PLEASE HELP me write definitions

[Chris]

Heres osme more. I am still getting more. Don't worry about copyright, I asked permission for teh ones I needed help on.


Anti-roll bar: also anti-sway bar. A piece of metal that connects the wheels on the front or rear of the car. Its main function is to keep both wheels rolling at the same rate when meeting bumps; but it also affects handling. A front anti-roll bar increases understeer and a rear bar increases oversteer. The thicker the bar, the better it works, and it works better at higher speeds. Another function is to keep the vehicle level in cornering.

Tire Speed Ratings: The maximum speed a tire can go safely. It determines your vehicles speed limiter's speed cut-off. Q = 99mph R = 106mph S = 112mph T = 118mph U = 124mph H = 130mph V = 149 mph W = 168mph Y = 186mph

Speed Limiter: A device that makes sure your vehicle cannot go over a certain speed. A ‘hard' limiter will disengage the throttle momentarily. A ‘soft' limiter won't let the engine rev over a certain amount, thereby keeping the speed down.

Tire Ratings: There are 3 ways these are set up, and here are some examples: 255/45HR-17, 255/45HR-17 89H, 255/45R-17 89H. The first number is the width of the tire in millimetres. 255 is large, 205 is the norm for many cars. The second number is the profile of a tire. It is a percentage of the width of the tire. In this case the tire is 114.75 millimetres high from the rim to the edge of the tire. Generally, a profile of 50 or lower is a ‘performance' tire. This is not always the case. Now it gets dicey. The R is always there. If it is the only letter, you will have to locate a number with the speed-rating letter next to it. That will tell you the speed rating. If there are two letters, the non-R letter is the speed rating. Bear in mind that if there is only the R, the speed rating can be hard to find. The number connected by a hyphen is the diameter of the wheel rim. M+S on the tire means it is all season. This can be deceiving, as it can mean almost-performance or almost-winter. Winter tires are good in snow,ice, etc, but awful in the dry (especially cornering). Performance tires are great in the dry, but really, really bad (and dangerous) in the snow, ice etc, but good on the rain, if its warm.

Variable-Valve Timing: When the valves can change their lift and endurance of lift, and when they are operated. Some cars use two cam lobes, a torque-boosting one for low rpm's, and a high-lift, long duration setup for high rpm's. The cams themselves can also shift longitudinally and horizontally, depending on engine speed. Some systems have only a few settings (usually when 2 cam lobes are involved) or be truly variable, constantly shifting. Variable valve timing improves performance and fuel economy.

Wing: A device placed on the rear of a car that goes up into undisturbed air. It can be in the shape of an upside-down airplane wing, or angled forward and down. This causes downforce, but increases drag.

Navigation System: A device that tells you how to get from point A to point B. Can and usually does incorporate GPS, to give you turn by turn directions. If not, you input where you are and it tells you how to get to where you want to go.

Wishbone: In a suspension, it is an A shaped piece of metal that works with various shocks and other dampeners to let the wheels move up and down. A wishbone suspension usually gives better handling, a better, more comfortable, more refined ride. It can be costly and take up a lot of space.

Strut: Used (mostly) in the suspension. It incorporates a coil spring with a shock absorber. Usually not as good as a wishbone suspension, but BMW uses struts to great success.

Torque Converter: A device on automatic-transmission equipped cars. It is between the engine and the transmission. It usually contains a viscous fluid. When the crankshaft spins, it spins a turbine or something similar at one end. This causes the fluid to move, moving a similar turbine at the other end, coupling the engine with the transmission. It is shaped in a circle with an indent in the middle, causing me to call them donuts. This device increases torque, but lowers horsepower and fuel economy. This is also why in an automatic, when you floor it, the rpm's go crazy, but you get no forward motion. Some torque converters now partially or fully lock to prevent this slippage.

Manumatic: A type of transmission that behaves like an automatic but if you choose, it lets you decide when it should shift. Not nearly as good as a manual, as the transmission usually shift anyway.

5-point safety harness: A really good seatbelt. It has 5 points (buckles or metal pieces). Usually, a belt goes across your lap, one between your legs, one over each shoulder (sometimes criss-crossing.) Used in race cars or extreme road cars.

HANS: Head And Neck Safety system (or close to that).A safety device used in racing. It is piece of carbon-fiber or other material that goes over your shoulders underneath your safety harness. It has straps on the back that attach to the back of your helmet. When you get in an accident, this prevents whiplash, and also increases your chance of survival greatly.

Monocoque: A cars chassis and integral body parts are all in one. This is good for ride comfort and refinement. It is not good for towing (it will distort and be ruined, same thing for a small crash, meaning non-life threatening.)

Body-on Frame: When a cars body is placed on a separate frame, usually two rails connected by cross-members to add structural rigidity.

IRL: Indy Racing League. In the United States. They are 3.5 liter normally aspirated cars limited to 10500rpm. They develop about 650hp. They only race on ovals.

CART: An international racing series that uses 2.65 liter turbocharged (4.95psi) engines with no rpm limits (usually about 16000 rpm is the norm)that make about 900-1000hp. They use racing slicks, race on ovals and road courses.

Wastegate: A device used with an engine that has forced induction. When the pressure on the intake goes over a certain level, it opens, allowing air to escape, lowering the pressure. Without this there is a very real chance the engine will break.

Armature
A wire-wrapped iron or steel core forming a movable coil within the starting motor. When it revolves in the magnetic field between the poles, an electric current is induced.
Adjustable Shocks
Shock absorbers(dampers) whose jounce and rebound characteristics can be stiffened or softened to compensate for wear or to fine-tune a suspension for a particular application such as rough roads, heavy loads or racing.
Air Cooled
An engine cooled by passage of air around the cylinders, not by passage of a liquid through internal water jackets.
Air-Fuel Ratio
The mass of air supplied to the engine divided by the mass of fuel supplied in the same period of time. The Stoichipmetric, or chemically correct, air-fuel ratio (A/F ratio) is the exact ratio necessary to burn all the carbon and hydrogen in the fuel to carbon dioxide and water with no oxygen remaining. The fuel-air ratio is the reciprocal of the air-fuel ratio.
Air Injection
A system that injects air into the exhaust ports of a thermal reactor, for additional conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and combustion of unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases.
Air Pump
The device that supplies the fresh air needed by the air-injection system.
Acquisition Fee
An acquisition fee is a charge for processing a lease and is probably not negotiable. On a shorter term lease, the acquisition fee can have a large impact on the cost of the lease.
Air Filter
A device for removing impurities from the air which enters the combustion chamber. Very important. I fit isn't used, the engine will only last a little while before it starts burning oil and eventually is unusable.
Air Scoop
A forward facing aerodynamic device or opening used to duct cool outside air to some part of the vehicle such as the carburetor intake, the brakes, the radiator, or an oil cooler.
Semi-Elliptic Springs
Type of leaf spring that takes its name from the shape which is part of an ellipse.
Leaf Spring: A flat piece of metal that attached to two points on the body and/or chassis, and the middle on the part that needs to be supported and allowed to move.
Semi-Floating Axle
Drive axle construction where the axle shaft supports the weight of the car in addition to being the means of propulsion.

SlickA treadless tire used for racing on dry surfaces. It should not be used for a road car, as they will hydroplane and wear out quickly.
Slip Joint
A variable length connection that permits the drive shaft or axle shaft to change its length as the shaft moves up and down.
Space Frame
Type of frame construction offering high rigidity for minimum weight, used for some racing and low production cars. Sometimes mistakenly used as a cars monocoque construction.
Suspension
Refers to the various springs, shock absorbers and linkages used to suspend a car's frame, body, engine and drivetrain above the wheels.
Subvented Lease
A subvented lease is a lease offered by manufacturers with special incentives to make it more attractive. Special incentives often take the form of a lower base interest rate, higher residual values, and manufacturer discounts. In many cases, a subvented lease will have a lower net interest rate than other leases. Subvented leases are usually only available for a limited time and the terms are not negotiable. Any negotiated change in the terms will result in a different net interest rate. Please note that subvented leases will not always be advertised. Also known as a subsidized lease.
Spoiler:
An aerodynamic aid used to decrease drag and increase downforce. It is a small ‘lip' on the back of the car.
Shock Absorber:
A device that either has gas, oil or something else in one end. When you go over a bump or put a load on it, it compresses, forcing the gas together or the oil into a reservoir. It can also be used to support parts

Final Drive Ratio
The ratio between the driveshaft or transmission output shaft rpm and the drive-wheel axle shaft rpm. For example, if the the ratio is 4.00:1 the driveshaft rotates four times for each rotation of the rear axle differential gear, the axle shafts and the wheels.
Firewall
The partition between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment.
Flathead
An engine with all the valves located within the block on one side of the cylinder so that the head itself is flat.
Floorboard
The car floor.
Filter
A devise to remove suspended impurities or particles of foreign matter from the air intake, fuel, or lubricating system.
Floor ShiftA type of transmission shift linkage in which the various gears are actuated by a lever attached to the floor rather than by a lever attached to the steering system.It is the most common type of gear selector.
Flywheel
A heavy , toothed wheel mounted to the rear of the crankshaft that smooths out the separate power surges imparted to the crankshaft as each cylinder fires by resisting the tendency of the engine to speed up at the start of the power stroke and to slow down toward the end. It also serves as part of the clutch by transmitting power to the gearbox in a car with manual transmission, acts as a vibration damper and balance member for the crankshaft, and engages the teeth of the starter motor when the engine is cranked. Without it, the engine would shake itself to pieces, as well as ruining many other things.
Foot-Pound
A measurement of work or energy. One foot-pound (ft-lb) is equal to the work done when a constant force of one pound is exerted on a body which moves a distance of one foot in the direction of the force.
Fuel Filter
A device installed in the fuel line that prevents impurities in the fuel from reaching and possibly clogging the carburetor or causing accelerated wear and tear of the engine.
Fuel System
The system that delivers fuel to the engine. It consists of a fuel tank, fuel filter, fuel pump, and the carburetor or fuel injector.
Full-Floating Axle
Drive axle construction where the axle shaft does not carry any car weight; its sole duty is to propel the car.
Full-Flow Filter
The type of oil filter in which all the oil from the oil pump flows through the filter.
Final Purchase Price
The final cost of the vehicle you are purchasing.
Four-O-The-Floor
A four-speed manual transmission with floor mounted shift
Pop-Off Valve
Also known as a bypass valve.A one-way valve that opens to the atmosphere above a certain set pressure to relieve excessive internal pressure buildup; often used with a turbo-charger installation to the limit boost pressure to the engine.
Petroleum
A complex mixture of hydrocarbons and small amounts of various other elements occurring widely in nature as deposits of decomposed organic matter. Usually what Europeans say instead of gas.
Purchase Price
How much the vehicle you are buying will cost you.
Plenum
A chamber, located between the throttle body and the runners of an intake manifold, used to distribute the intake charge evenly and to enhance engine breathing.
Pitch
1. The back and forth rocking motion of a vehicle which compresses the front springs and extends the rear springs so that the nose of the vehicle is down while the tail is up. Then the action reverses so that the nose is up and the tail is down (i.e., dive and squat).
2. The distance between two threads on a bolt or screw.
3. The distance between a point on one gear tooth and the same point on the next gear tooth.
4. The quality of sound with respect to the frequency of vibration of the sound waves.
5. The angle at which something is tilted.
Head Restraint
An extension of the seatback, either permanently affixed or adjustable for height, to reduce whiplash injuries in front or rear collisions by cushioning or limited the rearward movement of the head and neck.
High Beam
A second set of lights that is very bright, used only for night driving when no one is coming toward you or is traveling ahead of you.
High Gear
Top gear or the cruising gear on any transmission. For example, fourth gear in a four-speed manual.
Heat-Control Valve
A thermostatically operated valve in the exhaust manifold that allows some of the exhaust gases to pass around the intake manifold when the engine is cold to preheat the fuel mixture going to the cylinders.
Heated Intake
An antipollution device to help vaporize the gasoline supplied to a cold engine.
Heat Exchanger
A device that transfers heat between two fluids through a separating wall. A radiator is a type of heat exchanger that transfers heat from the liquid coolant to the atmosphere.
Heat Range
The ability of a sparkplug to transfer heat from the combustion chamber to the cylinder head. Heel & Toe
A driving technique where the driver places the left side or the toes of his right foot on the brake pedal and the right side or the heels of his right foot on the throttle pedal so that he can simultaneously brake and throttle for a downshift. This is done to lessen the strain on the gearbox and drivetrain and makes for smoother driving.
Hydraulic
Any operation that uses the incompressibility of liquids, usually oil or water (because they cannot be compressed), and their ability to offer resistance when being forced into a small cylinder, thus transmitting an increase in applied force. Hydraulic brakes and clutches work on this principle. This makes it much easier to use things, and lets you do things you couldn't do otherwise.
Hydraulic Valve LifterA lifter that by means of hydraulic oil pressure maintains zero valve clearance (no clearance between metal parts) so that valve noise is reduced.
Headers
Special exhaust manifolds that replace the stock manifold. They are designed with smooth flowing lines to prevent back pressure caused by sharp bends, rough castings, etc., thus improving power and fuel economy. However, they are loud.
Caliper
That part of a disc-brake assembly hat straddles the discs and contains the cylinders, pistons and brake pads. When the brakes are applied, brake fluid flows to the cylinders in the caliper and pushes the pistons out, forcing the pads against the disc. Also, an adjustable measuring tool for determining the diameter of a shaft, cylinder bore, etc. by contact and retaining the dimension for measurement or comparison.
Camber
Inward or outward tilting of the wheels from vertical as viewed from the front or rear of the car. If the wheels are closer together at the top than at the ground, the chamber is negative; if the wheels are further apart at the top, the chamber is positive.
Chamber Thrust
Side force generated when a tire rolls with camber. Camber thrust can add to or subtract from the side force a tire generates.
Caster
The angle between the steering axis and the vertical, as viewed from the side. It is considered positive when the steering axis is inclined rearward at top.
Clutch Disc
The rotating circular metal plate splined to the transmission input shaft: it has friction material on each face. The disc is located between the flywheel and the clutch pressure plate and is clamped tightly between these two members when the clutch is engaged, thus transmitting power from the flywheel through the clutch and into the gearbox.
Combustion Chamber
The space at the top of the cylinder, in the head and/or piston top, remaining above the piston when it is at top dead center. Combustion of the fuel-air mixture begins here.
Combustion Ignition
Combustion of a fuel-air mixture without spark. In the diesel engine (after Rudolf Diesel, the inventor) air is drawn into the cylinder and compressed to a temperature sufficiently high that fuel oil injected at the end of the compression stroke burns in the cylinder without a spark to initiate combustion.
Compression Ring
A piston ring at the top of the piston, forming a seal with the cylinder wall to prevent compression loss or gas blowby. Compression rings also help transfer heat from the piston into the cylinder walls and thus to the water jacket surrounding the cylinder.
Compression Stroke
Second stroke of the four-stroke cycle, in which the piston moves upward from bottom dead center, compressing the fuel-air mixture.
Condenser
A device for changing vapor into liquid, as in an air conditioning system. Applied to an electric circuit, a device (also called a capacitor) for temporarily collecting and storing a surge of electrical current for later discharge. In a car's ignition system the condenser is connected across the contact points to reduce arcing by providing a storage place for electricity as the points open. Constant-Mesh Gearbox
A type of transmission in which all or most of the gears ate always in mesh with one another as opposed to a sliding-gear transmission, in which engagement is obtained by sliding some of the gears along a shaft into mesh. Most automatics are like this.
Counter Shaft
That shaft in a manual gearbox that carries power by means of gears from the clutch shaft to the driveshaft, turning opposite to them. This greatly improves refinement.
Counter Weight
Weight added to a rotating shaft or wheel to balance normal loads on the part and offset vibration. Counterweights are used on the crankshaft and are often found on the flywheel and driveshaft. These increase refinement considerably.
Counter Balance
Weight added to a rotating shaft or wheel to balance normal loads on the part and offset vibration. Counterweights are used on the crankshaft and are often found on the flywheel and driveshaft to improve refinement.
Cowl
The portion of a car's body between the engine compartment and the driver which ordinarily houses the instruments and the plenum chamber for the heater-ventilation system.
Crank Case
A box or case that encloses or encases the crankshaft.
Crank Pin
The bearing surface on a crank of the crankshaft to which the connecting rod is attached.
Cylinder Block
The basic framework of the engine to which other engine parts are attached. It is usually a casting and includes the engine cylinders and the upper part of the crankcase.
Backbone Frame
A frame, having the cross-section of a rectangular box, that runs along the center of the car and occupies the space between the seats. This box generally divides at the front, running along each side of the gearbox and engine up to a crossmember to which the front suspension pieces are attached. At the rear a similar triangular frame encloses the final-drive housing and provides attaching points for the rear suspension.
Bead
In a tire, at the band of each sidewall nearest the rim, that element which makes contact and seals a tubeless tire with the wheel rim.
Bell Housing
The covering (named for its shape) that surrounds the flywheel and clutch of a manual-gearbox car or the flywheel and torque converter with automatic transmission
BTU (British Thermal Unit)
The amount of heat that must be added to one pound of water to raise its temperature one Fahrenheit degree.
Belted Piston
A piston with a continuous steel band cast into the skirt below the rings for controlling skirt expansion.
Blow-Off Valve
A one-way valve that opens to the atmosphere above a certain set pressure to relieve excessive internal pressure buildup; often used with a turbocharger installation to the limit boost pressure to the engine. Often called a wastegate.
Brake Cylinder
A cylinder containing a movable piston actuated by hydraulic pressure to push fluid through the lines and wheel cylinders and force the brake lining or pads against a drum or disc.
Brake Lines
The tubes or hoses connecting the master cylinder to the wheel cylinders in a hydraulic brake system.
Bypass Filter
A type of filter in which only some of the oil from the oil pump flows through the filter, the remainder bypassing the filter in its way to various engine parts.
Base Interest Rate
This represents the interest paid on the usage of the vehicle during a lease. It is the 'cost' of a lease before factoring in discounts, fees, and penalties and is not directly comparable to the APR for a loan. Lowering the base interest rate is one of the methods manufacturers use to subsidize leases. The phrase 'money factor' measures the same cost and can be converted into a base interest rate. For example, to convert a money factor of 0.00276 into an approximate base interest rate would multiply the money factor by 24. The result would be 0.0662 or 6.6%. Bounce (Valve)
It indicates a condition where the valve is not held tightly closed in the seat even though the camshaft has not opened it. Also called "flutter." or "float".
Ball Joint
A flexible joint using a ball and socket type of construction, used in steering linkage setups, steering knuckle pivot supports, etc. Their flexibility helps to compensate for the changes in the wheel and steering when turning or hitting a bump on the road. There are usually upper and lower ball joints attached to the upper and lower A-arms.
Net Capitalized Cost
This is the price of the vehicle after deducting any dealer participation, manufacturer discounts, and cap cost reduction ('down' payment) from the MSRP.
Net Interest Rate
This is the total interest rate for the lease. It represents the lease's true cost, similar to an APR for a bank or credit union loan. The lower the net interest rate, the lower the cost of the lease.
Newton Meter (NM)
A unit of torque. One pounds-force feet (lb-ft) equals 1.356 Newton metres. One Newton metre equals 0.7375 lb-ft.
Water Pump
A pump normally mounted at the front of the engine and driven by a pulley and a belt from a pulley on the front end of the crankshaft. The pump has a number of curved blades that force the coolant to flow through the cooling system.
Watt Linkage
A three-bar linkage sometimes used for transverse location of a live axle.
Tonneau Cover
A cover of leather or other soft pliable material used for protecting the interior of a convertible when the soft top is down.
Turning Circle
Diameter of a circle within which a car can be turned around.
Turning Radius
Diameter of a circle within which a car can be turned around.
Two Plus Two (2+2)
Bodystyle incorporating two front seats plus two very small seats at the rear for children, small pets or extra luggage.
Thermal Reactor
A high-volume thermally isolated chamber replacing the exhaust manifold and providing a place for high-temperature afterburning of exhaust pollutants.
Thrust Bearing
A bearing with flanges on its two sides that prevents a shaft such as the crankshaft from moving endwise. Tie Rod
In the steering system, the rods that link the pitman arm and the idler arm to the steering knuckle arms. Timing
Refers to the crankshaft angles at which the valves and ignition points open and close.
Torsion Bar
A long straight bar fastened to the frame at one end and to a suspension part at the other.
Throttle Body
A housing containing a valve to regulate the airflow through the intake manifold. The throttle-body is usually located between the air cleaner and the intake plenum.
Transaxle
A drive setup in which the transmission gearbox, clutch, final drive, and differential are combined into a single unit connected directly to the driveshaft. It is used mostly in rear-engine cars.
Toe-In
An adjustment of the front wheels where the distance from the center of the left wheel to the center of the right wheel is less at the front of the wheels than at the back of the wheels. A slight amount of toe-in is usually specified to keep the front wheels running parallel on the road by offsetting other forces that tend to spread the wheels apart. The major force is the backward thrust of the road against the tire tread while the vehicle is moving forward. Other factors include play in the tie-rod assembly and allowance for angular changes caused by wheel bounce or variations in road conditions. Toe-in is measured in fractions of an inch or millimeters.
Roll Bar
A hoop of tubular steel installed behind the driver and extending above his head and across the car. The rollbar helps protect the driver from injury if the car rolls over.
Roll Cage
A tubular steel structure incorporating a rollbar plus additional bars along the doors, windshield header, roof rails, etc., built into some racing cars to help protect the driver if the car rolls over, is impacted by another car or crashes.
Rack & Pinion Steering
Steering system having a pinion gear on the end of the steering shaft that mates with a rack. When the steering wheel is turned, the pinion turns, moving the rack to the left or right. This movement is carried through tie rods to the steering arms at the wheels.
Refrigerant
The substance used in an air-conditioning system that absorbs and gives up heat as it changes from a liquid to a gas to a liquid.
Rocker Arm
A lever located on a fulcrum or shaft, one end on the valve stem and the other either on the push rod or directly on the camshaft lobes. As the camshaft rotates, the arms rock on their fulcrums causing the valves to open and
Road Holding
The ability of a vehicle to grip the pavement.
Rotor
A small rotating cap-like unit at the end of the distributor shaft. It is located on the breaker cam inside the cap. It connects between the center electrode and the various outer spark plug terminals as it turns, thus distributing the high voltage from the ignition coil secondary winding to the proper spark plug.
Radiator
A device that cools the liquid in the cooling system by allowing it to circulate through a series of water channels, which are exposed to air ducts.
Rotary Engine
An internal combustion engine which is not of a reciprocating (piston) engine design. There is no true crankshaft, although the power-take-off shaft is sometimes called the crankshaft. It is stationary or fixed in that it simply spins in place. The central rotor turns in one direction only and yet produces the required intake, compression, firing and exhaust strokes. Because it uses rotary motion instead of reciprocating motion, the rotary engine has better balance and less vibration than piston engines. Two common rotary engines are the gas turbine and the Wankel.

[Adam]

AHHH!! stop!!1


thanx I mean, but that'll take me FOREVER to put up.. I am STILL working on your other ones... expect the whole thing to up in a MONTH now!!






but seriously, please wait a bit for more definitions

























i'll have the biggest dictionary ever!

[Chris]

I am still getting some more. That should be the bulk of it, though.
And I am also daunted with putting them on my web-page. I put them all on, not spaced or puncuated at all! It is quite a mess!

[Adam]

ok... just copy and paste my code when I put it on my site.. in better format, revised, spelling errors gone, and all done 4 u

[Chris]

thanks. I am still working on more

[Chris]

Do you have them up yet??

[Twist]

Wowee! I'm terribly impressed with you guys! Let us know when they're up! Keep it going!

[JD@af]

You an extroadinarily diligent young man. Glad to have you as a member here with that kind of effort. I'm also giving you a "license to flame" next time you get pissed off in a post, and no mod will step in to steal your thunder. :ylsuper Hard work like that has its priviledges. Let her rip!!

[Porsche]

LOL JD, "License to Flame".

[hermunn123]

Tire Speed Ratings: The maximum speed a tire can go safely. It determines your vehicles speed limiter's speed cut-off. Q = 99mph R = 106mph S = 112mph T = 118mph U = 124mph H = 130mph V = 149 mph W = 168mph Y = 186mph

where's Z rated??

[Heep]

Z = 200+

[Chris]

Z is actually 149+mph, which could mean 150 or 250 mph. You have to check elsewhere on the tire for the maximum speed rating. I'm not sure what is there if it is over 186mph (never seen a tire like that)

I'm also giving you a "license to flame" next time you get pissed off in a post, and no mod will step in to steal your thunder. Hard work like that has its priviledges. Let her rip!!

Can I be a moderator?? Please??

[Heep]

Hint: read the message near the bottom of the main forum index page.....

[Chris]

Doing it right now!