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348 automotive acronyms to make you sound smart

348 automotive acronyms to make you sound smart

10 minute read

Have any of the acronyms in your owner's manual ever made you shake your head? Do you get confused by some of the jargon that comes out of your mechanic's mouth? Don't worry, you're not alone. There's a lot of terminology to learn when you begin repairing and maintaining your vehicle, and at times it can seem daunting. This exhaustive list of automotive acronyms will help you cut through the jargon and improve your understanding.

AB - Air Bleed

ABDC - After bottom dead center

ABPV or ABV - Air Bypass Valve

AB - Air Bleed

ABDC - After bottom dead center

ABPV or ABV - Air Bypass Valve

ABS - Anti-lock Brake System

AC - Alternating current

A/C - Air Conditioner or Air Conditioning

ACCC - A/C Compressor Clutch

ACCCS - A/C Clutch Cycling Switch

ACL BI-Met - Air Cleaner Bimetal sensor

ACL DV - Air Cleaner Duct and Valve Vacuum motor

ACT - Air Charge Temperature sensor

ACV - Air Control Valve

ADS - Association of Diesel Specialists

AEA - Automotive Electric Association

AERA - Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association

A/F - Air/fuel

AFB - Aluminum four-barrel

AFC - Air-Flow Controlled

AFR - Air/fuel ratio

AFS - Air Flow Sensor

AI - Air Injection

AICV - Air Injection Check Valve

AIR-CHV - Air Check Valve

AIR-DV - Air Diverter Valve

AIR-IVV - Air Idle Vacuum Valve

AIS - Air Injection System

AIS - Automatic Idle Speed motor

AIV - Air Injection Valve

AMGV - Air Management Valve

AMS - Air Management System

ANTBV - Anti-Backfire valve

APDV - Air Pump Diverter Valve

API - American Petroleum Institute

AS - Airflow Sensor

ASE - Automotive Service Excellence

ASIA - Automotive Service Industry Association

ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASRV - Air Switching Relief Valve

ASS - Air Switching Solenoid

ASV - Air Switching Valve

ATA - American Trucking Association

ATF - Automatic transmission fluid

ATS - Air Temperature Sensor

AWD - All-wheel-drive

BBDC - Before Bottom Dead Center

BCDD - Boost-Controlled Deceleration Device

BCI - Battery Council International

BDC - Bottom dead center

Bhp - Brake horsepower

BHS - Bi-Metal Heat Sensor

BMAP - Barometric and Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor

BP - Barometric Pressure sensor

BPA - By-Pass Air solenoid

BPEGR - Backpressure EGR

BPS - Barometric Pressure Sensor

BTU - British Thermal Unit

BV - Bowl Vent port

BVT - Backpressure Variable Transducer

C-3 - Computer Command Control system

C-4 - Computer Controlled Catalytic Converter system

CAM - Choke Air Modulator switch

CANP - Canister Purge solenoid

CAS - Cleaner Air System

CAT - Catalytic Converter

CAV - Coasting Air Valve

CBVV - Carburetor Bowl Vent Valve

CC - Catalytic Converter

CCC - Computer Command Control; Converter Clutch Control solenoid

CCEGR - Coolant Controlled Exhaust Gas Recirculation

CCEVS - Coolant Controlled Engine Vacuum Switch

CCIE - Coolant Controlled Idle Enrichment

CCO - Converter Clutch Override

CCS - Controlled Combustion System

CCT - Computer Controlled Timing

CCV - Closed Crankcase Ventilation system

CEC - Combined Emission Control system; Computerized Emission Control

system; Combination Emission Control

CES - Clutch Engine Switch

CID - Cubic Inch Displacement

CIS - Continuous Injection System

CKV - Check Valve

CLC - Converter Lock-up Clutch

CO - Carbon Monoxide

CO2 - Carbon Dioxide

COC - Conventional Oxidation Catalyst

CP - Crankshaft Position sensor

CPRV - Canister Purge Regulator Valve

CPS - Canister Purge Solenoid

CPV - Canister Purge Valve

CRV - Coasting Richener Valve

CSOV - Canister purge Shut Off Valve

CSSA - Cold Start Spark Advance system

CSSH - Cold Start Spark Hold system

CTAV - Cold Temperature Activated Vacuum

CTO - Coolant Temperature Override switch

CTS - Coolant Temperature Sensor; Coolant Temperature Switch

CTVS - Choke Thermal Vacuum Switch

CV - Check Valve

CWM - Cold Weather Modulator

DBC - Dual-Bed Catalytic Converter

DC - Direct current

DEFI - Digital Electronic Fuel Injection

DFS - Deceleration Fuel Shut-off

DIS - Distributorless Ignition System

DLV - Delay Valve

DP - Dashpot

DPDT - A double-pole, double-throw switch

DPST - A double-pole, single-throw switch

DRB II - Diagnostic Readout Box II

DS - Detonation Sensor See knock sensor

DSAV - Deceleration Spark Advance system

DV - Delay Valve

DVOM - Digital Volt-Ohmmeter

DVTRV - Diverter Valve

ECA - Electronic Control Assembly

ECC - Electronic Controlled Carburetor

ECM - Electronic Control Module

ECS - Evaporation Control System

ECT - Engine Coolant Temperature sensor

ECU - Electronic Control Unit

EDIS - Electronic Distributorless Ignition System

EDM - Electronic Distributor Modulator

EEC - Evaporative Emission Controls

EEC/EEC-I/EEC-II/EEC-III/EEC-IV - Electronic Engine Control systems

EEGR - Electronic EGR valve

EFC - Electronic Feedback Carburetor; Electronic Fuel Control

EFE - Early Fuel Evaporation

EFE TVS - EFE Thermal Vacuum Switch

EFI - Electronic Fuel Injection

EGO - Exhaust Gas Oxygen sensor

EGR-EPV - EGR External Pressure Valve

EGR-EVR - EGR Electronic Vacuum Regulator

EGR-FDLV - EGR Forward Delay Valve

EGR-RSR - EGR Reservoir

EGR-S/O - EGR Shut-Off

EGR-TVS - EGR Thermal Vacuum Switch

EGRV - EGR Vent solenoid

EGR-VCV - EGR Vacuum Control Valve

EGR-VSOL - EGR Vacuum Solenoid

EGR-VVA - EGR Venturi Vacuum Amplifier

EHCV - Exhaust Heat Control Valve

EIS - Electronic Ignition System

ELB - Electronic Lean Burn

EMF - Electromotive force, or voltage

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

EPC - Electronic Pressure Control

EPR-SOL - Exhaust Pressure Regulator Solenoid

EPR-VLV - Exhaust Pressure Regulator Valve

ERS - Engine Rpm Sensor

ESC - Electronic Spark Control system

ESS - Engine Speed Sensor

ESSM - Engine Speed Switch Module

EST - Electronic Spark Timing system

ETC - Electronic Throttle Control

EVAP - Evaporative emission control system

EVCR - Emission Vacuum Control Regulator

EVP - EGR Valve Position sensor

EVR - EGR Vacuum Regulator

FAP - Forced Air Pre-heat system

FBC - Feedback Carburetor system

FBCA - Feedback Carburetor Actuator

FCS - Feedback Carburetor Solenoid, Feedback Control System, Fuel Control

Solenoid or Fuel Control System

FCV - Fuel Cut-off Valve

FI - Fuel Injection

FVEC - Fuel Vapor Emission Control

FVR - Fuel Vapor Recovery system

HAC - High altitude compensator

HAEC - High Altitude Emission Control system

HAI - Heated Air Inlet system

HC - Hydrocarbon

HCV - Heat control valve

HEGO - Heated EGO sensor

HEI - High Energy Ignition

HSC - High Swirl Combustion chamber

IAC - Idle Air Control

IAS - Inlet Air Solenoid valve

IAT - Intake Air Temperature

IBP - Integral Back Pressure

ICM - Ignition Control Module

ID - Inside diameter

IGN - Ignition

IHP - Indicated Horsepower

IMVC - Intake Manifold Vacuum Control

INJ - Injector

INJ GND - Injector Ground

ISS - Idle Stop Solenoid

ITC - Ignition Timing Control system

ITS - Idle Tracking Switch

IVV - Idle Vacuum Valve

JAS - Jet Air Stream

JCAV - Jet-Controlled Air Valve

JVS - Jet Valve System

KAM - Keep Alive Memory

KNK - Knock Sensor

KS - Knock Sensor

MAF - Mass Air Flow sensor

MAJC - Main Air Jet Control

MAT - Manifold Absolute Temperature sensor

MCS - Mixture Control System

MCT - Manifold Charge Temperature sensor

MCU - Microprocessor Control Unit

MEC - Motronic Engine Control

MECS - Mazda Equipped Control System

MEMA - Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association

MEWA - Motor and Equipment Wholesalers Association

MFI - Mechanical Fuel Injection, or Multi-port Fuel Injection

MHCV - Manifold Heat Control Valve

MIL - Malfunction Indicator Light

MTA - Managed Thermactor Air

MVMA - Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association

NADA - National Automobile Dealers Association

NAPA - National Automotive Parts Association

OC - Oxidation Catalyst

OHV - Overhead Valve

OS - Oxygen sensor

OSAC - Orifice Spark Advance Control

OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OTVS - Oil Thermal Vacuum Switch

OXS - Oxygen Sensor system

PA - Pulse Air

PACV - Pulse Air Check Valve

PAF - Pulse Air Feeder

PAI - Pulse Air Injection

PAS - Pulse Air System

PCOV - Purge Control Valve

PCV - Positive Crankcase Ventilation system

PCVS - PCV Solenoid

PCVV - Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve

PECV - Power Enrichment Control Valve

PFE - Pressure Feedback EGR sensor

PFI - Port Fuel Injection

PIP - Profile Ignition Pickup

PROM - Programmable Read-Only Memory

PSOV - Canister Purge Shut-Off Valve

PSPS - Power Steering Pressure Switch

PSV - Pulse Air Shut-off Valve

PTC - Positive Temperature Coefficient choke heater

PVA - Ported Vacuum Advance

PVCS - Ported Vacuum Control System

PVFFC - Pressure/Vacuum Fuel Filler Cap

PVS - Ported Vacuum Switch

RAM - Random Access Memory

RC - Rear Catalytic Converter

RDV - Retard Delay Valve or Reverse Delay Valve

RMA - The Rubber Manufacturers Association

ROM - Read Only Memory

SAS - Secondary Air Supply system See “Air Injection System.”

SBC - Single Bed Catalytic converter

SCC - Spark Control Computer

SCS - Spark Control System, or Speed Controlled Spark

SCVAC - Speed Control Vacuum Control

SDV - Spark Delay Valve

SEC ACT - Secondary Actuator

SEFI - Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection

SFI - Sequential Fuel Injection See “Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection.”

SHED - Sealed Housing Evaporative Determination system

SIL - Shift Indicator Light

SIS - Solenoid Idle Stop

SOL V - EGR Solenoid Vacuum Valve Assembly

SPFI - Single-Point Fuel Injection

SPDT - A single-pole, double-throw switch

SPST - A single-pole, single-throw switch

SRS - Supplemental Restraint System (airbag)

SSI - Solid State Ignition system

SVCBV - Solenoid Valve Carburetor Bowl Vent

SVV - Solenoid Vent Valve

TAC - Thermostatically Controlled Air cleaner

TCS - Transmission Controlled Spark

TDC - Top dead center

TAD - Thermactor Air Diverter solenoid

TAV - Temperature Activated Vacuum system

TC - Throttle Closer

TCAC - Thermostatic Controlled Air Cleaner system

TCC - Transaxle Converter Clutch system

TCS - Throttle Control System, or Transmission Controlled Spark system or

Transmission Converter Switch

TDC - Top Dead Center

TDP - Throttle closing Dashpot

TDS - Time Delay Solenoid

TEC - Thermactor Exhaust Control system

TES - Thermal Electric Switch

TFI, TFI-IV - Thick Film Integrated Ignition (Ford systems)

TIC - Thermal Ignition Control

TIV - Thermactor Idle Vacuum valve

TK - Throttle Kicker vacuum solenoid valve

TKA - Throttle Kicker Actuator

TKS - Throttle Kicker Solenoid

TO - Thermal Override

TOC - Throttle Opener Control system

TP - Throttle Position, or Throttle Position Sensor

TPI - Tuned Port Injection

TPS - Throttle Position Sensor

TR - Thermal Reactor

TSD - Throttle Solenoid

TSP - Throttle Solenoid Positioner

TVS - Temperature Vacuum Switch or Thermal Vacuum Switch

TVSV - Thermostatic Vacuum Switch Valve

TVV - Thermal Vacuum Valve, or Thermal Vent Valve

TWC - Three-Way Catalyst

UBC - Underbody Catalyst

VAC - Vacuum Advance Control

VAF - Vane Air Flow meter

VAT - Vane Air Temperature sensor

VAV - Vacuum Advance Valve

VB - Vacuum Break

VBV - Vacuum Bias valve

VCKV - Vacuum Check Valve

VCS - Vapor Control System, or Vacuum Control Switch

VCV - Vacuum Control Valve

VDV - Vacuum Delay Valve or Vacuum Differential Valve

VECI - Vehicle Emission Control Information decal

VHC - Vacuum Operated exhaust Heat Control valve

VIN - Vehicle Identification Number

VMV - Vacuum Modulator Valve

VOC - Volatile organic compounds

VOM - Volt-Ohmmeter

VOTM - Vacuum-Operated Throttle Modulator

VP - Vacuum Pump

VRDV - Vacuum Retard Delay Valve

VRESER - Vacuum Reservoir

VREST - Vacuum Restrictor

VR or VRS - Variable Reluctance Sensor

VR/S - Vacuum Regulator Solenoid

V-RSR - Vacuum reservoir

V-RST - Vacuum restrictor

VRDV - Vacuum Retard Delay Valve

VRES - Vacuum Reservoir

VREST - Vacuum Restrictor

VRV - Vacuum Reducer Valve, or Vacuum Regulator Valve

VS - Vacuum Switch

VSA - Vacuum Switch Assembly

VSC - Vehicle Speed Control sensor

VSS - Vehicle Speed Sensor, or Vacuum Switch Solenoid

VSV - Vacuum Solenoid Valve, or Vacuum Switching Valve

VTM - Vacuum Throttle Modulator

VTP - Vacuum Throttle Positioner

VTV - Vacuum Transmitting Valve

VVA - Venturi Vacuum Amplifier

VVC - Variable Voltage Choke

VVV - Vacuum Vent Valve

WAC - Wide-open throttle Air conditioner Cutoff

WOT (wide open throttle)

WOTS - Wide-Open Throttle Switch

WOTV - Wide Open Throttle Valve

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