DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Ta"

T:

A letter rating for tires to indicate that they are theoretically rated for speeds up to 190 kph (118 mph), as in P220TR15.The next higher rating is H and the one lower rating is S

Tab:

1. A small projecting part as on a tab washer, or on a gasket where it engages with another seal.
2. Not a continuous flange as provided at the top mounting of a fender, but a short flange section to provide localized fitting of one panel to another

TAB:

Acronym for thermactor Air bypass solenoid

Table:

See:
load and inflation table
tray table

Tab washer:

A washer with a projection that may be hammered against a flat side of a nut, or into a hole in the surface, or over an edge, in order to secure the nut to the surface on which it bears

TAC:

Acronym for thermostatic air cleaner

Tach:

Abbreviation for tachometer.

Tacho:

Colloquial term for tachograph

Tachograph:

Instrument to record, on a graph, vehicle trip information such as mph, rpm, "stop" and "go" periods. It is used on transport trucks.

Tachometer:

(tach) A device used to indicate the speed of the engine in rpm. The tachometer is mounted on or near the dashboard (some even appear on the hood and others in a heads-up display on the windshield). It helps the driver to know the optimum rpm for changing gears on manual transmissions. A tachometer is also a diagnostic device which a mechanic uses to determine idle speed and other carburetor and running settings. Also called a "rev counter"

Tack:

1. A term used to describe the sticky quality of a rubber compound.
2. The sticky quality of an adhesive film, either while wet or after the film has set. Technically it is the pull resistance (measured in dynes) exerted by a material completely adhering to two surfaces being pulled apart.

Also See:
rear tack strip
surface tack

Tack cloth:

A special cloth used to wipe sanded panels prior to spraying in order to remove even minute dust particles and other foreign substances from the panel surface

Tack coat:

The first coat of enamel that is allowed to dry until "tacky" usually about 10-30 minutes, depending on the amount of thinner used. The surface is "tacky" when it will not stick to the finger when light pressure is applied.

Tack hammer:

A special hammer with a magnetic head for inserting small nails or tacks

Tackiness:

The stickiness of the adhesive film while in the stage of drying.

Tacking:

Attaching a panel provisionally by placing a few spots of weld along its outline; final spot or seam welding is carried out only afterwards

Tack rag:

A cloth impregnated with a non-drying varnish that is used to pick up dust and dirt particles.

Tack range:

The time during of a film to distortion or rupture when it is exposed to forces exerted in opposite directions (measured in psi).

Tack strip:

See rear tack strip

Tack weld:

Small weld used to temporarily hold together components of an assembly.

Tack welding:

Attaching a panel provisionally by placing a few spots of weld along its outline; final spot or seam welding is carried out only afterwards

Taco:

To bend a wheel over on itself, in the shape of a taco. "I taco'd my wheel when I hit that tree."

TAC system:

A contact breaker ignition system developed by Lucas, controlled by two transistors, one serving as a power output transistor

TAD:

Acronym for thermactor air diverter solenoid

Tail:

The rear of a vehicle.
Also See:
kamm tail
whale tail

Tailboard:

A board at the rear of a pick-up that can be removed or let down on a hinge. Compare tailgate

Tail fin:

A vertical fin on the back of the rear fenders. Copied from a lockheed P38 fighter plane, Cadillac introduced tail fins on a coupe in 1948; they were a fashion until the 1960s

Tailgate:

1. On a truck it is the fold down access door to the truck bed. On some station wagon and SUVs, it is the rear opening which usually requires the window to be lowered before the tailgate folds out. It differs from a liftgate in that the back opening is raised to allow entry.
2. As a verb, to follow closely behind another vehicle.

Tailgating:

Driving so close to the vehicle in front as to be affected by its slipstream; a very dangerous practice as available reaction time is reduced to a minimum. The correct distance is 2 or 3 seconds behind the vehicle in front.

Tail heavy:

The description of the towing vehicle if the vehicle being towed is too heavy

Tail lamp:

The red rear light that illuminates as soon as the lights are switched on, to show your vehicle to those behind you

Tail lift:

See brake dive

Tail light:

The red rear light that illuminates as soon as the lights are switched on, to show your vehicle to those behind you

Tail light box:

A deep-drawn panel spot-welded into the tail light aperture to accept the complete tail light cluster. The tail light box provides better corrosion protection for the electrical connections of the tail light than would be possible by installing the tail light with a rubber seal into the open light aperture

Tail light panel:

See rear panel

Tail light surround:

See rear light surround

Tail pipe:

The exhaust pipe which runs from the muffler to the rear of the vehicle. and is open to the atmosphere, through which the exhaust gases are routed into the atmosphere.

Outlet pipe from the evaporator.

Tailpipe expander:

A special automotive tool used for reshaping and expanding tailpipes evenly, to assure a tight fit and prevent exhaust leaks

Tailshaft:

A ship's propeller shaft. See gearbox output shaft

Take:

See power take off

Take foot off the accelerator:

The action of easing up on the accelerator completely so that there is only a minimal amount of fuel entering the engine thus the engine will slow down

Take foot off the gas pedal:

The action of easing up on the gas pedal completely so that there is only a minimal amount of fuel entering the engine thus the engine will slow down

Take foot off the throttle pedal:

The action of easing up on the throttle pedal completely so that there is only a minimal amount of fuel entering the engine thus the engine will slow down

Take off:

See power take off

Take up:

To begin to transmit the drive when the clutch is engaged

Take-up:

The act of taking up.
Also See:
lifting platform take-up point
quick take-up valve

Take-up point:

See lifting platform take-up point

Take-up valve:

See quick take-up valve

Talbot Lago:

A vehicle brand of which all 150C models are classic cars.

Talbot:

A vehicle brand of which all 105C and 110C models are classic cars. The 1946-54 Lago 4.5 models are milestone cars.

Talc:

Powder lubricant to prevent sticking between tube and tire. A soft mineral; a basic magnesium silicate usually occurring in foliated, granular, or fibrous masses, used in the manufacture of electrical insulators

Talking warning system:

Using the car radio speakers, this microprocessor-based system tells the driver the source of the problem in a clear, pleasant (female) voice. If the radio is on at the time of the alert, the computer automatically turns down the volume so the warning can be heard

Tampering:

See glass tampering detector

Tampering detector:

See glass tampering detector

Tamperproof carburetor:

A carburetor with factory-adjusted idle speed, sealed idle speed adjustment screw, and provisions to ensure that exhaust emission levels remain within specified limits over an extended period of time

Tandem:

1. A bicycle that provides seats, bars, and pedals for two or more riders, one behind the other.
2. A tractor-trailer truck.

Tandem axle:

See tandem axles.

Tandem axles:

A combination of two axles having a common suspension.

Tandem booster:

A vacuum power booster that uses two diaphragms to increase brake application force. Smaller in diameter than single-diaphragm boosters.

Tandem drive:

Two powered axles in combination.

Tandem master cylinder:

1. A master cylinder with two pistons; when the brake pedal is pressed, the pushrod activates the primary piston which in turn moves the secondary piston; necessary for dual-circuit braking systems
2. A master cylinder having a single bore with two pistons and separate fluid compression chambers. In the event of significant fluid loss in one circuit, this design, used in "split" braking systems, ensures that there will be some braking power in the other circuit. For this reason, it has been mandatory on cars marketed in the US since 1967

Tang:

A device mounted on a rotating shaft or component that engages in a recess of a component to be driven

Tangential-flow scavenging:

See loop scavenging

Tank:

A container into which any liquid or gas can be held. Also it may even be empty such as a vacuum tank.
Also See:
acetylene tank
air tank
anodizing tank
ballast tank
bottom tank
cylinder
deep tank
electropaint tank
expansion tank
fuel tank
fuel tank sender
gas tank
header tank
radiator tank
saddle tank
slop tank, and vacuum tank

Tank bag:

A bag that sits on the gas tank of the motorcycle, secured by a magnet or by straps. Tank bags are good for holding lightweight items such as gloves, maps, and wallets

Tank-barge:

A river barge for the carrying of liquid bulk cargo

Tank bib:

A leather or vinyl covering over the gas tank of a motorcycle to protect the finish from scratches

Tank chap:

A leather or vinyl covering over the sides of a gas tank of a motorcycle to protect the finish from scratches

Tanker:

1. A truck designed to carry liquid in bulk.
2. A ship designed for transporting liquid cargo, usually petroleum products.

Also See:
oil tanker
petrol tanker

Tanker truck:

A truck designed to carry liquid in bulk. British term is petrol tanker

Tank sender:

See fuel tank sender

Tank, supply:

Separate tank connected directly or by a pump to the oil-burning appliance.

Tanktop :

A covering usually of wood, placed over the tank top for its protection

Tap:

1. To cut threads in a hole or tube.
2. The fluted tool used to cut the threads.

Also See:
drain tap

Tap and die set:

A set of taps and dies for internal and external threading, usually covers a range of the most popular sizes.

Tape:

See:
adhesive tape
bonnet tape
hood tape
insulating tape
masking tape
pvc tape
rim tape

Taper:

1. A gradual narrowing in size of a long round object toward one end.
2. A lack of parallelism. A defect in which the thickness of the drum or rotor at the outer edge differs from its thickness at the inner edge.

Also See:
advanced rim taper
base rim taper
bead seat taper
center rim taper
drop center rim taper
flat base rim taper
intermediate rim taper
rim bead seat taper
rim taper
semi-drop center rim taper
worm and taper pin

Taper-breaking tool:

See ball joint separator

Taper cutter:

A tool used to ream, deburr, align, and enlarge holes, e.g., on car bodies. Also called tapered reamer

Tapered compression ring:

The upper compression ring which, due to its tapered cross-section, requires a reduced running-in period thus ensuring a tight seal quickly

Tapered leaf spring:

See parabolic spring

Tapered punch:

See drift punch

Tapered roller bearing:

An antifriction bearing using a series of tapered, cone-shaped hardened steel rollers operating between an outer and inner hardened steel race. It can accept axial thrust as well as providing shaft location. Used where both radial and thrust loads are to be handled.

Taper leaf spring:

See parabolic spring

Taper pin:

A roll pin or dowel pin that is wider at one end than the other.
Also See:
worm and taper pin

Taper seat:

1. A conical seat that provides positive centering of a wheel bolt head in the wheel. The opposite of radius seat.
2. A seal without a gasket achieved by mating the conical surface of the spark plug shell and the cylinder head

Tape weight:

See adhesive weight.

Tap holder:

A tool used to hold and drive taps, reamers, and screw extractors with two long handles to provide high leverage for turning operation

Tappet:

1. The screw used to adjust the clearance between the valve stem and the lifter or the rocker arm.
2. The valve lifter itself.

Also See:
barrel tappet
bucket tappet
cam follower
flat tappet
hydraulic tappet
mushroom tappet
roller tappet
simple tappet
valve tappet

Tappet adjusting screw:

See valve adjusting screw

Tappet gasket:

See rocker cover gasket

Tappet noise:

Noise caused by the lash or clearance between the valve stem and rocker arm or between the valve stem and valve lifter.

Tappet wrench:

A wrench designed for adjusting valve clearances on OHV-engines with bucket tappet assembly that use an adjusting screw instead of valve shims for adjustment

Tapping:

See hinge tapping plate

Tapping plate:

See hinge tapping plate

Tap ratchet:

A tool with ratchet mechanism used to hold and operate bits such as taps, drills, reamers, or screw extractors

Tap spanner:

See tap holder

Tap wrench:

See tap holder

Tar:

A black, sticky substance made from petroleum. It is useful for patching cracks in the road. However, when driving over it, the wheels kick up particles of it on a vehicle's painted surface. See bug and tar remover.

Tare weight:

The weight of a truck, exclusive of its contents, but including gas, oil, etc., ready to roil. Also called "curb weight."

Targa:

A removable-roof body style popularized by Porsche that is similar to a convertible except that it incorporates a fixed, roll-bar-like structure running from side to side behind the front seats.

Targa bar:

A type of roll bar made of a relatively wide band of sheet steel rather than of tubing; made popular by the Porsche 911 Targa

Targa top:

A rigid, removable roof section between the windshield and targa bar

Tariff:

A duty or tax imposed on imports.
Also See:
Generalized Preferential Tariff
agreement on Tariffs
general Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

Tariffs and Trade:

See:
agreement on Tariffs and Trade
general Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

Tarnish:

To discolor due to the formation of a thin film of oxide, sulphide, or some other corrosion product

Tar remover:

See bug and tar remover.

Tatra:

A vehicle brand of which the 1925-1948 models with required application are classic cars.

Taurus:

A model of automobile manufactured by Ford
Click image for books on Ford Taurus

Tax:

See:
car tax
displacement taxes
road tax
vehicle tax

Tax disc:

A road fund licence disc displayed on the windshield to show that a British road tax has been paid

Taxi:

A car in which passengers are carried for hire which is usually recorded by a meter

Taxicab:

A car in which passengers are carried for hire which is usually recorded by a meter

Taxi rank:

A British term for a taxi stand

Taxi stand:

A place where taxis wait to be hired

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