A

A term used for tire sizes 16.00 and larger in nominal cross section. Also called "earthmover" or "off-the-road" tires (OTR).

Abbreviation for "Air Conditioning" or "Air Conditioner"; also used the AC abbreviation.

Abbreviation for "Air-Fuel", as in "A/F ratio", "A/F meter", "A/F mixture".

Abbreviation for "Automobile Association", a term used in Great Britain.

Acronym for "American Automobile Association". With more than 40 million members, the American Automobile Association is the largest motoring and travel organization in the world. AAA's more than 1,000 affiliated club and branch offices are located throughout the United States and Canada. One of the nation's largest leisure-travel agencies, AAA offers air, hotel, car rental and cruise and tour bookings, plus numerous discounts and auto-travel routing and assistance.

Acronym for "Alberta Automobile Association".

Acronym for "Association of American Battery Manufacturers, Inc".

Acronym for "Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association".

Acronym for "American Automobile Labeling Act". The American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) was adopted by the House and Senate Conference as part of H.R. 5518, the Department of Transportation Fiscal Year 1993 Appropriation. The purpose of the AALA is to identify the final assembly point of passenger vehicles sold in the United States and the percentage of parts (by value) installed in those vehicles according to their country of origin.

Acronym for "Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers". The 13 companies forming the Alliance (at 28 March 2001) are: BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, GM, Isuzu, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

A suspension linkage formed in the shape of an "A" or "V" found commonly on the front suspension. The sides of the two legs of the A-arm are connected to the chassis by rubber bushings and the peak of the A-arm is attached to the wheel assembly. In this way, the wheel can freely move up and down. Sometimes there is an upper A-arm, a lower A-arm, or both upper and lower A-arms. The British call it a "wishbone".

A term used in timing the relation of the spark and the crankshaft. It stands for "After Bottom Dead Center".

A modified model "A" Ford. Also called "Bone".

Abbreviation for "Anti-lock Braking System".

A button or switch which disengages the automatic anti-lock braking system so that the driver can operate the brakes himself.

An electrically controlled valve which modulates the air pressure in the ABS.

Term synonym with "damper" and "shock absorber".

1. A part which stops the motion of another part from proceeding any farther. 2. Cement raised shoulder secured to the side of the road to prevent a vehicle from going over the edge.

Abbreviation for "Alternating Current". On the car the alternator produces the alternating current.

Abbreviation for "air conditioning" or "air conditioner"; also used A/C abbreviation.

Founded in 1908, AC is the oldest British car manufacturer that is still trading today. The original engineer behind the company was John Weller. He previously had his own business in southeast London in 1903 making the Weller car but had no great success. An association with John Portwine, a butcher, led to the Weller designed three-wheel commercial vehicle called the AutoCarrier (AC). Success led to an air-cooled single cylinder passenger version being built and named the Sociable.

The 1954-61 Ace models are milestone cars and designed by talented AC engineer John Tojeiro (Total production: 223 cars).

The 1955-63 Aceca models are milestone cars. In 1954, the AC Aceca Coupe was introduced at the London Motor Show and went into production the following year.

The 1949 Buckland Open Tourer is a milestone car.

Acronym for "Associação do comércio automovóvel de Portugal".

Abbreviation for "Accessories".

1. Acronym for "Adaptive Cruise Control", a radar sensor which can measure vehicle speed and distance independently. 2. A term found on a cruise control switch which indicates the direction the switch needs to be moved to increase the speed (accelerate) of the vehicle.

To increase the speed of a vehicle. Opposites of decelerate.

The rate of change of velocity or speed. Velocity is steady and is measured in distance per time (e.g., feet per second, miles per hour, kilometers per hour). Acceleration keeps increasing and is measured in velocity per time (e.g., feet per second per second, feet per second squared, or meter per second squared).

The action of increasing the fuel/air mixture during acceleration in order to improve the vehicle's speed and its smooth response.

In automobiles, this is the "gas pedal" which is attached by linkage to the throttle in the carburetor or to the fuel injection system. It regulates the amount of fuel which is sent to the engine. In motorcycles, the accelerator is located on the right-hand twist grip or an actuating lever.

A connection between the gas pedal and the automatic transmission. The accelerator interlock systems are divided into two main categories: equipment and safety system interlocks.

The accelerator, gas pedal, or throttle pedal.

A small pump usually located inside the carburetor that sprays an extra amount of fuel into the engine during acceleration. It improves acceleration by giving more boosts and reducing a momentary lag in power. It is actuated by depressing the pedal.

An instrument which measures the amount of acceleration.

A manufactured good that may not be perfect but does reach a level of shape, size, and performance, etc. that will make it work and last as long as the manufacturer expects.

An examination of a part or its assembly to determine if it meets a prescribed standard.

Items and packages of equipment which are beyond the standard equipment supplied in a new vehicle.

The destruction caused to a vehicle's bodywork when it is involved in an accident.

1. A storage battery for an electric car. 2. A pressurized container for an automatic leveling suspension system. 3. A part of the hydraulic system, which is charged by the fluid pump, absorbs fluctuating fluid delivery, stores fluid at pressure, and can provide a rapid flow of fluid under pressure. 4. A liquid vapor separator that stores and dries the refrigerant, component of A/C system. It is located in the low-pressure side between the evaporator and the compressor. Also called "drier".

A storage battery (i.e., the main battery in a vehicle).

A unit found in the automatic transmission to assist the servo to apply the brake band quickly and smoothly.

In an automatic transmission, it includes a hydraulic accumulator piston, which is controlled by a valve.

A device which operates the hydraulic accumulator piston in an automatic transmission.

See "AC Ace".

Acronym for "Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles", Brussels (in English, "European Automakers Association"). ACEA is the professional body representing the interests and combined skills of thirteen European car, truck and bus manufacturers at European level and throughout the world.