Don’t know your BCM from your ECM, or your CAN from your LIN? You’re not alone.
Listed here are some of the popular abbreviations that are used in automotive diagnostics.
Remember: if you’re reading an article on our website and see something that has a dotted underline (something that LTT) then if you
move your mouse cursor over the underlined word you will see what the abbreviation stands for.
A
ABS
AC
A/C
A/D
ADC
AFM
AFR
AFS
APS
ATDC
ATF
ATS
AWD
anti-lock braking system
alternating current
air conditioning
analog-to-digital
analog-to-digital converter
air flow meter
air/fuel ratio (sensor)
air flow sensor
atmospheric pressure sensor
after top dead centre
automatic transmission fluid
air temperature sensor
all wheel drive
BA
BC
BCM
BDC
BHP
BOB
BPP
BPS
BSI
BTDC
brake assist
body computer
body control module
bottom dead centre
brake horse power
break out box
brake pedal position
back pressure sensor
built-in system interface (PSA)
before top dead centre
CAN
CAS
CAS
CARB
CB
CCO
CDI
CFI
CFI
CHA
CHB
CHC
controller area network
crank angle sensor
car access system (BMW term)
California Air Resources Board
circuit breaker
catalytic converter for oxidation
capacitor discharge ignition
central fuel injection
continuous fuel injection
channel A (of scope)
channel B (of scope)
channel C (of scope)
channel D (of scope)
cylinder head temperature sensor
cylinder identification
crankshaft position (sensor)
camshaft position (sensor)
carbon monoxide
coil-on-plug
coil per cyclinder
clutch pedal position
combustion pressure sensor
crankshaft position sensor
common-rail diesel
coolant temperature sensor
continuous variable valve lift
dB
DC
DI
DIS
DLC
DLI
DOHC
DOT
DPF
DPFE
DSG
DSO
DTC
decibels
direct current
direct injection
distributorless ignition system
diagnostic link connector
distributorless ignition
double over head camshaft
department of transport (USA)
diesel particulate filter
differential pressure feedback electronic system (Ford term)
direct shift gearbox
digital storage oscilloscope
diagnostic trouble code
electronic accelerator control
electronic brake control module
electronic body module
electronically controlled diesel
engine control module, or electronic control module
electronically controlled automatic transmission
electronic control unit
electronic diesel injection control
electronic distributorless ignition system
electronic differential lock
exhaust gas oxygen
exhaust gas recirculation
electronic gearbox control
electronic ignition
electromotive force
elektronische motorleistungsregelung ‘electronic throttle control’ (BMW term)
European on-board diagnostics
electronic power steering
electronic stability program
eccentric shaft position sensor
electronic throttle control
electronic throttle control system - intelligent
electric vehicle
evaporative emission control
electronic vacuum regulator (Ford term)
FFT
FI
fast fourier transform
fuel injection
D
E
F
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FT
FTS
FWD
fuel trim
fuel temperature sensor
front wheel drive
GDI
gasoline direct injection
HBA
HC
HDI
HEGO
HGV
HID
HT
HV
HVAC
Hz
hydraulic brake assist
hydrocarbon
high-pressure diesel injection
heated exhaust gas oxygen (sensor)
heavy goods vehicle (UK term for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes)
high intensity discharge (headlight)
high tension
hybrid vehicle
heating, ventilation and cooling
hertz (cycles per second)
I-BUS
IAC
IAT
IATS
ICM
IDI
IMI
ISC
ISCV
instrumentation bus
idle air control
intake air temperature
intake air temperature sensor
ignition control module
indirect injection
Institute of the Motor Industry
idle speed control
idle speed control valve
K-CAN
KAM
kHz
KOEC
KOEO
KOER
KS
kV
body CAN-bus
keep alive memory
kilohertz (1,000 cycles per second)
key on, engine cranking
key on, engine off
key on, engine running
knock sensor
kilovolt (1,000 volts)
LH
LIN
LNG
LPG
LT
left-hand
local interconnect network
liquefied natural gas
liquefied petroleum gas
low tension
MAF
MAP
MFI
MHz
MIL
MOT
MPI
mass air flow
manifold absolute pressure
multi-port fuel injection
megahertz (1,000,000 cycles per second)
malfunction indicator light
ministry of transport (UK roadworthiness test)
multi-point injection
G
H
I
K
L
M
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N
NOP
NTC
needle opening pressure
negative temperature coefficient
O2
OBD
OE
OEM
OHC
OHV
oxygen
on-board diagnostics
original equipment
original equipment manufacturer
overhead camshaft
overhead valve
PAIR
PAM
PAS
PATS
PCM
PCO
PID
PIP
PPE
PPS
psi
PSV
PT-CAN
PTC
PSP
PSPS
PWM
pulsed secondary air injection
parking aid module
power assisted steering
passive anti-theft system
powertrain control module
PC oscilloscope
Parameter ID (OBD-II)
profile ignition pickup (Ford term)
personal protection equipment
progressive power steering
pounds force per square inch
passenger service vehicle
powertrain CAN
positive temperature coefficient
power steering pressure
power steering pressure switch
pulse width modulation
RH
RFI
RMS
RPM
RSS
RWD
right-hand
radio frequency interference
root mean squared
revolutions per minute
road speed sensor
rear wheel drive
SAE
SAW
SC
SMG
SOC
SOHC
SPI
SRM
STFT
SUV
society of automotive engineers
spark advance word (Ford term)
supercharger
Sequential Manual Gearbox
state of charge
single overhead camshaft
single point injection
speech-recognition module
short term fuel trim
sports utility vehicle
TBI
TC
TCM
TCU
TD
throttle body injection
turbocharger
transmission control module
transmission control unit
turbocharged diesel
O
P
R
S
T
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TDC
TDI
TPP
TPS
TWC
top dead centre
turbocharged direct injection
throttle position potentiometer
throttle position sensor
three-way catalyst
Volkswagen-Audi group
vehicle area network
variable valve timing control (BMW term)
vehicle control module
vehicle identificaton number
variable power steering
variable reluctance
vehicle stability control
vehicle speed sensor
variable valve control
variable valve timing
variable vale timing - intelligent
WOT
WSS
wide-open throttle
wheel speed sensor
U
V
W
Thanks to all those who have suggested entries for our jargon buster. Please keep the suggestions coming.