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.

Also see
PRNDL

PA
  1. Acronym for Pressure Air (Honda)
  2. Acronym for Power antenna.
P/a
An abbreviation for Power-assisted
P&D
Acronym for Pickup and delivery
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.
Pacer
Pacer

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Pacer

An automobile manufactured by AMC
Pack

See
Blister Pack
Glass pack muffler
Hydration Pack
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
Packard

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Packard

A vehicle brand of which several models with required application are classic cars: The following models are milestone cars:
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.

Also 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
Disc Brake Pad
Door Pad
Door Trim Pad
Pillion pad
Sintered metal brake pad
Skid pad

PADD
Acronym for Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts
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

See
Foot Paddling

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 Sets

See
Hybrid Pad Sets

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.

Also See
Brake pad wear indicator

PAFS
Acronym for Pulse Air Feeder System (Chrysler)
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
PAH
  1. Acronym for Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  2. Acronym for polyaluminum hydroxide
  3. Acronym for Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
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
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
Acronym for Pulsed Secondary Air Injection
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
Palm spinner

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
Floor pan
Oil 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 Back Panel
Manual panel cutter
Off-the-dolly panel beating
On-the-dolly panel beating
Parent 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
Rear Quarter Panel
Replacement panel
Rocker panel
Roof panel
Scuttle panel
Scuttle side panel
Seat well
Shelf panel
Side bumper panels
Side panel
Solar Thermal Panels
Splash panel
Squab panel
Straightened panel
Sunroof aperture panel
Trim panel
Under sill panel
Wheel house panel
Wheel panel
Windshield corner panel
Windshield header panel
Windshield 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.

Also see
Curved pein and finishing hammer
Pick and finishing hammer
Planishing hammer
Reverse curve panel hammer
Shrinking hammer

Paneling
  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 paneling

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
Dent Puller

Slide Hammer Dent 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
Harley-Davidson's second generation overhead-valve Big Twin, introduced in 1948.
Pan head
A type of screw with a dome shaped head. Flat top surface rounded into cylindrical sides, and a flat bearing surface. The recessed pan head has a rounded top surface blending into cylindrical sides and a flat bearing surface.
Pannier
A luggage bag used in pairs and fastened alongside one or both wheels of a motorcycle or bicycle.

Also see
Saddlebag.

Panniers
Luggage bags used in pairs and fastened alongside one or both wheels of a motorcycle or bicycle.

Also see
Saddlebags.

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
P. ant
Abbreviation for Power antenna.
Pantechnicon
A British term for a large van or truck, especially one for moving furniture
Pantera
Pantera

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Pantera

A model of automobile manufactured in Italy
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.
PAR
Acronym for a parabolic aluminized reflector lamp
Parabolic dish
A high-temperature (above 82°C) solar thermal concentrator, generally bowl-shaped, with two-axis tracking.

Also see
Solar Thermal Parabolic Dishes

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. Also called tapered leaf spring
Parabolic trough
A high-temperature (above 82°C) solar thermal concentrator with the capacity for tracking the sun using one axis of rotation.

Also see
Solar Parabolic Trough

Parachute

See
Automatic Parachute
Brake Parachute

Paraffin
  1. A British term for Kerosene a solvent for removing grease
  2. A light-colored, wax-free oil obtained by pressing paraffin distillate.
  3. The wax removed from paraffin distillates by chilling and pressing. When separating from solutions, it is a colorless, more or less translucent, crystalline mass, without odor and taste, slightly greasy to touch, and consisting of a mixture of solid hydrocarbons in which the paraffin series predominates.
Paraffinic hydrocarbons
Straight-chain hydrocarbon compounds with the general formula CnH2n+2.
Paraffins
Group of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, including Methane, ethane, Propane and Butane and noted by the suffix -ane.
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

Also see
Circuit 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

Parallel connection
A way of joining photovoltaic cells or batteries by connecting positive leads to positive leads to keep the voltage output the same, but increase the amperage. Some 12-volt vehicles running two batteries to give more winter starting power must connect the batteries in parallel. If they were Connected in series the output would be 24 volts and fuses would blow or components would burn out.
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
Lack Of 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
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 license.
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

Parapet
Concrete rails on a bridge.
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
Parison
A short length of glass
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 and Ride
Provision of long stay parking areas at the edge of a built up area which are linked by frequent bus (or other public transport) services to the City center and potentially other locations.
Park Avenue
Park Avenue

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Park Avenue

A model of automobile manufactured by the Buick division of General Motors

Park brake

See
Parking brake

Park brake extension
Park brake extension

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.
  3. The mechanically actuated portion of a drum brake or disc brake caliper, used to prevent the vehicle from rolling when it is parked, applied by a lever, pedal, or rod

Also See
Auxiliary Drum Parking Brake
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-brake 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
Integral Part
Molded part
New-old-stock part
Spare part
Structural part

Partial flow filter
A Bypass filter
Partial oxidation
Fuel reforming reaction where the fuel is partially oxidized to carbon monoxide and hydrogen rather than fully oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. This is accomplished by injecting air with the fuel stream prior to the reformer. The advantage of partial oxidation over steam reforming of the fuel is that it is an exothermic reaction rather than an endothermic reaction and therefore generates its own heat.
Partial oxidation burner
Heat source for the partial oxidation reactor.
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
A small, discrete mass of solid or liquid matter that remains individually dispersed in gas or liquid emissions. Particulates take the form of aerosol, dust, fume, mist, smoke, or spray. Each of these forms has different properties.

Also 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)
  1. Suspended solids of carbon and unburnt hydrocarbons from the exhaust system
  2. A generic term for a broad class of chemically and physically diverse substances that exist as discrete particles (liquid droplets or solids) over a wide range of sizes. A NAAQS pollutant.
  3. Particles formed by incomplete combustion of fuel. Compression ignition (diesel) engines generate significantly higher PM emissions than spark ignited engines. The particles are composed of elemental carbon, heavy hydrocarbons (SOF), and hydrated sulfuric acid (sulfate particulates).

Also see
Diesel Particulate Matter
Total Particulate Matter

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.

Particulate Trap
Diesel vehicle emission control device that traps and incinerates diesel particulate emissions after they are exhausted from the engine but before they are expelled into the atmosphere.
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 Driveable though unsafe, but it usually is not in driveable 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

See
Adjustable Part Throttle

Part-throttle operation
Driving without using full throttle
Part-time four-wheel drive
A manually selectable four-wheel drive
PAS
  1. Acronym for Power-assisted steering
  2. Acronym for Passive Anti-Theft System
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)
PA sensor
Acronym for Atmospheric pressure sensor
Pass
  1. The act of overtaking a vehicle which is traveling in the same direction you are.
  2. The act of going past a vehicle which is traveling is the opposite direction from you.
  3. Weld metal created by one progression along the weld.
  4. Acronym for Personalized Automotive Security System

Also see
Bypass

Passage

See
Lateral air passage
Oil Bleed Passage
Oil 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 and/or their luggage.

Also see
Large Passenger Car

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-miles traveled
The total distance traveled by all passengers. It is calculated as the product of the occupancy rate in vehicles and the vehicle miles traveled.
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.
Passer

See
Slow Passer

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.

Also 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
  1. To reduce the reactivity of a chemically active metal surface by electrochemical polarization or by immersion in a passivating solution
  2. A process of surface treatment for neutralizing stainless steels. An oxydizing solution, such as nitric acid is applied to the surface. This strengthens the normal protective film which helps in resisting corrosion. It also removes any foreign substance which might cause local corrosion.
Passivating
  1. Technical definition: a process of dipping a metal object into a nitric acid solution to rapidly form a chromium oxide on the surface of the material, creating a passive film that protects stainless from further oxidation called a passive film. The purpose of passivating is to remove both grease left from manufacturing and traces of steel particles which may have rubbed off manufacturing tools onto the object. Contrasts with commercial definition of cleaning.
  2. Commercial definition: cleaning. A wide range of cleaning methods using different mixtures containing nitric, phosphoric and other acids or simply exposing cleaned stainless objects to air for a period of time will result in a "passivated" condition. For metal objects that have been properly cleaned, it is impossible to determine the method of cleaning or passivation that was used.
Passive film
The major characteristic of stainless steel is its ability to form a thin layer of protection, called a "passive film," on its outside surface. This film results from a continual process of low-level oxidation, so oxygen from the atmosphere is needed for the passive film to exist. Once formed, it prevents further oxidation or corrosion from occurring. Even if chipped or scratched, a new passive film on stainless will form.
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.

Also see
Passive safety.

Passive solar heating
A solar heating system that uses no external mechanical power, such as pumps or blowers, to move the collected solar heat.
Passive state
A state for the fuel cell internal components normally entered when the power plant is purged with steam, air or nitrogen, or per the manufacturer's instructions when the power plant is turned off or prior to when the power plant is turned on (initialization).
Passport
Honda Passport

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Honda Passport

A model of automobile manufactured by Honda
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
Machine patch
Plug patch
Tire Contact 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
Pathfinder

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Pathfinder

A model of SUV manufactured by Nissan in Japan

Patter

See
Wheel patter

Pattern

See
Bitter Pattern
Contact pattern
Heavy side pattern
Herringbone Pattern
Ignition pattern
Master pattern
Primary pattern
Reference ignition pattern
Secondary pattern
Spray pattern
Tread pattern
Wear pattern

Pattern Nuts
Special nuts usually furnished in plain or chamfered face unless otherwise specified, and threads are unified Coarse or unified Fine, Class 2B. (also small and extra small)
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

Pavement

See
Bare pavement

Pavement markers
Three-dimensional markers, reflectorized or non-reflectorized, epoxied onto pavement.
Pavement markings
Traffic markings such as lines, arrows, bicycle symbols, and words like "only" and "school".
Paving

See
Spot Paving
Tactile paving
True and Level Paving

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

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