Controls the rebound force of the spring after it has been compressed. A certain amount of force compresses a spring — the spring wants to rebound to its original state with the same amount of force. Damping acts as an opposing force to slow the rebound movement. Read More »
Diesel Engine
An internal combustion engine in which air is compressed to a temperature sufficiently high to ignite fuel injected into the cylinder where the combustion actuates a piston. Read More »
Floor Pan
The metal structure on the bottom of the car. Almost all cars are unit body (or unibody) construction, and the floor pan provides the foundation for chassis stiffness. Your feet usually rest on a floor pan when you are in a car. Read More »
Global Positioning Satellite
The technology which allows vehicle tracking anywhere in the world with near-perfect accuracy. The Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system was first used by the military, but has been adopted by companies such as General Motors for use with their OnStar communication system. Several after-market communication systems using GPS are also available. Read More »
Hydraulic Fluid
A fluid that is under pressure in a system. It activates a pump thus enhancing the performance of the specific braking or steering system. Hydraulic fluid systems replaced wire and rod systems to perform the same tasks more efficiently and with increased reliability. Read More »
Interior Payload
The capacity of the usable area in the vehicle’s interior. It is defined by cubic feet. This includes the seating area for passengers as well as the cargo space. Read More »
Limits Of Adhesion
Usually a term used by sports car enthusiasts to describe the point of which a car begins to lose grip on the road while making a turn in a curve. This term can also refer to an emergency maneuver, acceleration, braking and tornadoes and hurricanes. Read More »
Mixture
The air/fuel mixture delivered from the carburetor to the combustion chamber. Read More »
On Boost
The condition that exists when a turbocharger is producing power. When exhaust pressure is sufficient, the turbine spins, and the turbo is on boost. Read More »
Pretensioner
Device that retracts the seat belt to tighten or take up slack in the wearer’s belt. When a collision occurs, a seat belt with a pretensioner detects the incident, or that the brakes have been applied, and tightens the belt before the wearer is propelled forward. This holds the occupant more securely in the seat. Read More »
