DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Pa"

p:

1. A tire designation for "Passenger," as used in rating tires such as P185R13.
2. A tire designation for speeds up to 150 kph (95 mph) as in P195PR78 (the first P is passenger, but the second P is the speed rating.
3. The designation for "park" on the gear selector of an automatic transmission. See PRNDL

PA:

Acronym for "power antenna."

P/a:

An abbreviation for power-assisted

Pace car:

A vehicle which leads the pack of racers during the first part of the race (usually one lap) so that the racers can warm up their engines, etc. The pace car never runs the actual race. They also lead during parade, pace lap, caution periods, and restarts.

Pace lap:

The warm-up part of the race before the actual race begins.

Pacific Economic Cooperation:

See Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

Pack:

See:
glass pack muffler
rectifier pack

Package:

See:
accessory package
equipment package
trailer-towing package

Package units:

Complete refrigerating system including compressor, condenser, and evaporator located in refrigerated space.

Packard:

A vehicle brand of which all sixes and eights 1925-34; all 12-cyl. models; 1935 Models 1200-1208; 1936 Models 1400-1408; 1937 Models 1500-1508; 1938 Models 1603-1608; 1939 Models 1703-1708; 1940 Models 1803-1808; 1941 Models 1903-1908; 1942 Models 2004-2008 plus 2023; 1946-47 Models 2106 and 2126; all Darrin-bodied with required application are classic cars. The 1953-56 Caribbean models are milestone cars. The 1946-50 Clipper and Custom Eight are milestone cars. The Pacific sedan and convertible for 1954 are milestone cars. The 1954 Panther Daytona is a milestone car. The Patrician 400 for 1951 to 56 are milestone cars.
Click image for books on Packard

Packed gland:

A cylindrical recess that accommodates a number of rings of packing around the shaft or shaft sleeve of a pump. Pumps used for high-temperature fluids are provided with jacketed, water-cooled packed glands. Also called "stuffing box."

Packing:

Sealing device consisting of soft material or one or more mating soft elements. Reshaped by manually adjustable compression to obtain or maintain a leak-proof seal.

See stuffing-box packing

Pack muffler:

See:
glass pack muffler
steel pack muffler

PAD:

Acronym for "Program Associated Data."

Pad:

A common term for a brake shoe used in disc brakes
Also See:
backing pad
brake pad
ceramic brake pad
friction pad
pillion pad
sintered metal brake pad
skid pad

Padding disc:

An insert in the crankcase area designed to reduce the internal volume of the crankcase and thus to increase the precompression ratio; this helps to increase the output of a two-stroke engine

Paddle:

See:
solder paddle
stirring paddle

Paddling the lead:

The act of filling repair areas by smoothing the body lead layer until a smooth surface is achieved

Pad retainer:

A pin which locates the brake pad in a disc brake

Pad retainer pin:

A pin which locates the brake pad in a disc brake

Pad wear indicator:

Mechanical or electrical devices which warn the driver when the lining material on the brake pads has worn to the point that they should be replaced.

See brake pad wear indicator

Pagoda roof:

An unusual roof design, introduced on the Mercedes-Benz SL Hardtop, which was slightly lower in the center than at the sides

Pagoda-style roof:

An unusual roof design, introduced on the Mercedes-Benz SL Hardtop, which was slightly lower in the center than at the sides

Paid value:

See duty paid value

Paige:

See Graham-Paige

Paint:

1. A liquid or paste consisting of a suspension of a pigment in oil or water, etc. When spread over a surface, it dries to form a hard, thin covering colored by the pigment. The primary purpose of paint is to help in the preventing of rusting. A secondary purpose is to provide a variety of color.
2. The act of spray painting a surface.

Also See:
acrylic paint
barrier paint
bituminous paint
candy apple paint
candy paint job
candy paint
coach paint
dust-free paint
finishing paint
flame paint
heavy paint
light paint
liquid paint
low-bake paint
metallic paint
nitrocellulose paint
overlay paint
polyurethane paint
pyroxylin paint
refinishing paint
soft paint
solder paint
solid paint
tire paint
two-pack paint
two-tone paint
zinc-rich paint

Paint booth:

A closed area where coats of paint are applied

Paint chip book:

A color chart

Paint color matching:

The process of determining the correct paint shade with the aid of color charts and special mixing devices and through spectral analysis

Paint film:

The actual thickness of the paint on a surface.

Paint gun:

See spray gun

Painting:

See:
cataphoretic painting
electrophoretic painting
electrostatic painting
off-line painting
on-line painting

Painting line:

The route taken by the bodywork of a newly manufactured vehicle on its way through the paint shop

Painting robot:

A robot used for paint application

Paint refinishing:

The various steps involved in repainting a secondhand car

Paint shop:

1. The production stage in an automobile manufacturing plant during which the bodywork is treated with paint.
2. A separate paint repair shop, usually near a body repair shop (i.e., for damaged vehicles)

Paint stripper:

A liquid paint remover

Paint system:

The sum of all coats of paint on a work

Paintwork:

The overall result of painting; the paint coating or finish

PAIR system:

See pulse air system

Palladium:

A white, ductile, malleable, noble metal of the platinum family; atomic number 46, atomic weight 106.4; resembles platinum and together with other platinum metals is used as a catalyst in automotive exhaust converters. Compare platinum metals

Palletized construction:

The process of building a vehicle where the workers assemble a complete chassis at a comfortable workbench height, in a well-lighted area, away from the main line -- not underneath a moving body. Working conditions and product quality are vastly improved.

Palm spinner:

A device which is attached to a steering wheel to allow disabled people to insert a hand into its bracket in order to steer a vehicle.

Pan:

A thin stamped cover that is bolted to the bottom of the crankcase, it forms a sump for the engine oil and keeps dirt, etc. from entering the engine.
Also See:
engine oil pan
floor pan
oil pan
seat pan

Panamax:

A water-borne vessel (i.e., ship) designed small enough for passage through the Panama Canal

Pancake engine:

An engine in which the cylinders are on a horizontal plane, this reduces the overall height and enables them to be used in spots where vertical height is restricted. Also see flat engine.

Pan drain plug:

See oil pan drain plug

Pane:

A sheet of window glass

Panel:

1. A flat piece of metal that is stamped to create a body component such as a door panel.
2. A plastic molding; e.g., interior trim of doors.

Also See:
a-panel
access panel
aperture panel
back panel
body panel
bonnet landing panel
closing panel
cluster panel
corner panel
cowl panel
cowl side panel
dashboard
dash panel
deck panel
door panel
front panel
full panel
grille face panel
grille panel
header panel
headlight mounting panel
high crown panel
hinge panel
hood landing panel
inner fender panels
instrument panel
kick panel
lamp panel
low crown panel
lower front panel
manual panel cutter
off-the-dolly panel beating
on-the-dolly panel beating
parent panel
part panel
patch panel
pattern panel
pressed panel
quarter light filler panel
quarter panel
quarter window filler panel
radiator support panel
rear corner panel
rear deck panel
rear panel
replacement panel
replica panel
reproduction panel
rocker panel
roof panel
sacco panels
scuttle panel
scuttle side panel
shelf panel
side aperture panel
side bumper panels
side panel
splash panel
squab panel
straightened panel
sunroof aperture panel
tail light panel
trim panel
under seat panel
under sill panel
wheel house panel
wheel panel
windshield corner panel
windshield header panel
windshield panel
windshield support panel

Panel beater:

1. A person who beats out the dented bodywork of a damaged vehicle.
2. A panel hammer

Panel beating:

Beating out the dents in damaged bodywork.
Also See:
off-the-dolly panel beating
on-the-dolly panel beating

Panel bonding:

A new repair process using a special adhesive to glue body panels in place instead of spot-welding them

Panel contour:

The normal shape of a new, undented body panel as produced by the factory

Panel cutter:

An air-operated tool used to cut out old panels. It is a relatively coarse tool and is thus suited mainly for cutting sheet metal in areas where minor distortion along the cutting lines does not matter. Also see manual panel cutter

Panel file:

See body file

Panel flanger:

See joggler

Panel hammer:

A special hammer for metalworking that has two different fly-shaped heads for different purposes, e.g., cross-pein and shrinking hammer

Panelling:

1. A combination of separate sheet metal panels to form a complete assembly, e.g., the outer panels of the body or even the panels surrounding the engine
2. A plastic molding; e.g., interior trim of doors.

Also See:
cladding
underside panelling

Panel picking:

The act of straightening very fine indentations or marks of very small diameter on a panel surface with a pick hammer

Panel puller:

A tool with a slide hammer and hook or self-threading screw tip to pull dented doors, fenders, and other sheet metal panels back into place. After drilling a hole in the deepest part of the dent, the hook or screw tip is inserted to pull out the dent by means of slide hammer impact. Also called knocker

Panel release tool:

See trim panel release tool

Panel repair:

A type of repainting job involving an entire panel but not the entire vehicle

Pan gasket:

See oil pan gasket

Pan guard:

See oil pan guard

Panhard:

A vehicle brand of which the Dyna for 1946-67 models are milestone cars.

Panhard rod:

A rod or linkage on the axle which runs from side to side. Usually one end is attached to the body and the other end is connected to the axle. Also called a "track bar."

Panhard rod mounting box:

Box section used to mount the Panhard rod of the rear axle

Panhead:

1. Harley-davidson's second generation overhead-valve Big Twin, introduced in 1948.
2. A type of screw with a dome shaped head.

Pannier:

A luggage bag used in pairs and fastened alongside one or both wheels of a bike. Saddlebag.

Panniers:

Luggage bags used in pairs and fastened alongside one or both wheels of a bike. Saddlebags.

P. ant:

Abbreviation for "power antenna."

Panoramic windshield:

A windshield style popular in the 1950s and '60s that featured recessed screen pillars, giving a wide, unobstructed view of the road; entry for the front passengers was awkward, since the screen pillar comers projected into the door opening

Pantechnicon:

A British term for a large van or truck, especially one for moving furniture

Pantera:

A model of automobile manufactured in Italy
Click image for books on Pantera

Panting:

The pulsation in and out of the bow and stern plating as the ship alternately rises and plunges deep into the water

Panting frame:

The frames in the forward and after portions of the hull framing to strengthen against shell panting

Paper:

See abrasive paper

Paper air cleaner:

An air cleaner that makes use of special paper through which the air to the carburetor is drawn.

Parabolic reflector:

An old headlight reflector in the shape of a parabola, now replaced by ellipsoidal reflectors

Parabolic spring:

A leaf spring tapered in the shape of a parabola

Paraffin:

A British term for kerosene a solvent for removing grease

Parallel:

1. The same distance apart at every point.
2. Two or more electrical components each receiving the same voltage resistors connected in parallel. Opposite to series.
3. To connect in parallel

Parallel action locking pliers:

A locking pliers with parallel action jaws, e.g., for pinching off hoses when servicing cooling systems

Parallel circuit:

1. An electrical circuit with two or more resistance units so wired as to permit current to flow through both units at the same time. Unlike the series circuit, the current in the parallel circuit does not have to pass through one unit to reach the other. A method or pattern of connecting units in an electrical circuit so that they are connected negative-to-negative and positive-to-positive. In a parallel circuit, current can flow independently through several components at the same time.
2. Arrangement of electrical devices in which the current divides and travels through two or more paths and then returns through a common path. Also see series parallel circuit

Parallelism:

The same thickness of brake discs all the way around. The relationship between one friction surface of a brake disc and the other.
Also See:
axle parallelism.

Parallel key:

See feather key

Parallel middle body:

The amidships portion of a ship in which the contour of the underwater hull form is unchanged

Parallelogram steering:

See parallelogram steering linkage

Parallelogram steering linkage:

A steering system using two short tie rods connected to the steering arms and to a long center link. The link is supported on one end on an idler arm and the other end is attached directly to the pitman arm. The arrangement forms a parallelogram shape.

Parallelogram steering system:

See parallelogram steering linkage

Parallelogram suspension:

See double wishbone suspension

Parallel parking:

The action of bringing a vehicle to a stop behind another vehicle (or between two vehicles) so that your front bumper is right behind the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you. The technique of parallel parking involves driving beside the other vehicle and then backing up while turning the steering first to the right and then at the correct time turning it to the left. It is one of the testing requirements for obtaining a licence.

Parallel trailing link suspension:

A front suspension layout used primarily by Volkswagen on rear-engined cars

Parallel twin:

A type of engine usually found on two-cylinder motorcycles where the cylinders are beside each other and on the same side of the crankshaft. An opposed twin has two cylinders that are on either side of the crankshaft.

Parallel-twin engine:

A two-cylinder engine with its cylinder placed side-by-side in an upright position

Parallel valves:

The intake and exhaust valves with parallel valve stems

Parameters:

See engine parameters

Parent panel:

The panel left in place on the car to which a new panel is welded after all the rusted metal has been cut out

Park:

(P)

1. One of the positions of the gear selector for an automatic gearbox; when engaged (after the vehicle has come to a complete standstill) the driving wheels are locked.
2. To leave a vehicle in a particular place.
3. A parkade.

Also See:
car park
multi-storey car park

Parkade:

A place where vehicles can be parked on one of several levels.
Also See:
car park
multi-storey car park

Park Avenue:

A model of automobile manufactured by Buick
Click image for books on Buick Park Avenue

Park brake:

See parking brake

Park brake extension:

A device which is attached to the parking brake to help disable people to operate the parking brake more easily.

Parkbrake warning light:

A light on the instrument panel that illuminates when the parkbrake is applied; on most new cars it has been superseded by a multifunction brake warning light

Parking:

The action of placing a vehicle at a full stop out of the flow of traffic.
Also See:
angle parking
attendant parking
echelon parking
parallel parking
self-parking
valet parking

Parking brake:

1. Hand or foot operated brake which prevents vehicle movement while parked by locking rear wheels, or transmission output shaft. One type applies the rear brake shoes by mechanical means and the other type applies a brake band to a brake drum installed in the drivetrain.
2. The secondary brake system used to hold a stationary vehicle from moving. The system is applied with a hand or foot lever, and operates on only two wheels.

Also See:
emergency brake

Parking-brake cable:

Cables that transmit brake actuating force in the parking-brake system.

Parking brake console:

The reinforcing member incorporated in the center tunnel area of the floorpan to provide the mounting support for the handbrake

Parking-brake equalizer:

A device to equalize pull between the parking-brke actuator and two wheels.

Parking brake lever:

1. A lever inside the drum brake which spreads the brake shoes outward; the long end is connected to the parking brake cable, the opposite end to one brake shoe and to a push bar which acts on the other shoe.
2. A lever inside the passenger compartment attached to the end of the parking brake rod and which activates the parking brake cable.

Parking brake lever strut:

A push bar between the shoes in a drum brake

Parking brake pedal:

Foot-operated pedal for the parking brake

Parking brake warning switch assembly:

A unit used to actuate a warning device indicating the parking brake application mechanism is not in the fully released position.

Parking disc:

A marker displayed on the inside of a parked car showing time of arrival or latest permitted time of departure in a British parking lot

Parking heater:

An air heating system which operates independently of the engine

Parking interlock:

See parking lock

Parking lamp:

An energy-saving vehicle illumination mode on British cars for long-term roadside parking; includes only one front sidelight and one taillight; the parking light can be switched to illuminate the left side or the right side

Parking light:

An energy-saving vehicle illumination mode on British cars for long-term roadside parking; includes only one front sidelight and one taillight; the parking light can be switched to illuminate the left side or the right side

Parking lock:

(PL) A lock gear and pawl that lock the transmission mechanically

Parking lot:

A ground level, outdoor area where vehicles can be left temporarily.

Parking lot stencil:

A printing device which is placed on the ground so that information like handicap parking signs can be made.

Parking meter:

A coin-operated timing device that indicates how long a vehicle may legally remain parked

Parking space:

A parking place reserved for a particular vehicle

Parking ticket:

A written fine for a parking offence, especially where a vehicle has exceeded the time limit for parking

Park light:

A low intensity light which is often incorporated into the front signal lights. The park lights are to be illuminated when the vehicle is still running, but pulled off the road. However, many people drive with them on -- an action which is illegal in some parts of North America.

Park safety switch:

A switch which allows the starter to be engaged only when the automatic shift lever is in either park or neutral

Part:

A component of a vehicle.
Also See:
aftermarket part
identical part
molded part
new-old-stock part
spare part
structural part

Partial flow filter:

A bypass filter

Partial pressures:

Condition where two or more gases occupy a space and each one creates part of the total pressure.

Partial respray:

A respraying of only part of the bodywork, opposite to full respray or complete respray

Participation:

See dealer participation

Particulate:

See:
diesel particulate filter
particulates

Particulate catalyst:

A pellet catalyst

Particulate emission:

An emission of solid particles of carbon and unburnt hydrocarbons from the exhaust system

Particulate emission limit:

The weight of particulate emissions in the exhaust of diesel engines, specified in grams per mile

Particulate filter:

See diesel particulate filter

Particulate ignition temperature:

In diesel filtration tests, the exhaust gas temperature at which there is an equilibrium between particulate burn-off and deposit build-up

Particulate matter:

(PM) Suspended solids of carbon and unburnt hydrocarbons from the exhaust system

Particulates:

1. (PM) Suspended solids of carbon and unburnt hydrocarbons from the exhaust system
2. Small pieces (particles) of matter; dust is a common particulate.

Part-load:

The throttle opening between idle and fully open

Part-load enrichment:

Extra fuel injected during throttle opening to enrich the mixture during transition. Usually occurs during closed-loop operation

Part-load operation:

The operation of systems and components under conditions below full load

Partnership:

Business owned by at least two people

Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles:

(PNGV) established in 1993, this partnership, between the United States Federal Government and the Automotive industry, was founded to establish global technical leadership in the development and production of affordable, fuel-efficient, low emission vehicles that meet today's performance standards.

Part number:

(p/n, PN) A reference number attributed to a particular part. Each company uses its own system of numbering the parts.

Part out:

To dismantle a vehicle and sell the parts. British term is "break up"

Part panel:

See patch panel

Parts car:

A vehicle that has been damaged beyond repair or restoration, or that has deteriorated badly. It is useful only as a source of parts. It may be drivable though unsafe, but it usually is not in drivable condition.

Parts catalog:

A directory listing available parts for a particular product

Parts per million:

(ppm) Unit of concentration of one element in another.

Parts store:

See auto parts store

Part-throttle operation:

Driving without using full throttle

Part-time four-wheel drive:

A manually selectable four-wheel drive

PAS:

Acronym for power-assisted steering

Pascal: (pa)

SI measurement of pressure, it equals one newton per square meter. Also see kilopascal

Pascal's law:

A principle which states that when pressure is exerted on a confined liquid, it is transmitted undiminished. The law is particularly valid for hydraulic systems. Discovered by Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

Pass:

1. The act of overtaking a vehicle which is travelling in the same direction you are.
2. The act of going past a vehicle which is travelling is the opposite direction from you.
3. Weld metal created by one progression along the weld. Also see bypass

Passage:

See:
air passage
lateral air passage
oil passage
relief passage
scavenging passage
transfer passage
water passage

Passenger capacity:

The maximum number of people that a vehicle can carry.

Passenger car:

A four-wheeled motor car powered by an engine and designed for passengers

Passenger car wheel:

A one-piece wheel made of sheet steel. The rim and disc are welded together or made of light-alloy (cast or forged), and designed for tubeless tires. Rims for passenger cars are almost exclusively designed as 5° drop center rims incorporating a safety bead seat (double hump and combination hump are most common; flat hump designs are less common) and a J-flange. The B-flange type is reduced in height and used on passenger cars with small rim diameter and rim width

Passenger cell:

That part of the vehicle in which the driver and passengers sit

Passenger compartment:

That part of the vehicle in which the driver and passengers sit

Passenger ship:

A ship authorized to carry more than twelve passengers.

Passenger-side air bag:

An air bag restraint system designed to protect the front passenger; introduced on some cars in the early 1990s, it usually occupies the space normally provided for a glove compartment

Passenger vehicle:

Four wheeled motor vehicle that also includes mini-vans and sport utility vehicles.

Passing:

1. The action of overtaking another vehicle going in the same direction you are.
2. The action of going past another vehicle which is going in the opposite direction you are.

Passing gear:

An automatic transmission gear that shifts a vehicle into a lower gear for a short burst of extra power to pass other cars on the highway. The gear is engaged by sharply depressing the gas pedal. When the pedal is released, the vehicle returns to normal to normal driving gear. See forced downshift.

Passing lane:

The outside lane (far left lane in North America, etc. or the far right lane in Britain, Australia, etc.). Also called the "fast lane"

Passivate:

To reduce the reactivity of a chemically active metal surface by electrochemical polarization or by immersion in a passivating solution

Passive restraint system:

See airbag restraint system.

Passive safety:

Any device which automatically provides protection for the occupants of a vehicle such as the bumpers, seat belt, padded dash, laminated windshield, head restraints, collapsible steering column, air bags, etc. In contrast with active safety.

Passive safety features:

Items in a vehicle which do not require action on the part of the driver to avoid a hazard, e.g., crumple zones, bumpers, side impact beams, and roll-over bars. See passive safety.

Passport:

A model of automobile manufactured by Honda
Click image for books on Honda Passport

Paste:

See:
glass reinforced filler paste
grinding paste

Patch:

1. To repair a component.
2. The added part used to repair a component, e.g., a rubber disc glued to a tube to cover a nail hole.
3. The footprint of a tire in its contact with the ground.

Also See:
contact patch
balance patch
plug patch

Patching:

1. A repair method for welding up local corrosion damage by using smaller panels made up from sheet metal.
2. A repair method for gluing a rubber patch to a tube which has a hole in it.

Patch panel:

A small sheet metal panel that is usually made up specially to repair minor rust holes

Path:

See heat path

Pathfinder:

A model of SUV manufactured by Nissan in Japan
Click image for books on Pathfinder

Patter:

See wheel patter

Pattern:

See:
contact pattern
heavy side pattern
ignition pattern
master pattern
primary pattern
reference ignition pattern
secondary pattern
spray pattern
tread pattern
wear pattern

Pattern panel:

A body panel made by somebody other than the original manufacturer, usually for repair purposes; this also includes panels remanufactured after the factory has discontinued making and supplying those parts.

Pattern percentage:

See tread pattern percentage

Pattern snips:

See straight pattern snips

Pawl:

1. A bar, pin, or stud that can be moved, pivoted, or slid into engagement with teeth cut on another part, such as the parking pawl on the automatic transmission that can be slid into contact with teeth on another part to lock the rear wheels.
2. A catch at the bottom of a lever which connects with a toothed rack to hold the lever in position (e.g., with a handbrake lever or in ratchets).
3. An arm pivoted so that its free end can fit into a notch, slot, or groove at certain times in order to hold a part stationary

Payload:

1. The actual weight of cargo being carried, including packaging, etc. (GVW -- Unladen weight = payload).
2. The revenue-earning cargo of a commercial vehicle. Also see interior payload

Payment:

See monthly payment

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook