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Spark plug: A device containing two electrodes across which electricity jumps to produce a spark to fire the fuel charge. The center electrode is insulated from the spark plug shell by means of a molded insulator resembling porcelain. The side electrode protrudes from the bottom edge of the spark plug shell and is so positioned that there is a gap between it and the center electrode. Also see resistor spark plug.

Spark plug gap: The space between the center and side electrodes of a spark plug across which the spark must jump to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.

Spark plug socket: A tool used to remove or install spark plugs.

Spark retard: The action of changing the ignition timing so that the spark occurs after what is specified by the manufacturer. See retard.

Sparkplug: See spark plug.

Spd: Abbreviation for "speed," as in 4-spd. transmission..

Speaker: A sound device which contains a magnet and a relatively large vibrating diaphragm which translates electrical impulses into sound vibrations.

Speaker grill: A covering over the speaker which protects the sensitive diaphragm and yet permits the maximum output of sound.

Speaker enclosure: The housing for the speaker (i.e., its box) which may enhance the output of sound.

Spec: Abbreviation for "special," as in spec. paint colors..

Speciale: See Alfa Romeo.

Special Import Measures Act: (SIMA) Helps to protect Canadian producers from harm or injury caused by the dumping of goods into Canada by foreign exporters or the subsidizing of goods by foreign governments.

Special mileage tire: B>SPECIAL MILEAGE TIRE: A tire manufactured with an extra layer of rubber between the cord body and the original tread design. This extra layer is designed for the purpose of recutting and regrooving, and is specifically labeled as a special mileage commercial tire. Also called "regrooveable tire."

Special services: a category that describes plants which add value to automotive parts manufactured by others by using process such as painting, plating, heat treatment, etc.

Specialty repair shop: retail outlet which offers specialized vehicle products and service.

Specific gravity: The relative weight of liquid (battery electrolyte) as compared to the weight of an equal volume of water.

Specification: See specifications.

Specifications: A list of the measurements of each component of a vehicle and the requirements for proper installation. The size, description, or part numbers for various items needed to maintain or repair a vehicle.

Specs: Abbreviation for "specifications."

Spec series: !!!.

Speed: 1. The average rate at which an object is travelling. Measured as a relationship of distance per time -- e.g., meters per second (m/s), kilometers per hour (kph), feet per second (ft/sec.), miles per hour (mph), or revolutions per minute (rpm). 2. The number of gears in a transmission. See three-speed transmission, four-speed transmission, five-speed transmission.

Speed limit: The maximum speed that the law allows on a particular road. A speed limit is set for various factors: school and playground zones; safety in negotiating curves and off ramps; national limits; fuel conservation; divided highways vs two-way traffic; construction zones; and city ordinances.

Speedo: Abbreviation for "speedometer."

Speedo cable: See speedometer cable.

Speedometer: Instrument usually found on the dashboard which is used to determine forward speed of a vehicle in kilometers per hour or miles per hour. Also see HUD.

Speedometer cable: A long specially constructed wire inside a housing. The one end of the speedometer cable is inserted into the back of the speedometer head and the other end is usually attached to the transmission. When the speedometer needle moves erratically or the cable makes noise, the cable needs to be lubricated with specially formulated compound. Oil will cause it to stick.

Speedometer head: The instrument cluster which displays the road speed.

Speed screw: See idle speed screw.
Spider: 1. On a bicycle, the multiarmed piece to which the chainwheels are bolted, usually welded to or part of the right crankarm. 2. A four arm piece on a constant velocity joint 3. A type of sport vehicle. In the early 1900s it meant a light two-seater car. In the 1950s the word was revived by some Italian manufacturers for an open two seater sports car. Also spelled "spyder." See Alfa Romeo

Spider gear: A small gear (usually in a set of two to four gears) mounted on a shaft pinned to the differential case. They mesh with the bevel gear on the ends of the axles and drive them. Also see pinion gear.

Spindle: 1. The machined shaft upon which the inside races of the front wheel bearings rest. The spindle is an integral part of the steering knuckle. Also see steering spindle. 2. Another term for an axle, such as a pedal axle or a bottom bracket axle.

Spinout: !!!.

Spiral bevel gear: A ring and pinion setup widely used in automobile differentials. The teeth of both the ring and the pinion are tapered and are cut on a spiral so that they are at an angle to the center line of the pinion shaft. See bevel gear.

Spiral wrapped pin: A tube-like pin that is made by rolling a sheet of metal tightly together. Used as a shear pin.

Spkrs: Abbreviation for "speakers," as in dual rear spkrs..

Splash: See oil-comb ination splash and pressure system, oil-splash system, and splash shield.

Splash guard: See splash shield and mud flap.

Splash shield: A removable device found on disc brakes to keep water and dirt from fouling the brakes.

Spline: In order to secure one object on a shaft, longitudinal grooves or splines are cut all around the shaft with matching grooves in the object. In this way the object slides on the shaft for installation so that both the object and the shaft rotate together.

Splined joint: A joint between two parts in which each part has a series of splines cut along the contact area. The splines on each part slide into the grooves between the splines on the other part.

Splined shaft: A shaft having multiple grooves, or keyseats, cut around its circumference.

Split bench seat: A front seat arrangement in which the left side is independent from the right side. While a bucket seat is shaped for an individual, split bench seats can still hold three people. Most are split 60/40 where the smaller portion is for the driver. It avoids the disadvantage of the bench seat in that the driver can position his seat differently from the passenger.

Split manifold: An exhaust manifold that has a longitudinal baffle placed near its center. An exhaust pipe leads out of each half.

Split rim: A rim which is made of two or three pieces and uses a demountable flange.
Split skirt: The piston skirt is manufactured to be either partially or completely split. When the piston warms and begins to expand, the split closes instead of binding in the cylinder.

Splitting lanes: The action of straddling the center line between two lanes of traffic so that following vehicles cannot pass on either side. This is a discourteous procedure unless it is the action of a police officer to slow down traffic because of an accident some distance ahead.

Spoiler: An aerodynamic device attached to a vehicle (usually under the front bumper or on the decklid) to either reduce drag or induce downforce on the vehicle. So called because it spoils the normal flow of air over or under the vehicle.

Spoke: One of several wires used to hold the hub in the center of a wheel rim and to transfer the load from the perimeter of the wheel to the hub and on to the frame.

Spoke steel type: See motor wheel type.

Spoke wrench: A tool for securing or removing spokes by turning the nipple.

Spokes: See spoke.

Spongy pedal: When there is air in the brake lines, or shoes that are not properly centered in the brake drums, the brake pedal will have a springy or spongy feeling when the brakes are applied. The pedal should normally feel hard when applied.

Spool balance valve: A hydraulic valve in automatic transmissions that balances incoming oil pressure against spring control pressure to produce a steady pressure to some control unit.

Spool valve: A hydraulic control value shaped somewhat like a spool upon which thread is wound.

Spoon: A tire-iron tool used to remove a tire (especially a bicycle or motorcycle tire) from its rim. Usually two or three spoons are necessary to do the job. Using a flat blade screwdriver instead of a spoon may puncture the tube.

Sport and Imperial phaeton: Similar to the phaeton, but with extra equipment or refinements, such as wire wheels, trunk rack, and ultra-modish paint treatments and finish. The Imperial type indicates a tonneau or second windshield in front of the rear seat passengers.

Sportbike: A motorcycle type which originally began as a cafe racer. The rider is bent forward for better air flow (as opposed to the upright position of a touring bike). Also called a "crotch rocket" because of the strain it places on the rider's crotch and because of its very fast speed.

Sport coupe: In other respects similar to the coupe, it has a rumble seat in the rear deck and a small compartment for storage of golf clubs.

Sport roadster: In addition to being a roadster, it has provision for a rumble seat in the rear deck, along with a golf locker for storage.

Sports car: Term commonly used to describe a relative small, low slung car with a high performance engine.

Sports tourer: A bicycle whose structure, geometry, and components are designed to make it a compromise between one suitable for racing and one suitable for loaded touring -- good for general pleasure riding.

Spot glazing: Filling minor imperfections (sand scratches).

Spotlight: An auxiliary light used to shine a narrow beam of light.

Spot weld: Fastening parts together by fusing, at various spots. Heavy surge of electricity is passed through the parts held in firm contact by electrodes.

Spotting: See water spotting.

Sprag clutch: A clutch that will allow rotation in one direction but that will lock up and prevent any movement in the other direction.

Spread axle: Trailer axle, usually 6 to 9 feet ahead of another axle and located near the center of the trailer.

Spreader: See tire spreader.
Spring: A device on the suspension system to cushion and absorb shocks and bumps and to keep the vehicle level on turns. After the stress or pressure exerted by the flexing of the spring has been removed, the spring returns to its original state. The spring does this by first absorbing and then releasing a certain amount of energy. The form of spring may be leaf springs, coil springs, torsion bars, or a combination of these. See ball and spring, compression spring, diaphragm spring, extension spring, flat spring, longitudinal leaf spring, semi-elliptic spring, transverse leaf spring, and valve spring.

Spring and damper settings: !!!.

Spring balance: An instrument for measuring weight or force which does so by the elasticity of a spiral spring.

Spring booster: A device used to "beef up" sagging springs or to increase the load capacity of standard springs.

Spring brake: Emergency or auxiliary brake system utilizing a spring load as a force for braking. May be automatically actuated by low air pressure or mechanically controlled for use as a parking brake.

Spring clip: Small metal brackets insuring proper alignment of spring leaves.

Spring loaded: A device held in place, or under pressure from a spring or springs.

Spring rate: Rate of deflection versus amount of load applied. In other words, how much force is needed to bend a spring a given distance.

Springs: See spring.

Spring seat: Support on which the spring is anchored.

Spring steel: A heat treated steel having the ability to stand a great amount of deflection and yet return to its original shape or position.

Spring windup: The curved shape assumed by the rear leaf springs during acceleration or braking.

Springing: A term for suspension. Also see air suspension.

Sprint: See Alfa Romeo.

Sprocket: A disc with teeth on its circumference for driving a chain, a general term that applies both to chainrings and to freewheel cogs.

Sprung weight: This refers to the weight of all the parts of the vehicle that are supported by the suspension system. Unsprung weight includes wheels and tires, brake assemblies, the rear axle assembly and other structural members not supported by the springs. Unsprung weight can be reduced with independent rear suspension because the differential, and in some cases the brakes, can be attached to the body.

Spur gear: A gear on which the teeth are cut parallel to the shaft. They are not used very often in modern gearboxes because they are noisier than helical gears. Also called straight-cut gear.

Spurt hole: A small hole in the connecting rod big end that indexes (aligns) with the oil hole in the crank journal. When the holes index, oil spurts out to lubricate the cylinder walls.

Spyder: 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. Also spelled "spider."

SQ: Acronym for "Sound Quality".

Sq. Ft.: Abbreviation for "square foot."

Sq. In.: Abbreviation for "square inch."

Square engine: An engine in which the bore diameter and the stroke are of equal dimensions.

Square key: A small bar of any length but its height and width are the same.

Squat: The action of the rear end of the vehicle to point downward during hard acceleration. Squat is caused by a load transfer from the front to the rear suspension. Also see anti-squat.

Squeak: An expression used particularly with two-stroke engines where the pistons have run without sufficient lubrication. It is caused by a poor injection system or a pre-mix that is too lean (not enough oil in the gasoline).

Squire: The 1925-1948 models are classic cars.

Squirt hole: See spurt hole.

Squish: An area in the combustion chamber of some engines where the piston squishes or squeezes part of the fuel-air mixture at the end of the compression stroke. As the piston approaches top dead center, the mixture is pushed out of the squish area and this promotes turbulence, further mixing of the fuel-air mixture and more efficient combustion.

SR&ED: Acronym for " Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program".

SRS: Acronym for "Supplemental Restraint System," or "Supplemental Restraint inflatable air-bag System." The letters appear on the steering wheel and/or instrument panel. In fact, dual airbags are standard in all of the 1998 cars, except for some sub-compacts and very small models.

SS: The SS and SS Jaguar models for 1932-1940 except the 4-cyl. are classic cars.

SSAE: Acronym for "Stamped, self-addressed envelope."

Stability: The quality or state of a vehicle to remain controllable. See directional stability.

Stabilizer: A variety of devices used to keep the passenger compartment of a vehicle from swaying and lurching on sharp curves and turns. Also see stabilizer bar.

Stabilizer bar: A transverse mounted spring steel bar that controls and minimizes body lean or tipping on corners. Also see anti-roll bar.

Stabilizing plies: Two or more plies, of steel, fiberglass, etc., forming a belt around the circumference of a tire, between carcass and tread rubber. It reduces tread distortion of radial and bias belted tires.

Stagger: To place items (like carburetors, pistons) so that every second item is offset from the previous one.

Stamping: A sheet metal part formed or shaped by pressing rolled sheet metal between metal dies (hardened metal blocks).

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.

Standard rim: A rim that has been calibrated and found to meet the precise measurements specified by Tire and Rim Association, Inc. or, where applicable, by European Tire & Rim Association.

Standard transmission: A transmission that must be shifted manually to effect a change in gearing. Also called "conventional transmission" or "manual transmission."

Standard work week: average number of hours worked normally scheduled in a work week.

Standing start: A race which begins with none of the vehicles in motion.

Start: See jump start, standing start, and starting system.

Starter: A small electrical motor that causes the engine crankshaft to begin to turn, which starts the engine running and so starts the vehicle. Also called the "cranking motor." Also see bendix type starter drive and overrunning clutch starter drive.

Starter drive: Also see bendix type starter drive.

Starter motor: See starter.

Starter solenoid: A device that uses electrical current to start and engage the starter. Also see solenoid.

Starting system: The portion of the electrical system that starts the vehicle. Consists of the ignition switch which closes the circuit and allows current to flow from the battery to the starter by way of the starter solenoid. Also called the "cranking circuit."

Static balance: When a tire, flywheel, crankshaft, etc., has an absolutely even distribution of the weight mass around the axis of rotation, it will be in static balance. For example, if a front wheel is jacked up and the tire, regardless of where it is placed, always slowly turns and stops with the same spot down, it would not be in static balance. If, however, the wheel remains in any position in which it is placed, it would be in static balance, (bearings must be free, no brake drag, etc.). Also called "kinetic balance." Also see dynamic balance.

Static electricity: Electricity generated by friction between two objects. It will remain in one object until discharged.

Static loaded radius: See loaded radius.

Static pressure: A certain amount of pressure that always exists in the brake lines even with the brake pedal released. Static pressure is maintained by a check valve.

Static shield: A device found on some distributors that reduces radio interference caused by the working of the vehicle's ignition system.

Station wagon: (SW) Originally this was a car with an enclosed wooden body of paneled design with several rows of folding or removable seats behind the driver. It became a different and popular vehicle after 1945. There is usually a tailgate but no separate luggage compartment. Early station wagons and compact station wagons had only two doors while the larger ones had four doors.

Stator: 1. A small hub, upon which a series of vanes are affixed in a radial position, that is so placed that oil leaving the torque converter turbine strikes the stator vanes and is redirected into the pump at an angle conducive to high efficiency. The stator makes torque multiplication possible. Torque multiplication is highest at stall when the engine speed is at its highest and the turbine is standing still. 2. The fixed electrical windings on a magneto, alternator, or generator. It turns within the rotor. Also see variable pitch stator and thermal reactor.

Stay: An arm or brace use to support another component. See seatstay and chainstay.

Std: Abbreviation for "standard," as in std. transmission. See standard transmission.

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