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Anti-Freeze
Any of several substances (commonly liquids and typically ethylene
glycol) mixed with water and added to a car's cooling system to
prevent freezing of the coolant in winter and inhibit formation of
rust and other deposits that would tend to clog the radiator and
coolant passages and reduce cooling efficiency.
A-Pillar (A-Post)
The forward or windshield pillars on a car that supports the
windshield and the front portion of the roof.
A-Post (A-Pillar)
The forward or windshield pillars on a car that supports the
windshield and the front portion of the roof.
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.
Axle
A shaft on which a wheel revolves or which revolves with a wheel.
Also, a solid beam that connects the two wheels at one end of the car.
In the latter sense an axle is called "live" if it transmits power as
in a front-engine rear-drive car. It's called a "beam" or "dead" axle
if the axle does nothing but support the wheels as at the rear of a
front-wheel-drive car.
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.
Automatic Transmission
A mechanism in the drive train with gear sets to vary the power and
torque delivered to the driven wheels as a function of engine load and
speed, usually incorporating a fluid coupling or torque converter to
allow changing gears and reversing direction without using a foot
operated clutch.
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
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.
ABS
(Anti-Lock Brake System)
A device which senses that one or more of the wheels are locking up
during braking. It is controlled by both mechanical and electronic
components. When you apply the brakes, the ABS will regulate the flow
of brake fluid being delivered to the brake calipers. It must be
remembered that a wheel cannot be steered unless it is rolling; so if
the wheel is locked up, there is no steering control. By the use of
electronic computers, the brakes rapidly alternate (at a rate of 30
times per second) from full pressure to full release. This process
will also alternate from the left-front wheel and the right-rear wheel
and switch to the right-front wheel and left-rear wheel. In this way
both maximum braking and maximum steering control is allowed during
braking.
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
A device which senses that one or more of the wheels are locking up
during braking. It is controlled by both mechanical and electronic
components. When you apply the brakes, the ABS will regulate the flow
of brake fluid being delivered to the brake calipers. It must be
remembered that a wheel cannot be steered unless it is rolling; so if
the wheel is locked up, there is no steering control. By the use of
electronic computers, the brakes rapidly alternate (at a rate of 30
times per second) from full pressure to full release. This process
will also alternate from the left-front wheel and the right-rear wheel
and switch to the right-front wheel and left-rear wheel. In this way
both maximum braking and maximum steering control is allowed during
braking.
Alternator
A device which produces alternating current (AC) by converting the
engine's turning (mechanical) energy into alternating electrical
current at all engine speeds. The AC must be rectified (converted from
AC to DC) before reaching the vehicle's electrical system. The
alternator is driven by a belt at the front of the engine.
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