Techincal Car Terms

Car Dictionary

List of techincal words and terms that your mechanic would usually mention.

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Accumulator

A component in a car's air conditioning system that serves two purposes: 1- removes moisture from the refrigerant chemical; 2- provides a storehouse where refrigerant chemical can accumulate until it is needed to do its job.

Additive

A chemical solution that is added to gasoline, motor oil or transmission fluid with the objective of enhancing performance.

Air Bag

A safety restraint device that deploys when it senses there has been severe deceleration of the vehicle.

AIR COMPRESSOR

A pump whose purpose is to create pressurized air. This air can be used to power such things as the air-ride suspension systems or air brakes.

AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR

A pump whose purpose is the pump the refrigerant chemical through the air conditioning system.

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSOR

Air conditioning refrigerant chemical is pumped through the condenser at extremely hot temperatures and under high pressure, 80 to 300 PSI, depending on the environmental conditions. The condenser acts as a radiator, cooling off the refrigerant.

AIR DAM

A spoiler located beneath the front bumper shaped to reduce the airflow under the car, lower aerodynamic drag and reduce lift.

AIR FILTER

A filtering device designed to clean the air taken into the engine's fuel delivery system.

AIR/FUEL MIXTURE

A mixture of air and fuel that the fuel management system creates.

ALIGNMENT

The process of positioning wheels into a correct relationship with each other and with the steering/suspension system.

ALL-SEASON TIRE

A tire that gives maximum traction under all weather conditions.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)

The All-Wheel Drive System is used on a lot of cars where a high-low range is not needed. Think of the all-wheel drive system as a permanent 4WD system, but without the two-speed transfer gearbox. There is no high and low range, and the system is always in automatic four-wheel drive.

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