DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "No"


NO:
Acronym for "normally open"
Noble metal:
A rare or precious metal (such as gold, silver, mercury, platinum) which conducts electricity very well, resists corrosion, and is inert; some are used as catalysts in catalytic converters
No-claims bonus:
A reduction in insurance premiums because no claims have been made
No-cost option:
An optional extra for a new car at no extra cost
No fault insurance:
A form of vehicle accident insurance in which the insurance company of each driver pays for the damages of its own driver regardless of who is at fault. So if you and I have an accident, my insurance company will pay for my damaged car and your insurance company will pay for your damages. If you don't have insurance, my insurance company will pay for my damages even if I think you are at fault.
No-frost freezer:
Low-temperature refrigerator cabinet in which no frost or ice collects on freezer surfaces or materials stored in cabinet...

Noise:
See:
engine noise
induction noise
interior noise level
tappet noise
Noise cancellation:
(NCS) The reduction of noise by means of anti-noise loudspeakers. Compare soundproofing material
Noise control:
See anti-noise system
Noise control system:
See active noise control system
Noise dosimeter:
Instrument used to measure sound in dBA.

Noise level:
See interior noise level
Noise reduction:
The reduction of noise by means of anti-noise loudspeakers
Noise system:
See anti-noise system
Nomad:
See Chevrolet Nomad.
Nominal capacity:
See rated capacity
Nominal diameter:
A characteristic value used for pipeline systems to identify parts which belong together such as pipes, pipe joints, fittings, etc.; a nominal size for the inside diameter
Nominal engine speed:
See rated speed
Nominal length:
  1. The length of the shank of screws/bolts with flat bearing faces.
  2. The length of shank plus height of head of countersunk bolts/screws.
  3. The overall length of a stud minus the length of the stud end
Nominal pressure:
See rated pressure
Nominal rim diameter:
A measurement from one bead seat to the opposite bead seat 180° away.
Nominal rim width:
A measurement between the flanges at the bead seat.
Nominal size tubing:
Tubing measurement which has an inside diameter the same as iron pipe of the same stated size.

Nominal thread diameter:
See major diameter
Nominal voltage:
See rated voltage
Non-code installation:
Functional refrigerating system installed where there are no local, state, or national refrigeration codes in force.

Noncondensable gas:
Gas which does not change into a liquid at operating temperatures and pressures.
Gas which will not form into a liquid under the operating pressure-temperature conditions.

Non-destructive testing:
(NDT) See NDT method
Non-directional brake:
A non-servo brake in which both shoes are energized in either direction

Non-directional finish:
The recommended machine finish on a face of a rotor.

Non-directional tread:
An arrangement of bars, grooves and ribs in a manner that gives equal traction in forward or reverse direction.
Also See:
directional tire
directional tread
Non-dispersive infrared analyzer:
See NDIR analyzer
Non-drying oil:
Any oil that does not have the ability to take up oxygen from the air to change it from a liquid to a solid state. Mineral oils are non-drying oils; so are a few vegetable oils

Nonferrous:
Group of metals and metal alloys which contain no iron.

Nonferrous metal:
A metal which contains no iron (except in very minute quantities). Thus it is not subject to rusting, e.g., aluminium, copper, magnesium, etc.
Nonferrous metals:
All metals containing no iron (except in very minute quantities). Thus they are not subject to rusting.
Nonfrosting evaporator:
Evaporator which never collects frost or ice on its surface.

Non-integral system:
An anti-lock brake system whose major hydraulic components are separate from the master cylinder, and are installed between the master cylinder and the wheel brakes Also called non-integrated system or independent ABS

Non-integrated system:
An anti-lock brake system whose major hydraulic components are separate from the master cylinder, and are installed between the master cylinder and the wheel brakes. Also called non-integral system or independent ABS

Non-self-priming pump:
A centrifugal pump which is unable to evacuate and prime the suction line without external assistance. The opposite is self-priming pump. Most centrifugal pumps are non-self-priming and require a flooded suction line
Non-servo brake:
  1. A drum brake design; each brake shoe is anchored, therefore no one shoe can assist in the application of the other; one shoe is self-energizing, the other is not
  2. A drum brake in which each shoe is applied individually; the operation of one shoe has no effect on the other.
Non-servo drum brake:
A drum brake design in which the application of one shoe has no effect on the other

Non-staged carburetor:
A 4-barrel carburetor that has secondary throttle plates which open at the same time as the primary throttle plates, or a two-barrel carburetor with only one throttle shaft (both throttle valves open simultaneously)
Nonventilated enclosure:
An electric motor housing that is not equipped with a fan for external cooling, but depends on convection air for cooling. It may be totally enclosed or explosion-proof
Non-volatile random access memory:
A non-volatile memory that is used to store information for either short or long term usage. This type of memory can be written to. If external energy is removed from the device, the contents in memory are not destroyed.

Non-woven abrasive:
A grinding disc which is made of very hard material used primarily for cutting.
Noodle:
The L-shaped tubing piece found on the side of Shimano V-Brakes and some other direct-pull cantilever bicycle brakes
NORBA:
Acronym for National Off-road Bicycle Association -- the US governing body for off-road racing
Nordberg key:
A round key
Nordic Anti-Corrosion Code:
A code developed by the Scandinavian automobile and consumer associations which stipulates that, as of January 1983, all cars must be free of surface corrosion for three years and free of perforation and weakening damage for six years
No rinse treatment:
An application method of chemical conversion coatings by means of a roll coating system whereby no rinsing treatment is required
Normal charge:
Thermal element charge which is part liquid and part gas under all operating conditions.

Normally aspirated:
An engine that intakes air or "breathes" without the assistance of a supercharger or turbocharger.
Normally aspirated engine:
An engine which uses the factory installed carburetor or fuel injection system with its normal air filter, etc. It does not use modified air flow systems which pump more air into the engine. Usually this expression is used as comparison as in My modified intake puts out more horsepower than a normally aspirated engine. Also called naturally aspirated engine or a "free breather."
Normal zinc technology:
See low zinc technology
NORS:
Acronym for "new old replacement stock," or "new old reproduction stock." These are parts that were aftermarket replacements, usually of the same quality, for the manufacturer's parts. Or, they are parts that were reproduced by an aftermarket supplier using the same quality of materials and manufacture as the original manufacturer, but now are "old."
North American Free Trade Agreement:
(NAFTA) Agreement creating free trade among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The NAFTA went into effect on January 1, 1994.
North American Industrial Classification System:
(NAICS) Industry Classification between Canada, the United States and Mexico to increase compatibility of data with these countries. The classification is based on establishment rather than commodity. This classification system will be implemented with reference to year 1997 and data will be available in 1999.
North American produced:
Motor vehicles assembled in Canada, the United States or Mexico.
North pole:
The magnetic pole in a magnet from which the lines of force emanate; travel is from North to South pole.
North pole, magnetic:
End of magnet Out of which magnetic lines of force flow.

North-south layout:
An engine layout with the cylinders lying lengthways from the front (north) to the back (south). Also called longitudinal engine. Compare east-west layout
NOS:
Acronym for "new old stock." These are parts that originally were available from the manufacturer of an automobile. They have never been used, thus are "new." But they also may have been on the shelf for decades, thus are "old."
Nose:
The front end of a vehicle.
Also See:
front nose section
insulator nose
projected core/insulator nose
Nose section:
See front nose section
Nose-to-tail:
A driving mode in rush-hour traffic. Also called bumper-to-bumper
Nose-up:
A description of the towing vehicle if the vehicle being towed is too heavy
Nose dive:
See brake dive
Nosepiece:
An insert for pop-rivet pliers that is used to allow various pop-rivet diameters to be used
Nose protector:
A cover, usually of black soft plastic sheeting with flannel-like backing, that fits around the front end of a car. Also called nose bra. Compare stealth bra. It protects the front portion of hood and fenders against damage caused by flying rocks, road debris and insects; attaches to car with bendable plates, straps, or hooks and grommeted edges; sometimes personalized with a vehicle logo; relatively common in the USA, but rarely found in Europe
Noseweight:
A vertical weight on the center of the towing ball exerted by the vehicle being towed (on level ground). This must be within certain limits; generally between 110-165 lbs (50-75 kg) for car and trailer
Nosing:
See shaving
No-spin differential:
See limited-slip differential
Notch:
A V-shaped or U-shaped indentation cut into a test piece, test bar, or into a molded part
Notchback:
  1. A classical sedan shape which is sometimes called a three box design. When you look at the side of the car, the front section in front of the windshield is one box; the section with the doors and windows is the second box; and the third box is the trunk. Because the third box starts just below the back window, it is called a notchback.
  2. A body shape which differs from a fast back. When a fastback is observed from the side, there is a smooth line (curve) along the roof from the A-pillar to the back of the car. In a notchback, the roof is abruptly dropped down to the leading part of the rear deck (or trunk).
Notched rocker arm stud:
A rocker arm stud with a notch worn in its side; a notched stud is more likely to break
Notchy:
The action of changing the gears in a rough way which causes a slight crashing of gears. It is often caused by the clutch failing to disengage fully
Note:
See exhaust note
NOx:
Oxides of nitrogen. They are at their worst when combustion is most efficient. They are produced because the air is 78 percent nitrogen. Combines with HC in sunlight to form photochemicalsmog. NOx emissions can be reduced by lowering peak combustion temperatures through lowering compression ratios and by recirculating exhaust gases.
NOx-Control module:
(NCM) A digital ignition control module for retrofitting to cars with Motronic engine control; modifies ignition timing characteristics for lower NOx emissions
Nozzle:
A thin hollow tube; a jet or hole at the end of a pipe.
Also See:
fuel injector nozzle
injector nozzle
main mixture discharge nozzle
multi-hole nozzle
pintaux nozzle
pintle nozzle
Nozzle cleaning unit:
See spray gun nozzle cleaning unit
Nozzle drip:
Air rushing by the venturi at idle can cause fuel to drip from the discharge nozzle for the main metering circuit
Nozzle restrictor:
A restrictor in the fuel filler neck of cars fitted with catalytic converters that prevents filling from leaded petrol pumps, which have larger pump nozzles
Nova:

Chevrolet Nova Books An automobile model produced by Chevrolet
Click image for books on Nova




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