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.

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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