Commonly Used Automotive Abbreviations
 

There are more coming, this is just a start. Feel free to recomend new ones that I may forget.


ABS - Anti-Lock Brakes
ABRS - Air Bag Restraint System
AIS - Air Injection System
Alt. - Alternator
A/T - Automatic Transmission
ATC - Automatic Temperature Control
ATF - Automatic Transmission Fluid
AWD - All Wheel Drive
AXOD - Automatic Transaxle Overdrive
B+ - Battery Positive Voltage
BCM - Body Control Module
BHP - Brake Horsepower
CAT - Catalytic Converter
CB - Citezens Band
CKP - Crankshaft Position
CMP - Camshaft Position
CTS - Coolant Temperature Sensor
DEFI - Digital Electronic Fuel Injection
DFI - Digital Fuel Injection
DIC - Driver Information Center
DIS - Distributorless Ignition System
DLC - Data Link Connector
ECT - Engine Coolant Temperature
EFI - Electronic Fuel Injection
EGT - Exhaust Gas Temperature
EI - Electronic Ignition
EVIC- Electronic Vehicle Information Center
FI - Fuel Injection
FLS - Fluid Level Sensor
FWD - Front-Wheel Drive
GDI - Gasoline Direct Injection
GPM - Grams Per Mile
GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
HC - Hydrocarbons
hp - Horsepower
Hz - Hertz(Cycles Per Second)
IFI - Indirect Fuel Injection
IAT - Intake Air Temp
KM/H - Kilometers Per Hour
kV - Kilovolt
MAF -Mass Air Flow
MAP - Manifold Absolute Pressure
MAT - Manifold Air Temp
mA - Milliamps
MFI - Multiport Fuel Injection
MIL - Malfunction Indicator Light
MPI - Multi-Point (Fuel) Injection
MPV - Multi-Purpose Vehicle
mV - Millivolts
NOX - Oxides of Nitrogen
O2S - Oxygen Sensor
OBD - On-board Diagnostics
OD - Overdrive
OE - Original Equipment
OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer
OS - Oxygen Sensor
P/B - Power Bakes
P/N - Part Number
PCM - Powertrain Control Module
PGM-FI - Programmed Fuel Injection
PNP - Park Neutral Position Switch
P/N - Park/Neutral
PPM - Parts Per Million
PRNDL - Park Reverse Neutral Drive Low
P/S - Power Steering
PSI - Pounds Per Square Inch
PTC - Pending Trouble Code
R/A - Resume or Accelerate
RABS - Rear Anti-lock Brake System
RCC - Rear Climate Control
RECAL - Recalibration
RECIRC - Recirculation
RF - Radio Frequency
RFI - Radio Frequency Interference
RFWS - Right Front Wheel Speed
RKE - Remote Keyless Entry
Rly - Relay
RM - Relay Module
RPM - Revolutions Per Minute
RPO - Regular Production Option
RSC - Roll Stability Control
R/T - Road/Track
RVAC - Rear Video/Audio/HVAC Module
RWAL - Rear Wheel Anti-lock
RWD - Rear Wheel Drive
SC - Supercharged
SEFI - Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection
SES - Service Engine Soon
SFI - Sequential Fuel Injection
SIL - Shift Indicator Light
SIR - Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
SIPS - Side Impact Protection System
SPFI - Sequential Port Fuel Injection
SRI - Service Reminder Indicator
SRS - Secondary Restraint System
Sw. - Switch
SWB - Short Wheel-Base
TACH - Tachometer
TB - Throttle Body
TC- Turbocharged
TD - Turbo Diesel
TDI - Turbo Direct Injection
TPI - Tuned Port Injection
V - Valve
Vac. - Vacuum
VIN - Vehicle Identification Number
VOM - Volt-Ohmmeter
VSS - Vehicle Speed Sensor

Of course if you cant find it here, you can always click here fro one site, or here for the google search. I'll update this as much as I can, but I am only one person, going to college, and working full time. I'll do my best.


9/15/09 Edit
Transmission codes/types can be found on this site I tryed to post the chart, and it turned out to be mumbo jumbo. I'd love to figure out a way to do it, but until then you can just click on the link, and you'll see the chart.

10/18/09 Edit

MIL-Malfuntion Indicator Lamp
CEL-Check Engine Light
SES-Service Engine Soon Light
DTC-Diagnostic Trouble Code
DLC-Data Link Connector(OBD2 Connector)
OBD-On-Board Diagnostics

There first three, MIL,CEL, and SES, are used interchangably, but they all refer to the same indicator on the dash, in some vehicles, a service engine soon, or the words check engine, or in some vehicles just a yellow illuminated engine. But of course they all mean the same thing, a DTC(diagnostic trouble code) has been set by the pcm, due to a malfuntionin the system. A code reader is needed to read, and erase the codes, which will turn off the light. You can usually go to AutoZone, or Advance and theyll check and clear it for FREE.

Thanks 004x41500. Good work, I sticky-ed it!

thanks. hopefully itll help the new guys out here. i got lucky, and came from a family of GM workers. (dont ask how i became a dodge man, lol)

thanks for the in fo.. but i was under the assumtion BHP was Base Horse Power... but we all know what ones does when they assume....

Brake horse power is similiar to rear wheel horsepower. You engine may have 300 HP but only 250 RWHP,
FF

Companies nowdays use SAE HP ratings for the most part......yeah right, my SRT-4 was rated at way below it's actual output.......for insurance reasons, I was told.

Dusty

The cars in the early seventies were exploited this way, too. They undestimated the horsepower,
FF

well yes and no, its brake horse power, and its measured at the flywheel/flexplate with only the motor, no trans or anything, basically its tested on a motor stand and hooked to a dyno.

though you may have a 390hp engine, the rearwheels might only put out 300 due to the driveline, ujoints and such. however the engine may only make 200ft lbs of torque, but because the torque convertor typically multiplies the engines torque, your rear wheel torque could be 225 or even 250ft lbs.

hope this helps