ABSACA/CA/DADCAFMAFRAFSAPSATDCATFATSAWD

BABCBCMBDCBHPBOBBPPBPSBSIBTDC

CANCASCASCARBCBCCOCDICFICFICHACHBCHC

Don’t know your BCM from your ECM, or your CAN from your LIN? You’re not alone.Listed here are some of the popular abbreviations that are used in automotive diagnostics.

Remember: if you’re reading an article on our website and see something that has a dotted underline (something that LTT) then if youmove your mouse cursor over the underlined word you will see what the abbreviation stands for.

Aanti-lock braking systemalternating currentair conditioninganalog-to-digitalanalog-to-digital converterair flow meterair/fuel ratio (sensor)air flow sensoratmospheric pressure sensorafter top dead centreautomatic transmission fluidair temperature sensorall wheel drive

Bbrake assistbody computerbody control modulebottom dead centrebrake horse powerbreak out boxbrake pedal positionback pressure sensorbuilt-in system interface (PSA)before top dead centre

Ccontroller area networkcrank angle sensorcar access system (BMW term)California Air Resources Boardcircuit breakercatalytic converter for oxidationcapacitor discharge ignitioncentral fuel injectioncontinuous fuel injectionchannel A (of scope)channel B (of scope)channel C (of scope)

PicoTechnology

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CHDCHTCIDCKPCMPCOCOPCPCCPPCPSCPSCRDCTSCVVL

dBDCDIDISDLCDLIDOHCDOTDPFDPFEDSGDSODTC

EACEBCMEBMECDECMECTECUEDICEDISEDLEGOEGREGSEIEMFEMLEOBDEPSESPESPSETCETCS-IEVEVAPEVR

FFTFI

channel D (of scope)cylinder head temperature sensorcylinder identificationcrankshaft position (sensor)camshaft position (sensor)carbon monoxidecoil-on-plugcoil per cyclinderclutch pedal positioncombustion pressure sensorcrankshaft position sensorcommon-rail dieselcoolant temperature sensorcontinuous variable valve lift

Ddecibelsdirect currentdirect injectiondistributorless ignition systemdiagnostic link connectordistributorless ignitiondouble over head camshaftdepartment of transport (USA)diesel particulate filterdifferential pressure feedback electronic system (Ford term)direct shift gearboxdigital storage oscilloscopediagnostic trouble code

Eelectronic accelerator controlelectronic brake control moduleelectronic body moduleelectronically controlled dieselengine control module, or electronic control moduleelectronically controlled automatic transmissionelectronic control unitelectronic diesel injection controlelectronic distributorless ignition systemelectronic differential lockexhaust gas oxygenexhaust gas recirculationelectronic gearbox controlelectronic ignitionelectromotive forceelektronische motorleistungsregelung ‘electronic throttle control’ (BMW term)European on-board diagnosticselectronic power steeringelectronic stability programeccentric shaft position sensorelectronic throttle controlelectronic throttle control system - intelligentelectric vehicleevaporative emission controlelectronic vacuum regulator (Ford term)

Ffast fourier transformfuel injection

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FTFTSFWD

GDI

HBAHCHDIHEGOHGVHIDHTHVHVACHz

I-BUSIACIATIATSICMIDIIMIISCISCV

K-CANKAMkHzKOECKOEOKOERKSkV

LHLINLNGLPGLT

MAFMAPMFIMHzMILMOTMPI

fuel trimfuel temperature sensorfront wheel drive

Ggasoline direct injection

Hhydraulic brake assisthydrocarbonhigh-pressure diesel injectionheated exhaust gas oxygen (sensor)heavy goods vehicle (UK term for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes)high intensity discharge (headlight)high tensionhybrid vehicleheating, ventilation and coolinghertz (cycles per second)

Iinstrumentation busidle air controlintake air temperatureintake air temperature sensorignition control moduleindirect injectionInstitute of the Motor Industryidle speed controlidle speed control valve

Kbody CAN-buskeep alive memorykilohertz (1,000 cycles per second)key on, engine crankingkey on, engine offkey on, engine runningknock sensorkilovolt (1,000 volts)

Lleft-handlocal interconnect networkliquefied natural gasliquefied petroleum gaslow tension

Mmass air flowmanifold absolute pressuremulti-port fuel injectionmegahertz (1,000,000 cycles per second)malfunction indicator lightministry of transport (UK roadworthiness test)multi-point injection

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NOPNTC

O2OBDOEOEMOHCOHV

PAIRPAMPASPATSPCMPCOPIDPIPPPEPPSpsiPSVPT-CANPTCPSPPSPSPWM

RHRFIRMSRPMRSSRWD

SAESAWSCSMGSOCSOHCSPISRMSTFTSUV

TBITCTCMTCUTD

Nneedle opening pressurenegative temperature coefficient

Ooxygenon-board diagnosticsoriginal equipmentoriginal equipment manufactureroverhead camshaftoverhead valve

Ppulsed secondary air injectionparking aid modulepower assisted steeringpassive anti-theft systempowertrain control modulePC oscilloscopeParameter ID (OBD-II)profile ignition pickup (Ford term)personal protection equipmentprogressive power steeringpounds force per square inchpassenger service vehiclepowertrain CANpositive temperature coefficientpower steering pressurepower steering pressure switchpulse width modulation

Rright-handradio frequency interferenceroot mean squaredrevolutions per minuteroad speed sensorrear wheel drive

Ssociety of automotive engineersspark advance word (Ford term)superchargerSequential Manual Gearboxstate of chargesingle overhead camshaftsingle point injectionspeech-recognition moduleshort term fuel trimsports utility vehicle

Tthrottle body injectionturbochargertransmission control moduletransmission control unitturbocharged diesel

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TDCTDITPPTPSTWC

USB

VAGVANVANOSVCMVINVPSVRVSCVSSVVCVVTVVT-I

WOTWSS

top dead centreturbocharged direct injectionthrottle position potentiometerthrottle position sensorthree-way catalyst

UUniversal Serial Bus

VVolkswagen-Audi groupvehicle area networkvariable valve timing control (BMW term)vehicle control modulevehicle identificaton numbervariable power steeringvariable reluctancevehicle stability controlvehicle speed sensorvariable valve controlvariable valve timingvariable vale timing - intelligent

Wwide-open throttlewheel speed sensor

Thanks to all those who have suggested entries for our jargon buster. Please keep the suggestions coming.

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