Category: Glossary of Car Terms

What is Accelerator Pump?

Accelerator pumps are found in cars equipped with carburetors. When you accelerate, the accelerator pump delivers extra fuel through the accelerator pump circuit to allow the engine to deliver more power.

What is AWD?

All-Wheel Drive (AWD). Unlike four wheel drive systems, all-wheel drive is a system that drives all four wheels at all times. An all-wheel drive system has differentials which split the engine’s power to the four wheels according to which have the most traction.

What is Driveline?

The system of components that connects the transmission to the wheels. The driveline consists of axles, differentials, constant velocity (CV) or universal joints, and, for cars with rear-, four-, and all-wheel drive, a driveshaft.

What is Diesel Engine?

A type of engine that uses heat caused by engine compression rather than spark plugs to ignite its fuel mixture. Diesels are often more economical than gasoline engines; however, they create extra noise and vibration.

What is Drive Belt?

Also called a fan belt or serpentine belt, drive belts are used to drive the engine’s accessories, such as the alternator, power steering pump, or air conditioning compressor. A serpentine belt is a wide single drive belt that drives all the engine’s accessories.

What is Distributor Cap?

The distributor cap contains the terminals that the spark plug wires plug into. When the distributor sends power to a spark plug, it goes to the cap first and then to the spark plug wire and to the spark plug.

What is DLC?

An acronym for Data Link Connector. Formerly referred to as the ALDL, this is the connector to which diagnostic scan tools are connected. Under OBD II, the DLC is a standardized 16-cavity connector and has a standardized location under the driver-side instrument panel.

What is 4WD?

Four-Wheel Drive (4WD). 4WD is a selectable system; that is, a 4WD vehicle can be operated in 2- or 4WD, depending on the driver’s preference. In contrast, a vehicle with all-wheel drive constantly sends power to all four wheels.

What is ABS?

Anti-Lock Braking System or Anti-Skid Brake System (ABS) uses a series of sensors, a computer and a high-pressure hydraulic pump to prevent your brakes from locking up during sudden stops on slippery surfaces.

What is Distributor Rotor?

The rotor spins around inside the distributor. As it turns, it comes into contact with the terminals for each spark plug on the distributor cap. When this happens, it sends current at that precise moment to the spark plug, which then ignites the air/fuel in the cylinder at exactly the right time.