DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Ja"

Jack
  1. To lift a vehicle off the ground in order to effect repairs
  2. To steal a vehicle
  3. A characteristic of swing-axle Rear suspensions. Cornering forces can act on these suspensions to lift the body of the vehicle so that the outer wheel tucks or jacks under the vehicle. When carried to the extreme, jacking forces could tip the vehicle over.
  4. A device for lifting the vehicle, or part of the vehicle, off the ground to facilitate repairs.
Jacker
Jacket
The enclosure on a water heater, furnace, or boiler.
Jacket tube
Jacking
Jack knife
  1. The action of a vehicle (tractor) with a trailer in which the trailer and the vehicle form a V instead of normally being pulled in a straight line. Usually this is the result of a Skid in which the trailer swings around dangerously and tries to overtake the cab.
  2. Skidding of an articulated vehicle sometimes results in rotation at the articulation (hitch) point so that the tractor is rotated against the trailer in a manner similar to the closing of a jackknife.
  3. To place the trailer at a very sharp angle to the tractor.
Jackshaft
Jackson Head
A machine screw with a small oval head.
Jack stand
Jack stand

Jack stand

A safety device that keeps the vehicle from falling to the ground if the lifting jack is removed or faulty. Most jobs require two jack stands for safety. Also called an Axle stand or Safety stand
Jack up
To raise using a Jack
Jacking point
A strengthened place on the underbody to put the jack. Small cars have one point on each side but larger cars may have two
Jaguar
Jaguar

Click image for books on
Jaguar

A vehicle brand produced by Jaguar Cars Limited of which the 1946-48 2.5 Litre and 3.5 Litre Mark IV, but not 4-cyl. models are classic cars. The 1957-64 3.4/3.8 Sedans are milestone cars. Includes 1½ Litre saloon (1935-1949), 2½ Litre saloon (1935-1948), 3½ Litre saloon (1937-1948), 240 (1966-1968), 340 (1966-1968), 420 (1966-1968), 420G (1966-1970), E-Type (1961-1974), Mark 1 (1955-1959), Mark 2 (1959-1967), Mark V (1948-1951), Mark VII (& VIIM) (1951-1957), Mark VIII (1957-1959), Mark IX (1959-1961), Mark X (1961-1970), S-type (1963-1968, 1999-2008), Vanden Plas (2002-05), X-type (2001-current), XF (2008-current), XJ (X350) (2003-current), XJ6 Series 1, 2 & 3 (1968-1987), XJ6 (XJ40) (1986-1994), XJ6 (X300 & X301) (1995-1997), XJ8 (X308) (1997-2002), XJ8 (1998-2007), XJ12 (1972-1992), XJ12 (XJ81) (1993-1994), XJ12 (X300 & X301) (1995-1997), XJR (1995-2007), XJR-S (1993), XJ-S (1975-1996), XJ Sport (2002-03), XJ Super (2002-07), XK8 (1997-2006), XK (X100) (1997-2005), XK (X150) (2006-current), XK120 (1948-1954), XK140 (1954-1957), XK150 (1957-1961), and XKR (2000-06)
Jaguar Drophead
A vehicle brand of which the 1951 Mark V Drophead is a milestone car.
Jaguar E-type
Jaguar E-type

Click image for books on
Jaguar E-type

A model of automobile manufactured by Jaguar in England. The 1961-67 E-Type models are milestone cars.
Jaguar Mark
Jaguar Mark

Click image for books on
Jaguar Mark

A model of automobile manufactured by Jaguar in England. The 1946-48 models with 2.5 Litre, 3.5 Litre Mark IV (not 4-cyl.) are Classic cars. The 1951-54 Mark VII and '54 Mark VII M models are milestone cars. The 1956-57 Mark VIII models are milestone cars. The 1958-61 Mark IX models are milestone cars. The 1962-64 Mark X models are milestone cars.
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ

Click image for books on
Jaguar XJ

A model of automobile manufactured by Jaguar in England
Jaguar XK
Jaguar XK

Click image for books on
Jaguar XK

A model of automobile manufactured by Jaguar in England. The 1945-54 XK 110 models are milestone cars. The 1954-57 KX 140 models are milestone cars. The 1958-61 XK 150 models are milestone cars.
Jake brake
A device which shuts off the Exhaust valves manually so that in the Exhaust stroke, the burned gasses cannot escape through the Exhaust valves. Instead they press against the Head of the piston and causes the Piston to slow down. When the Intake valve opens, some of the exhaust escapes out the intake valve and gives a distinctive loud rapping noise. Jake brakes are used in large truck engines to assist in slowing the vehicle. Many municipal bylaws prohibit the use of jake brakes because of the excessive noise. The most common type is called a Jake Brake because the predominant manufacturer is Jacobs Vehicle Equipment Co. Other types of retarders include exhaust retarders, transmission-mounted hydraulic retarders and axle-mounted electromagnetic retarders. Also called a retarder.
Jalopy
A worn-out old car
Jam
JAMA
Acronym for Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association
Jamb switch
A push-button light switch located in a door jamb (e.g., for courtesy lights, trunk light)
Jam nut
  1. A second nut (usually thinner) on a screw or bolt which locks against the first nut (i.e., jams against it) so that the nut won't come loose.
  2. A self-locking nut
Jam on the brakes
The action of quickly depressing the brake pedal (pulling the brake lever on a motorcycle or bicycle) especially in an emergency situation.
Jam the brakes
The action of quickly depressing the brake pedal (pulling the brake lever on a motorcycle or bicycle) especially in an emergency situation.
JAP
English engine manufacturer. Founded in 1903 by John A. Prestwich, the company was bought by Villiers in 1957
Japanese lantern-type jacket tube
A web-type jacket tube of a steering column which, on impact, folds like a Japanese lantern
Japanese Motorcycle
JAS
Acronym for Jet Air System: (Mitsubishi)
Javelin
Javelin

Click image for books on
Javelin

An automobile manufactured by AMC
Jaws