device is screwed into the spark plug holes and air pressure keeps the valves from dropping down. In this way the valve seal or valve spring can be replaced without removing the cylinder head.

air horn: [1] The upper part of a carburetor into which the air is drawn. The choke butterfly is located in this air horn. [2] It is also a term used for a warning horn which is operated by forcing compressed air through a reed.

air induction: See air injection.

air injection: A system that injects fresh air into the exhaust ports or a thermal reactor, for additional conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and combustion of unburned hydrocarbons (unburned fuel vapors) found in the exhaust gases as it comes in contact with the high heat in the exhaust manifold. Also called "air induction."

air injection manifold: The duct inside the cylinder head or the tube outside the cylinder head feeding secondary air into the exhaust ports.

air injection reaction: See air Injection Reaction system.

air injection reaction system: (AIR system) The AIR system helps to reduce hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide levels in the exhaust by injecting air into the exhaust ports of each cylinder during cold engine operation, or directly into the catalytic converter during normal operation. It also helps the catalytic converter to reach proper operating temperature quickly during warm-up. If a GM cars has an air pump, the system is an AIR otherwise it is a PULSAIR system.

air intake: The opening through which air enters a component such as the carburetor, fuel injection system, radiator, heating system, or ventilation system.

airless spraying: A paint spraying process where the coating material (i.e., paint) is not atomized by a stream of air. Instead, it is subjected to high pressure and forced through a narrow jet or nozzle which causes it to be atomized.

airless spray gun: A paint spraying tool used in airless spraying.

air line: [1] A pipe, hose, or duct in a vehicle which permits the flow of air or vacuum. [2] The supply line coming from an air compression tank to drive air tools or inflate tires.

air lock: A bubble of air trapped in a fluid circuit which interferes with normal circulation of the fluid.

air micrometer: A control in a paint spray gun which adjusts the amount of air.

air outlet: The vent or opening where the passage of air exits -- especially in systems for air conditioning, ventilation, and defrosting as air enters the passenger compartment or flows out of the compartment.

air pollution: Contamination of the earth's atmosphere by various natural and man-made pollutants such as smoke, gases, dust, etc.

air pressure: [1] The atmospheric pressure. [2] Tire pressure. [3] The force of air coming from a compressor used to power air tools or apply air brakes.

air pump: The device that supplies the fresh air needed by the air injection system.

air ratio: The ratio of actual intake air volume to the air volume theoretically needed for complete combustion of a particular amount of the fuel. This ratio is represented by the Greek letter lambda (which looks like the letter "y" upside-down).

Air receiver: An air tank which holds the compressed air created by a compressor.

air resistance: The resistance of the air to forward movement, sometimes called "aerodynamic drag." This is a factor of the shape of the vehicle, the objects which stick out (i.e., mirrors, mufflers, bumpers), the amount of turbulence at the rear of the vehicle, the nature of the vehicle's skin surface, and the amount of air going through the vehicle for cooling and ventilation. The faster you go, the greater the air friction (air friction = velocity x velocity). The faster you go, the greater the amount of power needed to overcome this drag (power= velocity x velocity x velocity).

air scoop: A forward facing aerodynamic device or opening used to duct cool outside air to some part of the vehicle such as the carburetor intake, the brakes, the radiator, or an oil cooler.

airscoop: See air scoop.

air select valve: A valve in a two-stage catalytic converter with secondary air injection. It is operated by a solenoid and is triggered by the electronic control module. It directs air to the exhaust valve ports or to the midbed catalytic converter, depending on operating conditions.

air sensor: A device which checks for the presence of air pollutants entering the passenger compartment. If the pollutant concentration is too high, it operates flaps to cut off the external air to the air conditioning system.

air shield: British term for air deflector.

air shock absorber: A shock absorber or damper which has a rubber bladder filled with compressed air. As the air pressure increases the vehicle is raised. The system is used in automatic levelling suspensions.

air silencer: A device which is placed in the air cleaner assembly to reduce the sucking noise that air makes as it enters.

air spring: See air bellows and air suspension.

air springing: See air suspension.

air stop: A registered trademark for Michelin tubes.

air suspension: A suspension system using air rather than metal springs to support the vehicle and control ride motions. Air springing results in a smoother ride, because the natural frequency of vibration of an air spring does not vary with loading as it does with metal springs. Air springs can be made very soft for the lightly loaded condition and the pressure automatically increased to match any increase in load, thus maintaining a constant sprint vibration period any load.

AIR system: See air injection reaction system.

air tank: An air container which holds the compressed air created by a compressor.

air tool: A tool such as an impact driver or drill which is powered not by electricity, but by air pressure coming from an air compressor.

air transformer: A device which is placed between the compressor and a paint spray gun to provide clean spraying air and to regulate the oil pressure.

air valve carburetor: See air-valve carburetor.

air-valve carburetor: A type in which a spring-closed or weight-closed air valve opens in response to engine demand. This valve, through suitable linkage, varies the fuel-orifice opening to secure the desired mixture ratio throughout the range of operation. SU and Stromberg CD carburetors operate on this principle, referred to also as constant-vacuum, constant-depression or variable-venturi.

air volume: the amount of air

Al: Abbreviation for "aluminum."

ALAP: Acronym for "As Low As Possible."

ALARA: Acronym for "As Low As Reasonably Achievable"

Sign Guestbook

View Guestbook

briannowlen@hotmail.com

Visitors: 00544

Page Updated Sun May 20, 2001 8:08pm EDT