Automotive Glossary
Technical terms in plain language — what a part or system is, how it works and why it matters for your car.
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Terms starting with 0
Terms starting with 1
Terms starting with 8
Terms starting with A
All terms with A →- A-Pillar
- A/C Compressor
- A/C Compressor Clutch
- A/C Compressor Oil (PAG Oil)
- A/C Condenser
- A/C Evaporator
- A/C Leak Test
- A/C Pressure Switch (Pressure Sensor)
- A/C Recharge (Air Conditioning Service)
- ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
- ABS Module (Hydraulic Unit)
- ABS Reluctor Ring (Tone Ring)
- ABS Warning Light
- AC Charging
- Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor
- ACEA Oil Specification
- Acoustic Glass (Laminated Side Windows)
- Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS)
- Active Aerodynamics
- Active Bonnet (Pedestrian Protection)
Terms starting with B
All terms with B →- B-Pillar
- Backfire
- Backprobing
- Badge (Emblem)
- Balance Shaft
- Ball Joint
- Ball Joint Splitter
- Balloon Payment
- Bar (Pressure Unit)
- Barn Find
- Battery Cell
- Battery Charger (Smart Charger)
- Battery Degradation
- Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
- Battery Electrolyte (Battery Acid)
- Battery Management System (BMS)
- Battery Module
- Battery Passport (EU)
- Battery Recycling
- Battery Registration (Battery Coding)
Terms starting with C
All terms with C →- C-Pillar
- Cabin Air Filter
- Cabin Temperature Sensor
- Camber
- Camper Van (Motorhome)
- Camshaft
- Camshaft Phaser (VVT Actuator)
- Camshaft Position Sensor
- CAN Bus
- Car Alarm
- Car Battery
- Car Detailing
- Car Fire Extinguisher
- Car First Aid Kit
- Car Leasing
- Car Loan
- Car Ramps (Drive-On Ramps)
- Car Restoration
- Car Segments (A To F)
- Car Shampoo
Terms starting with D
All terms with D →- DAB Digital Radio
- Dashboard (Dash Panel)
- Dashboard Protectant
- Dashcam (Dashboard Camera)
- Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- DC Fast Charging
- DC-DC Converter
- Dealer Warranty (Used-Car Warranty)
- Deceleration Fuel Cut-off (Overrun Fuel Cut)
- Decibel (dB)
- Defensive Driving
- Degreaser (Engine Cleaner)
- Departure Angle
- Depreciation (Value Loss)
- Detonation (Engine Knock)
- Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)
- Diamond-Cut Alloy Wheels
- Dielectric Grease
- Diesel Engine
- Diesel Fuel Heater
Terms starting with E
All terms with E →- E-axle (Electric Drive Unit)
- E-Fuels (Synthetic Fuels)
- E10 Petrol
- eCall (Emergency Call)
- Eco Mode (Economy Drive Mode)
- Eco-driving
- ECU (Engine Control Unit)
- EGR Cooler
- EGR Valve
- Electric Brake Booster (Electromechanical Booster)
- Electric Current (Amperage)
- Electric Power Steering (EPS)
- Electric Turbocharger
- Electrical Resistance (Ohms)
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Electronic Parking Brake
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Emergency Brake Signal (Flashing Brake Lights)
- Emergency Lane Keeping
- Emergency Stop
Terms starting with F
All terms with F →- Facelift (Model Update)
- Far-Side (Centre) Airbag
- Fastback
- Feeler Gauge
- Final Drive
- Firing Order
- Flasher Relay (Turn Signal Relay)
- Flat-Plane Crankshaft
- Flat-Tappet Camshaft
- Flex-Fuel Vehicle (E85)
- FlexRay
- Flooded Engine
- Flywheel
- Fog Light
- Footwell
- Forced DPF Regeneration (Service Regeneration)
- Forged Wheels
- Forward Collision Warning
- Four-Stroke Engine
- Four-Valve Cylinder Head
Terms starting with G
All terms with G →- Galvanised Body (Zinc-coated Steel)
- GAP Insurance
- Gas Strut (Gas Spring)
- Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF/OPF)
- Gateway Module
- GB/T Connector (China Standard)
- Gear Lever (Gear Selector)
- Gear Oil (Transmission Oil)
- Gear Ratio
- Gear Shift Cable (Linkage)
- Gear Whine
- Gearbox Mount (Transmission Mount)
- Gearbox Warning Light
- Glass Polish
- Glovebox
- Glow Plug
- Glow Plug Control Module
- Glow Plug Warning Light (Preheat Light)
- Goodwill Repair
- GPS Navigation System
Terms starting with H
All terms with H →- Hail Damage
- Hall-effect Sensor
- Halogen Bulb
- Handbrake Cable
- Harmonic Balancer (Crankshaft Damper)
- Hatchback
- Hazard Warning Lights
- Head Gasket
- Head-up Display (HUD)
- Headlight Aiming
- Headlight Condensation (Moisture In Headlights)
- Headlight Levelling (Headlight Range Control)
- Headlight Restoration
- Headlight Switch
- Headlight Unit (Headlamp Assembly)
- Headlight Washer
- Headliner (Roof Lining)
- Headrest (Head Restraint)
- Heat Pump
- Heat Shield
Terms starting with I
All terms with I →- i-Size Child Seats (UN R129)
- Idle Relearn (Throttle Adaptation)
- Idle Speed
- Idle Speed Control
- Idler Pulley
- Ignition Advance
- Ignition Coil
- Ignition Condenser (Capacitor)
- Ignition Distributor
- Ignition Lead (Spark Plug Wire)
- Ignition Switch
- Ignition Timing
- Immobilizer
- Impact Wrench (Impact Gun)
- Induction Heater
- Induction Motor (Asynchronous Motor)
- Inductive Sensor
- Inertia Switch (Fuel Pump Cut-off Switch)
- Infotainment Head Unit
- Injector Coding
Terms starting with J
Terms starting with K
Terms starting with L
All terms with L →- Labour Time (Flat-rate Time)
- Ladder Frame (Body-on-frame)
- Lane Change Assist
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Laser Headlights
- Launch Control
- Lead Loading (Body Solder)
- Lead Replacement Additive
- Leaf Spring
- Leak Detection Pump (EVAP Leak Check)
- Leak-down Test (Cylinder Leakage Test)
- Lean Mixture
- Leather Conditioner
- LED Headlight
- Left-Hand Drive (LHD)
- Lever Arm Damper
- LFP Battery (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
- Lidar Sensor
- Liftback
Terms starting with M
All terms with M →- M+S Marking (Mud And Snow)
- MacPherson Strut
- Main Beam (High Beam, Full Beam)
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
- Manual Transmission (Manual Gearbox)
- Manufacturer Oil Approval
- Manufacturer Plate (Type Plate)
- MAP Sensor (Manifold Absolute Pressure)
- Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF)
- Massage Seats
- Master Cylinder
- Matching Numbers
- Matrix LED Headlights
- Maximum Roof Load
- Mechanic’s Stethoscope
- Mechanic’s Creeper
- Megawatt Charging System (MCS)
- Memory Seats
- Metric Horsepower (PS, CV, HP)
- Microfibre Towel
Terms starting with N
- NACS Connector (SAE J3400)
- Naturally Aspirated Engine
- Network Sleep Mode
- Neutral Safety Switch (Inhibitor Switch)
- New Car Warranty
- Newton-Metre (Nm)
- Night Driving
- Night Vision Assist
- Nitrogen Tyre Inflation
- NMC Battery (Nickel Manganese Cobalt)
- No-Claims Bonus (No-Claims Discount)
- Nose Weight (Tow Ball Load)
- NOx (Nitrogen Oxides)
- NOx Sensor
- NOx Storage Catalyst (Lean NOx Trap)
- Number Plate (Licence Plate)
- Number Plate Cloning
- Number Plate Light (Licence Plate Lamp)
Terms starting with O
All terms with O →- OAT Coolant (Organic Acid Technology)
- OBD Mode 6 Data (On-board Test Results)
- OBD Port (Diagnostic Connector)
- OBD-II
- Occupant Classification Sensor
- Octane Rating
- Odometer (Mileage Counter)
- Odometer Fraud (Clocking)
- OEM Parts (Original Equipment)
- Off-Peak Charging
- Off-Road Cruise Control
- Off-Road Vehicle (4×4)
- Ohm’s Law
- Oil Analysis
- Oil Catch Can
- Oil Change
- Oil Consumption
- Oil Cooler
- Oil Drain Pan
- Oil Drain Plug
Terms starting with P
All terms with P →- Paddle Shifters
- Paint Blistering (Rust Bubbles)
- Paint Code
- Paint Colour Matching
- Paint Correction (Machine Polishing)
- Paint Curing
- Paint Etching (Bird Dropping And Sap Damage)
- Paint Oxidation (Faded Paint)
- Paint Protection Film (PPF)
- Paint Runs (Sags)
- Paint Sealant
- Paint Thickness Gauge
- Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)
- Panel Beating (Dent Repair)
- Panel Gap
- Panel Van
- Panoramic Roof (Glass Roof)
- Parallel Hybrid
- Parallel Parking
- Parasitic Drain
Terms starting with Q
Terms starting with R
All terms with R →- R1234yf Refrigerant
- Radar Sensor (ADAS)
- Radial Tyre
- Radiator
- Radiator Cap (Pressure Cap)
- Radiator Stop Leak
- Rain Repellent (Glass Coating)
- Rain Sensor
- Range Anxiety
- Range Estimate (Guess-o-Meter)
- Range Extender
- Ratchet Strap
- Readiness Monitors
- READY Indicator (EV And Hybrid)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Rear Diffuser
- Rear Fog Light
- Rear Main Seal
- Rear Quarter Panel (Rear Wing)
- Rear Seat Reminder
Terms starting with S
All terms with S →- SAE Levels Of Driving Automation
- Safe Exit Warning (Exit Warning)
- Saloon (Sedan)
- Scan Tool (Diagnostic Tool)
- Scheduled Charging (Charging Timer)
- SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction)
- Scrub Radius
- Scuttle Panel (Cowl)
- Seasonal Tyre Change
- Seat Adjustment
- Seat Belt Pretensioner
- Seatbelt (Safety Belt)
- Seatbelt Height Adjuster
- Seatbelt Load Limiter
- Seatbelt Reminder
- Second-life Battery
- Secondary Air Injection
- Self-levelling Suspension
- Self-Sealing Tyre
- Semi-Slick Tyre
Terms starting with T
All terms with T →- Tachometer (Rev Counter)
- Tail Light (Rear Light Cluster)
- Tailgate
- Tappet Noise (Lifter Tick)
- Tar Remover
- Targa Top
- Technical Service Bulletin (TSB)
- Telematics Control Unit
- Terrain Modes (Drive Mode Selector)
- Test Drive
- Test Light
- Tethered Vs Untethered Wallbox
- Thermal Runaway
- Thermistor (Temperature Sensor)
- Thermostat
- Thermostat Housing
- Third Brake Light (High-level Brake Light)
- Third-Party Liability Insurance
- Thread Locker
- Three-Cylinder Engine
Terms starting with U
Terms starting with V
All terms with V →- V Engine (V6, V8, V12)
- V12 Engine
- V6 Engine
- V8 Engine
- Vacuum Advance
- Vacuum Leak
- Valet Mode
- Valve Body (Automatic Transmission)
- Valve Clearance (Valve Lash)
- Valve Cover Gasket (Rocker Cover Gasket)
- Valve Seat Recession
- Valve Spring
- Valve Stem Seal
- Van Tyre (C Tyre)
- Vapour Lock
- Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT)
- Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
- Vehicle Category (M1, N1)
- Vehicle Deregistration
- Vehicle History Report
Terms starting with W
All terms with W →- W Engine (W12, W16)
- Wading Depth
- Wallbox (Home Charger)
- Warning Light Colours (Red, Amber, Green)
- Warning Triangle
- Wash Mitt
- Washer Fluid (Screenwash)
- Wasted Spark Ignition
- Wastegate
- Water Pump
- Water Spots
- Water-in-fuel Sensor
- Water-Methanol Injection
- Waterless Wash
- Weight Distribution
- Welcome Lights (Approach Lighting)
- Wh/km And kWh/100 Km (EV Consumption)
- What To Do After A Breakdown
- Wheel Alignment
- Wheel Arch Liner (Inner Fender)