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Acronyms and Abbreviations
List of most commonly used car-related acronyms and abbreviations,
as compiled by markyg and supplemented by Bin_Man, Glenn, logiclee, magic919 and vieplis here.
4WD: Four Wheel Drive
ABS: Anti-lock Braking System
AC: Air Conditioning
ACC: Adaptive Cruise Control
AFS: Adaptive Front Lighting [system]
AJB: Auxiliary Junction Box - another name for footwell fuse box
APP: Accelerator Pedal Position [sensor]
ARB: Anti Roll Bar
AWD: All Wheel Drive
AWS: Auxiliary Warning System
BHP: Brake Horse Power (also known as “bhp” or “mechanical horsepower”), a unit of engine power commonly used by UK motoring press, bhp = PS x 0,9864
BPP: Brake Pedal Position [switch]
BT/VC: Bluetooth / Voice Control
CAN: Controller Area Network [vehicle bus]
CAT: Catalytic Converter
C/L: Central Locking
CKP: Crankshaft Position [sensor]
CMP: Camshaft Position [sensor]
CPP: Clutch Pedal Position [switch]
CV: Constant Velocity [joint]
DAB: Digital Audio Broadcast
DDM: Driver Door Module
DEATC: Dual-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control
DERV: Diesel Engine Road Vehicle
DOHC: Double Overhead Camshaft
DoT: Department of Transport
DPF: Diesel Particulate Filter
DRL: Daytime Running Lamps
EATC: Electronic Automatic Temperature Control
EBA: Emergency Brake Assist
EBD: Electronic Brake [force] Distribution
ECT: Engine Coolant Temperature [sensor]
ECU: Engine Control Unit - another name for PCM
EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection
EGR: Exhaust Gas Recirculation
EHPAS: Electric Hydraulic Power Steering
EJB: Engine Junction Box - another name for engine compartment fuse box
E/M: Electric Mirrors
EOP: Engine Oil Pressure [switch]
ESP - Electronic Stability Program
FWD: Front Wheel Drive
GEM: Generic Electronic Module - serves as a gateway between HS CAN and MS CAN
GPS: Global Positioning System
HCU: Hydraulic Control Unit - controls the ABS
HEGO : Heated Exhaust Gas Oxygen [sensor] - another name for a Lambda sensor
HID: High Intensity Discharge
HS CAN: High-Speed Controller Area Network [vehicle bus]
IACV: Idle Air Control Valve
IAT: Intake Air Temperature [sensor]
ICV: Idle Control Valve
IMRC: Intake Manifold Runner Control
IVDC: Interactive Vehicle Dynamic Control
KPH: Kilometres Per Hour (also known as “km/h”)
KS: Knock Sensor
LIM: Lower Inlet Manifold
LIN: Local Interconnect Network [vehicle bus]
LHD: Left Hand Drive [vehicle] – vehicle for use in countries with right-hand traffic (RHT) in which traffic keeps to the right side of the road; the steering wheel is placed on the left side of the vehicle (closer to the centre of road)
LPG: Liquified Petroleum Gas
MAF: Mass Air Flow [sensor]
MIL: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
MM CAN: Multimedia Controller Area Network [vehicle bus]
MOT: Ministry Of Transport (annual statutory test for cars and motorcycles)
MPG: Miles Per Gallon
MPH: Miles Per Hour
MS CAN: Mid-Speed Controller Area Network [vehicle bus]
Nm: Newton Metres
N/S: Near Side (Left Hand side of car)
N/S/F: Near Side Front
N/S/R: Near Side Rear
OBD I / OBD II: OnBoard Diagnostics (Version I or II)
O/S: Off Side (Right Hand side of car)
O/S/F: Off Side Front
O/S/R: Off Side Rear
PAD: Passenger Air bag Deactivation [switch] – part of SRS
PAS: Power Assisted Steering
PATS: Passive Anti-Theft System
PCM: Powertrain Control Module - another name for ECU
PCV: Positive Crankcase Ventilation [valve]
PS: Pferdestärke (German for "horse power", also known as “metric horsepower”), a unit of engine power commonly used in Europe, South America and Japan, especially by the automotive and motorcycle industry, PS = bhp x 1,0139
PSP: Power Steering Pressure [switch]
RCM: Restraints Control Module – part of SRS
RHD: Right Hand Drive [vehicle] – vehicle for use in countries with left-hand traffic (LHT) in which traffic keeps to the left side of the road; the steering wheel is placed on the right side of the vehicle (closer to the centre of road)
RJB: Rear Junction Box - another name for rear fuse box
RSAP: Rallye Sport Appearance Pack
RWD: Rear Wheel Drive
SATC: Semi Automatic Temperature Control
SFI: Sequential Fuel Injection
SRS: Supplemental Restraint System – system covering air bags + safety belts + sensors
S/S: Stainless Steel
TCM: Transmission Control Module
TCS: Traction Control System
TDC: Top Dead Center
TPMS: Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
TPS: Throttle Position Sensor
UIM: Upper Inlet Manifold
V5: Vehicle Registration Document
VCT: Variable Camshaft Timing
VDS: Vehicle Dynamic Suspension
VED: Vehicle Excise Duty
VIC: Vehicle Identification Check
VIN: Vehicle Identification Number
VVT: Variable Valve Timing
WHP: Wheel Horse Power