glossary-JamesHalderman.doc

GLOSSARY 3-minute charge test- A method used to test batteries. Not valid for all types of batteries. 4 X 2 - The term used to describe a two-wheel drive truck. The 4 indicates the number of wheels of the vehicle and the 2 indicates the number of wheels that are driven by the engine. 4 X 4 - The term used to describe a four-wheel drive vehicle. The first 4 indicates the number of wheels of the vehicle and the second 4 indicates the number of wheels that are driven by the engine. 4WAL - Four wheel antilock. 720° cycle – The number of degrees of crankshaft rotation required to complete the four-stroke cycle. A-arm – Another name for a control arm because it often looks like the letter A. Above ground storage tank-A type of oil storage. ABS - Antilock brake system. AC - See alternating current. AC coupling - A signal that passes the AC signal component to the meter, but blocks the DC component. Useful to observe an AC signal that is normally riding on a DC signal; for example, charging ripple. AC generator - Also called an alternator. AC motor – An electric motor that is powered by AC (alternating current). AC synchronous motor – An electric motor that uses a three-phase stator coil with a brushless permanent magnet rotor. Another term for DC brushless motor. AC/DC clamp-on DMM- A type of meter that has a clamp that is placed around the wire to measure current. Accumulator – A temporary location for fluid under pressure. Acid – A substance with a pH lower than 7. Acidic – A chemical compound that produces a pH of less than 7 when dissolved in water. Acidic is the opposite of alkaline. ACIM – AC Induction Motor. See Induction motor. Ackerman Principle - The angle of the steering arms causes the inside wheel to turn more sharply than the outer wheel when making a turn. This produces toe-out on turns (TOOT). ACM – Active Control Engine Mount. ACMs are computer controlled and are designed to dampen unusual vibrations during ICE start/stop. ACP - Audio Control Pr