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

anti-lock braking system

AC

alternating current

A/C

air conditioning

A/D

analog-to-digital

ADC

analog-to-digital converter

AFM

air flow meter

AFR

air/fuel ratio (sensor)

AFS

air flow sensor

APS

atmospheric pressure sensor

ATDC

after top dead centre

ATF

automatic transmission fluid

ATS

air temperature sensor

AWD

all wheel drive

B

BA

brake assist

BC

body computer

BCM

body control module

BDC

bottom dead centre

BHP

brake horse power

BOB

break out box

BPP

brake pedal position

BPS

back pressure sensor

BSI

built-in system interface (PSA)

BTDC

before top dead centre

C

CAN

controller area network

CAS

crank angle sensor

CAS

car access system (BMW term)

CARB

California Air Resources Board

CB

circuit breaker

CCO

catalytic converter for oxidation

CDI

capacitor discharge ignition

CFI

central fuel injection

CFI

continuous fuel injection

CHA

channel A (of scope)

CHB

channel B (of scope)

CHC

channel C (of scope)

CHD

channel D (of scope)

CHT

cylinder head temperature sensor

CID

cylinder identification

CKP

crankshaft position (sensor)

CMP

camshaft position (sensor)

CO

carbon monoxide

COP

coil-on-plug

CPC

coil per cyclinder

CPP

clutch pedal position

CPS

combustion pressure sensor

CPS

crankshaft position sensor

CRD

common-rail diesel

CTS

coolant temperature sensor

CVVL

continuous variable valve lift

D

dB

decibels

DC

direct current

DI

direct injection

DIS

distributorless ignition system

DLC

diagnostic link connector

DLI

distributorless ignition

DOHC

double over head camshaft

DOT

department of transport (USA)

DPF

diesel particulate filter

DPFE

differential pressure feedback electronic system (Ford term)

DSG

direct shift gearbox

DSO

digital storage oscilloscope

DTC

diagnostic trouble code

E

EAC

electronic accelerator control

EBCM

electronic brake control module

EBM

electronic body module

ECD

electronically controlled diesel

ECM

engine control module, or electronic control module

ECT

electronically controlled automatic transmission

ECU

electronic control unit

EDIC

electronic diesel injection control

EDIS

electronic distributorless ignition system

EDL

electronic differential lock

EGO

exhaust gas oxygen

EGR

exhaust gas recirculation

EGS

electronic gearbox control

EI

electronic ignition

EMF

electromotive force

EML

elektronische motorleistungsregelung ‘electronic throttle control’ (BMW term)

EOBD

European on-board diagnostics

EPS

electronic power steering

ESP

electronic stability program

ESPS

eccentric shaft position sensor

ETC

electronic throttle control

ETCS-I

electronic throttle control system - intelligent

EV

electric vehicle

EVAP

evaporative emission control

EVR

electronic vacuum regulator (Ford term)

F

FFT

fast fourier transform

FI

fuel injection

FT

fuel trim

FTS

fuel temperature sensor

FWD

front wheel drive

G

GDI

gasoline direct injection

H

HBA

hydraulic brake assist

HC

hydrocarbon

HDI

high-pressure diesel injection

HEGO

heated exhaust gas oxygen (sensor)

HGV

heavy goods vehicle (UK term for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes)

HID

high intensity discharge (headlight)

HT

high tension

HV

hybrid vehicle

HVAC

heating, ventilation and cooling

Hz

hertz (cycles per second)

I

I-BUS

instrumentation bus

IAC

idle air control

IAT

intake air temperature

IATS

intake air temperature sensor

ICM

ignition control module

IDI

indirect injection

IMI

Institute of the Motor Industry

ISC

idle speed control

ISCV

idle speed control valve

K

K-CAN

body CAN-bus

KAM

keep alive memory

kHz

kilohertz (1,000 cycles per second)

KOEC

key on, engine cranking

KOEO

key on, engine off

KOER

key on, engine running

KS

knock sensor

kV

kilovolt (1,000 volts)

L

LH

left-hand

LIN

local interconnect network

LNG

liquefied natural gas

LPG

liquefied petroleum gas

LT

low tension

M

MAF

mass air flow

MAP

manifold absolute pressure

MFI

multi-port fuel injection

MHz

megahertz (1,000,000 cycles per second)

MIL

malfunction indicator light

MOT

ministry of transport (UK roadworthiness test)

MPI

multi-point injection

N

NOP

needle opening pressure

NTC

negative temperature coefficient

O

O2

oxygen

OBD

on-board diagnostics

OE

original equipment

OEM

original equipment manufacturer

OHC

overhead camshaft

OHV

overhead valve

P

PAIR

pulsed secondary air injection

PAM

parking aid module

PAS

power assisted steering

PATS

passive anti-theft system

PCM

powertrain control module

PCO

PC oscilloscope

PID

Parameter ID (OBD-II)

PIP

profile ignition pickup (Ford term)

PPE

personal protection equipment

PPS

progressive power steering

psi

pounds force per square inch

PSV

passenger service vehicle

PT-CAN

powertrain CAN

PTC

positive temperature coefficient

PSP

power steering pressure

PSPS

power steering pressure switch

PWM

pulse width modulation

R

RH

right-hand

RFI

radio frequency interference

RMS

root mean squared

RPM

revolutions per minute

RSS

road speed sensor

RWD

rear wheel drive

S

SAE

society of automotive engineers

SAW

spark advance word (Ford term)

SC

supercharger

SMG

Sequential Manual Gearbox

SOC

state of charge

SOHC

single overhead camshaft

SPI

single point injection

SRM

speech-recognition module

STFT

short term fuel trim

SUV

sports utility vehicle

T

TBI

throttle body injection

TC

turbocharger

TCM

transmission control module

TCU

transmission control unit

TD

turbocharged diesel

TDC

top dead centre

TDI

turbocharged direct injection

TPP

throttle position potentiometer

TPS

throttle position sensor

TWC

three-way catalyst

U

USB

Universal Serial Bus

V

VAG

Volkswagen-Audi group

VAN

vehicle area network

VANOS

variable valve timing control (BMW term)

VCM

vehicle control module

VIN

vehicle identificaton number

VPS

variable power steering

VR

variable reluctance

VSC

vehicle stability control

VSS

vehicle speed sensor

VVC

variable valve control

VVT

variable valve timing

VVT-I

variable vale timing - intelligent

W

WOT

wide-open throttle

WSS

wheel speed sensor

Thanks to all those who have suggested entries for our jargon buster. Please keep the suggestions coming.

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