Automotive Abbreviations And Acronyms Reference List


  • A/C = Air Conditioning
  • A/F = Air/Fuel Ratio
  • A/T = Automatic Transmission or Transaxle
  • ABS = Antilock Braking System
  • ABSV = Air Bypass Solenoid Valve
  • AC = Alternating Current
  • ACTS = Air Charge Temperature Sensor
  • AFC = Air Flow Control
  • AFM = Air Flow Meter
  • AFS = Air Flow Sensor
  • APS = Absolute Pressure Sensor
  • APS = Atmospheric Pressure Sensor
  • ATDC = After Top Dead Centre
  • ATF = Automatic Transmission Fluid
  • ATS = Air Temperature Sensor
  • AWD = All Wheel Drive
  • B+ = Battery Positive Voltage
  • BAT = Battery
  • BCM = Body Control Module
  • BMAP = Barometric/Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor
  • BPS = Back pressure Sensor
  • BPT = Back Pressure Transducer
  • BTDC = Before Top Dead Centre
  • C3I = Computer Controlled Coil Ignition
  • CAN = Controller Area Network
  • CANP = Canister Purge Solenoid Valve
  • CAS = Crank Angle Sensor
  • CDI = Capacitor Discharge Ignition
  • CEAB = Cold Engine Air Bleed
  • CECU = Central Electronic Control Unit
  • CER = Cold Enrichment Rod
  • CESS = Cold Engine Sensor Switch
  • CFI = Central Fuel Injection
  • CFI = Continuous Fuel Injection
  • CID = Cubic Inch Displacement
  • CIS = Continuous Injection System
  • CKP = Crankshaft Position Sensor
  • CMP = Camshaft Position Sensor
  • CO = Carbon Monoxide
  • CO2 = Carbon Dioxide
  • COP = Coil On Plug ignition
  • CPI = Central Port Injection
  • CPU = Central Processing Unit
  • CSSA = Cold Start Spark Advance
  • CSSH = Cold Start Spark Hold
  • CTS = Coolant Temperature Sensor
  • CTVS = Choke Thermal Vacuum Switch
  • CVR = Control Vacuum Regulator
  • DC = Direct Current
  • DEFI = Digital Electronic Fuel Injection
  • DFS = Deceleration Fuel Shut Off
  • DIS = Distributorless Ignition System
  • DIS = Direct Ignition System
  • DLC = Data Link Connector
  • DOHC = Double Over Head Camshaft
  • DTC = Diagnostic Trouble Code
  • DVOM = Digital Volt Ohm Meter
  • EACV = Electronic Air Control Valve
  • EBCM = Electronic Brake Control Module
  • EBM = Electronic Body Module
  • ECA = Electronic Control Assembly
  • ECM = Engine Control Module
  • ECT = Engine Coolant Temperature
  • ECU = Electronic Control Unit
  • EDIS = Electronic Distributorless Ignition System
  • EEPROM = Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
  • E2PROM = Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
  • EFC = Electronic Fuel Control
  • EFCA = Electronic Fuel Control Assembly
  • EFI = Electronic Fuel Injection
  • EGO = Exhaust Gas Oxygen Sensor
  • EGR = Exhaust Gas Recirculation
  • EGRPS = EGR Valve Position Sensor
  • EGRT = EGR Temperature
  • EI = Electronic Ignition
  • EMI = Electromagnetic Interference
  • EMR = Electronic Module Retard
  • EOS = Exhaust Oxygen Sensor
  • EPOS = EGR Valve Position Sensor
  • EPROM = Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (chip)
  • ESC = Electronic Spark Control
  • EST = Electronic Spark Timing
  • EVAP = Evaporative Emission System
  • EVP = EGR Valve Position Sensor
  • FBC = Feedback Carburetor System
  • FBCA = Feedback Carburetor Actuator
  • FCS = Fuel Control Solenoid
  • FDC = Fuel Deceleration Valve
  • FI = Fuel Injection
  • FLS = Fluid Level Sensor
  • FWD = Front-Wheel Drive
  • GDI = Gasoline Direct Injection
  • GEN = Generator
  • GND = Ground
  • GVW = Gross Vehicle Weight
  • HC = Hydrocarbon
  • HEGO = Heated Exhaust Gas Oxygen Sensor
  • HEI = High Energy Ignition
  • HO2S = Heated Oxygen Sensor
  • HT = High Tension
  • IAC = Idle Air Control
  • IAT = Intake Air Temperature
  • IATS = Intake Air Temperature Sensor
  • IC = Integrated Circuit
  • ICM = Ignition Control Module
  • ICS = Idle Control Solenoid
  • IFI = Indirect Fuel Injection
  • IGN = Ignition
  • ISC = Idle Speed Control
  • ISO = International Standards Organization
  • ITCS = Ignition Timing Control System
  • ITS = Idle Tracking Switch
  • KOEC = “Key On, Engine Cranking”
  • KOEO = “Key On, Engine Off”
  • KOER = “Key On, Engine Running”
  • KS = Knock Sensor
  • LCD = Liquid Crystal Display
  • LED = Light Emitting Diode
  • LTFT = Long Term Fuel Trim
  • MAF = Mass Air Flow
  • MAP = Manifold Absolute Pressure
  • MAT = Manifold Air Temperature
  • MCS = Mixture Control Solenoid
  • MCT = Manifold Charge Temperature
  • MFI = Multi Port Fuel Injection
  • MIL = Malfunction Indicator Light
  • MPFI = Multi Point Fuel Injection
  • MPI = Multi Port Injection
  • NOX = Oxides of Nitrogen
  • NVRAM = Nonvolatile Random Access Memory
  • O2 = Oxygen
  • O2S = Oxygen Sensor
  • OBD I = Onboard Diagnostics One
  • OBD II = Onboard Diagnostics Two
  • OE = Original Equipment
  • OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer
  • OHC = Over Head Camshaft
  • OHV = Over Head Valve
  • OS = Oxygen Sensor
  • P/B = Power Bakes
  • PA = Pressure Air
  • PAIR = Pulsed Secondary Air Injection
  • PAS = Power-Assisted Steering
  • PCM = Powertrain Control Module
  • PCV = Positive Crankcase Ventilation
  • PECV = Power Enrichment Control Valve
  • PFI = Port Fuel Injection
  • PIP = Profile ignition pickup
  • PNP = Park/Neutral Switch
  • PROM = Program Read Only Memory (chip)
  • PS = Power Steering
  • PSI = Pounds Per Square Inch
  • PSP = Power Steering Pressure
  • PTC = Pending Trouble Code
  • PWR = Power to Weight Ratio
  • RAM = Random Access Memory
  • RFI = Radio Frequency Interference
  • ROM = Read Only Memory
  • RON = Rated Octane Number
  • RPM = Revolutions Per Minute
  • SC = Supercharged
  • SEFI = Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection
  • SES = Service Engine Soon (light)
  • SFI = Sequential Fuel Injection
  • SOHC = Single Overhead Camshaft
  • SRT = System Readiness Test
  • SS = Speed Sensor
  • SSI = Solid State Ignition
  • STFT = Short Term Fuel Trim
  • TACH = Tachometer
  • TB = Throttle Body
  • TBI = Throttle Body Injection
  • TC = Turbocharged
  • TCC = Torque Converter Clutch
  • TCM = Transmission or Transaxle Control Module
  • TD = Turbo Diesel
  • TDC = Top Dead Centre
  • TDI = Turbo Direct Injection (A turbocharged direct injected diesel engine)
  • TIV = Thermactor Idle Vacuum Valve
  • TPI = Tuned Port Injection
  • TPP = Throttle Position Potentiometer
  • TPS = Throttle Position Sensor
  • TPT = Throttle Position Transducer
  • TSP = Throttle Solenoid Positioner
  • TV = Throttle Valve
  • TVS = Thermal Vacuum Switch
  • TWC = Three Way Catalyst
  • TWC+OC = Three Way + Oxidation Catalytic Converter
  • VAC = Volts Alternating Current
  • VAF = Volume Air Flow
  • VAF = Vane Airflow Sensor
  • VCC = Viscous Converter Clutch
  • VCM = Vehicle Control Module
  • VIN = Vehicle Identification Number
  • VR = Voltage Regulator
  • VS = Vehicle Sensor
  • VSS = Vehicle Speed Sensor
  • VVT = Variable Valve Timing
  • WOT = Wide Open Throttle

Periodically, Danny’s Engineportal Will Update This Automotive Abbreviations And Acronyms Reference List.


BY DANNY BENDER