DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "As"

ASA

Formerly, abbreviation for American Standards Association. Now known as American National Standards Institute.

ASARC

Acronym for Air Suspension Automatic Ride Control

Asbestos

1. A heat resistant and non-burning fibrous mineral (in combination with bonding materials like asphalts and resins) widely used for Brake shoes, Clutch linings, etc. Asbestos is a health hazard and the dust created by brake systems should never be inhaled or ingested.
2. A group of naturally occurring minerals that separate into long, thin fibers.

Asbestos-free

Something that has no asbestos -- especially brake and clutch linings.

Asbestosis

An incurable lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers over an extended period of time.

ASBS

See
Anti-skid brake system

ASC

See
Anti-spin regulation

Ascending stroke

See
Up-stroke

ASD

1. Acronym for Automatic slip-control differential.
2. Acronym for Automatic Shutdown Relay

ASDM

Acronym for Airbag System Diagnostic Module (Chrysler)

ASE

1. Acronym for National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
2. Acronym for Automotive Service Excellence

ASEAN

Acronym for Association of South East Asian Nations.

Ash

Inorganic residue remaining after ignition of combustible substances determined by definite prescribed methods.

Ash frame

A frame of a car made of wood from the ash tree and covered with aluminum panels.

Ashtray

A device (in a vehicle) for holding cigarette ashes.

ASIA

Acronym for Automotive Service Industry Association

ASM

Acronym for Acceleration Simulation Mode

ASME

Acronym for American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASP

Acronym for Air Sensor Potentiometer

Aspect ratio

1. The ratio of length to width of rectangular air grille or duct.
2. The relationship in a tire or wheel between the distance from the rim to the Tread and the tire's width (i.e., ratio of Section height to Section width). Thus, in a P185/80R13 tire, 80 is the aspect ratio, showing the height is 80% of the width. A lower aspect ratio describes a shorter, wider tire.
3. In a wing, it is the relationship of its span (horizontal length) to its chord (height). Important for induced drag and range/speed characteristics. Defined as S²/A where S is the span and A is the area. Normal figure between 6 and 9, lesser values than 6 being low aspect ratio, greater than 9 high aspect ratios.
4. Ratio of the length of a fiber or wire to its width or diameter.
5. (AR) Ratio of the width to the height of the reproduced picture or computer screen, e.g., 4x3, often expressed with the height as unity. 1.331. Wide-screen systems have aspect ratios between 1.651 and 2.351.
6. In a Tokamak type of fusion machine, the ratio of the major to minor radii of the torus.

Also see
ULP

Asphalt (pronounced ASS-falt or ASH-falt)

1. A bituminous substance found naturally in oil-bearing strata from which the volatiles have evaporated
2. A residue in petroleum distillation
3. A mixture of asphaltic Bitumen and granite chippings, sand, or powdered limestone. Asphalt is used extensively for paving, road-making, damp-proof courses, in the manufacture of roofing felt and paints and as the raw material for certain moulded plastics.
4. A dark brown-to-black cement-like material obtained by petroleum processing and containing bitumens as the predominant component; used primarily for road construction. It includes crude asphalt as well as the following finished products cements, fluxes, the asphalt content of emulsions (exclusive of water), and petroleum distillates blended with asphalt to make cutback asphalts. Note The conversion factor for asphalt is 5.5 barrels per short ton.

Asphaltenes

Insoluble, semi-solid, or solid particles which are combustible and are highly aromatic. Asphaltenes contain a high carbon to hydrogen ratio and entrap water, fuel ashes and other impurities.

Aspirated

A device which is energized by ingesting air (usually oxygen).

Aspirated engine

See
Naturally aspirated engine
Normally aspirated engine

Aspiration

The process of sucking or inhaling the air-fuel mixture into a combustion engine.

Aspirator

The air intake of a sensor.

Aspirator system

See
Air aspirator system

Aspirator valve

A check valve in an air injection system.

Also see
Air Aspirator Valve

Aspire

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Ford Aspire

A model of automobile manufactured by Ford

ASR

1. Acronym for Anti-spin regulation. A Bosch term for traction control
2. Acronym for Acceleration Slip Regulation

Assemble

The action of putting something together from a number of component parts.

Assembly

1. The finished union of a number of parts to make a component.
2. Construction of product from several or many components. Methods used for attachment include welding, fastening, push-fit, snap-fit, lock-fit, adhesive bonding, ultrasonic welding, etc. Many products are now designed for robotic assembly.

Also see
Bearing Assembly
Body Assembly
Brake Assembly
Calibration Assembly
Canonical Assembly
Cast spoke assembly Electrode Assembly
Foundation Brake Assembly
Magnetic Pick-up Assembly
Membrane Electrode Assembly
Parking Brake Warning Switch Assembly
Pick-up Assembly
Spoke Assembly
Thermactor Air Control Solenoid VacuumValve Assembly
Valve And Transducer Assembly
Valve Assembly
Wheel Assembly
Wheel Friction Assemblies

Assembly-fuel Vacuum

See
Separator Assembly-fuel Vacuum

Assembly Identifier

See
ANSI Assembly Identifier

Assembly line

The production line where a vehicle is put together from its component parts. Often one team will work on just the engine of each vehicle while another team works on another part, etc.

Assembly lube

A special lubricant used to coat parts that rub or rotate against each other during initial assembly.

Assessed reliability

The probability that a device will function without failure over a specified time period or amount of usage.

Assistance

See
Roadside Assistance

Assist power steering

See
Variable assist power steering

Assist steering

See
Variable assist steering

Assisted

See
Hydraulic assisted brakes
Integral-type power assisted steering
Power assisted brakes
Servo-assisted

Assisted brakes

See
Hydraulic Assisted Brakes
Power Assisted Brakes
Vacuum Assisted Brakes

Assisted steering

See
Integral-type power assisted steering

Associated-dissolved natural gas

Natural gas that occurs in crude oil reservoirs either as free gas (associated) or as gas in solution with crude oil (dissolved gas).

Association of American Battery Manufacturers, Inc.

(AABM)

Association of South East Asian Nations

(ASEAN) An organization of states (including Brunei, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) founded in 1967 to present an united front that addresses the political, economic, and strategic dynamics of the region.

Assy

Abbreviation for Assembly.

Astern

A backward movement of a vessel.

ASTM

Acronym for American Society for Testing Materials.

ASTM standards

Standards issued by the American Society of Testing Materials.

Aston-Martin

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Aston-Martin

A vehicle brand of which the 1927-1939 models with application and all others from 1925-48 are Classic cars.

Aston Martin

A vehicle brand of which the 1948-63 models are Milestone cars. All the DB4, DB5, DB6 from 1964-67 are Milestone cars.

Asymmetric

A pattern in which one side does not correspond to the other side.

Asymmetrical

A pattern in which one side does not correspond to the other side. Also called dissymmetrical or non-symmetrical.

Asymmetrical beam

A headlight system in which one beam is of greater intensity than the other.

Asymmetrical power distribution

A system in a four-wheel vehicle in which more power is transmitted to the front wheels than the rear wheels or more to the rear wheels than the front wheels.

Asymmetrical tread

Asymmetrical tread

The Tread of a tire which has different shapes/patterns and sizes of Grooves in the same tire. Often they are divided into three distinct patterns The outside shoulder, the center zone, and the inside shoulder. The outside shoulder tread will have larger shoulder elements with very few Sipes to provide increased cornering Stability. The center tread zone enhances steering control. The inside shoulder tread zone provides additional Traction because the shape of the tread elements, Sipes and larger shoulder slots help disperse water and slush. Obviously these tires must be mounted only one way so that the outside pattern is actually on the outside of the wheel.

Asymmetric rim

A wheel rim where the well is located outside the centerline of the wheel. Opposite of Symmetric rim.