Dictionary of Automotive Terms Abbreviations

DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Ti"

TI: Acronym for Transistorized ignition

TI-B: Acronym for Breaker-triggered transistorized ignition

TIC: Acronym for Thermal ignition control

Ticket: See
Parking ticket

Tickler: A carburetor starting aid. When starting at low temperatures, the float may be pushed below the fuel level in the float chamber by depressing the tickler, so that more fuel is supplied than is required for normal operation

Tick over

To run at low speed with the throttle control closed and the transmission disengaged.
To idle

Tick-over: The speed of an engine when it is turning over

Tie-down: A device for securing a load usually made of straps and hooks.

Tie-down system: Equipment which secures someone who uses a wheelchair to the floor of the van or bus. There are many kinds of devices used including brackets, straps, wheel locks, and belts.

Tie rod

Any connecting red or bar, usually under tension.
A rod, or rods, connecting the Steering arms together. It links the Pitman arm and the Idler arm to the Steering knuckle arms. When the tie rod is moved, the wheels pivot.

Tie rod arm: See
Steering arm.

Tie rod end: See
Tie rod ends.

Tie rod ends: A type of Ball joint which transfers the movements of the Steering wheel to the wheels. Grease fittings or Ball joints located on the ends of the Steering linkage.

Tie rod puller: A special automotive tool for forcing out joints on tie rod ends by screw action

Tie rod separator: A special automotive tool for forcing out joints on tie rod ends by screw action

Tier 1 Supplier: Manufacturer to the vehicle assemblers who are responsible for delivery of the finished assembly, product development and continued technology renewal.

Tier 2 Supplier: Producer of parts providing value-added to minor sub-assembly.

Tier 3 Supplier: Supplier of engineered materials and special services, such as rolls of sheet steel, bars and heat treating, surface treatments.

TIG: Term used to describe gas tungsten inert arc welding (tungsten inert gas).

Tight

A handling condition in which the car's front end wants to go straight when the wheel is turned. Also called understeer or push.
A description of a vehicle indicating its ability to easily negotiate curves at high speed.

Also See
Finger tight
Gas-tight

TIG welding: An inert arc welding method using a tungsten electrode

TI-H: Acronym for Transistorized ignition with hall generator

TI-I: Acronym for Transistorized ignition with inductive pick-up

Tijuana taxi: Trucker slang for Well marked police car as in "There's a tijuana taxi about a mile ahead.".

Tile setter hammer: A hammer used to secure tile

Tilt: Abbreviation for Tilt steering wheel.

Tilt column: A steering column that can be adjusted for height

Tilt/slide sunroof: A sunroof, made of steel or glass, that slides and tilts and is operated either manually or electrically

Tilt steering wheel: (tilt) A Steering wheel which moves up or down or which can be set at a different angle. In this way, the driver can find the most comfortable position and also allows easier entry and exit from the vehicle.

Time: See
Active braking time
Break time
Cure time
Curing time
Elapsed time
Flash time
Glow time
Soaking time
Straight time

Time delay relay: A relay which responds to a signal with a certain delay. In some ignition systems, a time delay relay allows for full vacuum advance 20-30 seconds after start-up, after which control is again taken up by the TCS; some cars have an additional time delay relay which delays vacuum advance about 30 seconds after the transmission has been shifted to high gear

Timed fuel injection: See
Sequential fuel injection

Timed injection: See
Sequential fuel injection

Timer: Clock-operated mechanism used to control opening and closing of an electrical circuit.

Timer core: A magnetic pick-up assembly. See Trigger wheel

Timer-thermostat: Thermostat control which includes a clock mechanism. Unit automatically controls room temperature and changes temperature range depending on time of day.

Time valve: See
Thermal time valve

Timing

The capability of the valves, ignition system, and other engine-driven parts of a vehicle to work together for maximum efficiency.
One of the essential factors in an Internal combustion engine (Fuel, Air, Proper proportion of mixture, Compression Timing, Spark). When the Piston is in the Compression stroke both valves must be closed. If one or more is open, the Valve timing is out. Perhaps a Timing belt or Timing chain has jumped a tooth. If the spark does not arrive at the correct moment, the engine is out of time. If this Ignition timing is only slightly off, the engine may run with less Efficiency. Ignition timing is regulated by checking it with a timing light and then adjusting the distributor.

Also See
Basic ignition setting
Basic ignition timing
Basic timing
Dynamic ignition timing
Electronic spark timing
Engine timing
Exhaust timing
High energy ignition system with electronic spark timing
Ignition timing
Mechanical ignition timing
Microprocessor spark timing system
Reed valve induction timing
Spark timing
Static ignition timing
Static timing
Stroboscopic ignition timing
Valve timing
Variable valve timing

Timing belt: A toothed belt driven by the Crankshaft and operates the Camshaft. It causes the valves to open and close at the proper time. When an engine is rebuilt, it is important to line up the Crankshaft Sprocket with the Camshaft sprocket before applying the belt. When the belt breaks, often a valve will remain open and be hit by the rising Piston causing the valve to bend and other internal damage.

Timing belt pulley: A spring-loaded jockey pulley or idler pulley designed to take up the slack in the timing belt

Timing belt tensioner: A spring-loaded jockey pulley or idler pulley designed to take up the slack in the timing belt

Timing chain: A drive chain driven by the Crankshaft and operates the Camshaft. It causes the valves to open and close at the proper time. When an engine is rebuilt, it is important to line up the Crankshaft Sprocket Camshaft sprocket before applying the chain. When the chain often a valve will remain open and be hit by the rising Piston causing the valve to bend and other internal damage. In OHC engines, it is called a camchain chain or cam chain

Timing control: See
Vacuum timing control

Timing diagram: A diagrammatic representation of the engine timing, i.e., the times during which the intake and exhaust valves are open and closed

Timing gear: Both the gear attached to the Camshaft and the gear on the Crankshaft. They provide a means of driving the Camshaft. This system is used where long life and hard service are expected as in commercial vehicles and race cars. Using gears is generally a noisier method than using a Timing chain or a Cog belt to drive the Camshaft.

Timing gears: See
Timing gear.

Timing gun: See
Timing light

Timing light: A stroboscopic unit that is connected to the secondary circuit to produce flashes of light in unison with the firing of a specific Spark plug. By directing these flashes of light on the whirling Timing marks the marks appear to stand still. By adjusting the Distributor the timing marks may be properly aligned, thus setting the Timing. Xenon timing lights have the advantage over neon lights because they are more visible in daylight.

Timing mark: See
Timing marks.

Timing marks

Marks or notches, usually located on the Vibration damper used to Synchronize the Ignition system so that the plugs will fire at the precise time.
One tooth on either the Camshaft or Crankshaft gear will be marked with an indentation or some other mark. Another mark will be found on the other gear between two of the teeth. The two gears must be meshed so that the marked tooth meshes with the marked spot on the other gear.

Timing rotor: A rotating part of the pick-up assembly, in the form of a drum with ferrite rods embedded vertically in the outer edge, used instead of a trigger wheel

Timing shaft: See
Distributor shaft

Timing system: See
Microprocessor spark timing system

Timing valve: In Bosch CIS, a device that regulates pressure in the lower chamber of the differential-pressure valve, in response to a signal from the lambda (oxygen) sensor. Also called Lambda valve (Bosch's term) or a Frequency valve

Timing window: Window through which it is possible to see the timing marks

Timken bearing: A type of taper roller bearing

Timken roller bearing: A type of taper roller bearing

Tin can: Trucker slang for CB radio as in "I have to get a new tin can at the next truckstop."

Tin immersion treatment: A formation of a thin tin deposit before electroplating

Tin Lizzie: An affectionate name for the Model T Ford of which 15,007,033 were built.

Tinmen's shears: See
Snips

Tinner's hammer: A hammer used to shape tin plates

Tinners snips: See
Snips

Tinning: Coating a piece of metal with a very thin layer of Solder. This is a pretreating procedure before the application of body lead. To ensure that the body lead adequately covers and takes to the area to be repaired, a flux and a thin coating of tin or a special solder paint are applied

Tin snips: See
Snips

Tint: See
Graduated tint
Top tints

Tinted glass: A glass that has been specially colored to reduce glare from the sun

Tinted windows: A glass that has been specially colored to reduce glare from the sun

T intersection: T intersection

A road that no longer goes straight ahead but turns either to the left or the right

Tints: A colloquial term for glass that has been specially colored to reduce glare from the sun

Tint tone: A shade produced when a small amount of color is mixed with a large amount of white; this is required for formulating the ingredients of a certain paint tone

Tip: The end of a spark plug insulator, nearest the electrode.

Also See
Fork tip
Insulator tip

Tipper: See
Anti-tipper

TIR: Acronym for Total Indicator Reading. In disc brakes, this refers to a rotor runout reading of the entire swing of the dial indicator's needle, both above and below zero.

Tire

The rubber part of the wheel which contacts the ground. The construction can be Bias-ply Bias-belted or Radial. The Plies are made of rayon, nylon, and polyester. Belting can be Fiberglass steel, or kevlar. The rest of the tire is hard rubber.
The rubber and cord donut on the wheel rim that is filled with pressurized air and transmits vehicle forces (including braking forces) to the road.

Also See
A-2 tire
All terrain tire
Bald tire
Balloon tire
Beaded edge tire
Bead tire
Belted bias tire
Belted tire
Bias belted tire
Bias ply tire
Bias tire
Car tire
Clincher tire
Collapsible spare tire
Commercial tire
Continental tire
Conti tire system
Conventional spare tire
Conventional tire
Cross-ply tire
Denovo tire
Directional tire
Dual bead tire
Flat tire
Front wheel tire clearance
Green tire
Grown tire
Industrial tire
Knobby tire
Lateral tire clearance
Longitudinal tire clearance
Low-profile tire
Low pressure tire
M+s tire
Mileage tire
Mud and snow tire
Off-road tire
Overinflated tire
Pneumatic tire
Radial tire
Regrooveable tire
Rotate tires
Run-flat tire
Run-on tire
Separation solid tire
Sew-up tire
Snow tire
Solid tire
Space saving tire
Spare tire
Special mileage tire
Steel belted radial tire
Tubeless tire
Tubular tire
Underinflated tire
Undersize tire
Whitewall tire
Winter tire
Wired-on tire
Wired on tire
X tire

Tire aging: The deterioration of rubber properties by oxidation over a period of time.

Tire balance: Because tires turn at relatively high speeds, they must be carefully weighted so that they do not bounce or vibrate when they rotate. Two basic kinds of balancing are Static balance Dynamic balance.

Tire bead: That portion of the tire that bears against the rim Flange. The bead has a number of turns of steel wire in it to provide great strength.

Tire bead lock: The tire bead and rim of a TD rim are designed so that an enlarged and reinforced toe on the tire bead engages in a small circumferential groove in the bead seat area of the rim; the bead thus remains locked in position under both inflated and deflated conditions

Tire body: See
Carcass

Tire carrier: See
Spare tire carrier

Tire casing

The main body of the tire exclusive of the Tread tube, etc.
Layers of cord, called plies, shaped in a tire form and impregnated with rubber, to which the tread is applied.

Tire chains: See
Snow chains

Tire clearance: See
Front wheel tire clearance
Lateral tire clearance
Longitudinal tire clearance
Vertical tire clearance

Tire contact area: See
Contact patch

Tire contact patch: The area of tire rubber that actually touches the road at any one time. Also called the tire footprint.

Tire contact zone: See
Contact patch

Tire deviation angle: An angle formed by the direction of travel of a vehicle and the steered direction (that which the wheels are pointing). It is produced by distortions within the tire, due to external forces. Not to be confused by actual slipping or skidding. Also called Slip angle.

Tire dressing: Paint, black glossy or dull finish, to improve appearance of tire sidewalls.

Tire footprint: See
Tire contact patch

Tire gage: See
Tire gauge.

Tire gauge: An instrument for determining the pressure in a tube or tire.

Tier growth: The stretching of textile tire cord materials due to heat and loss of strength, resulting in the Casing increasing in size.

Tire iron

A tool for removing a tire from the rim of a wheel.

Also See
Spoon
Tire lever
.
A tool for removing the nuts holding a wheel to the hub since one end is flat and the other has a socket. See Wheelbrace

Tire jack: A device which is used to lift one corner of a vehicle so that a wheel can be removed and replaced in the event of a flat tire. See Jack.

Tire kicker: A person who is just looking at a vehicle for sale but is not intending to buy.

Tire lever: A British term for a tool used to remove and install tires by lever action or to pry off parts. See Tire iron.

Tire, mountain: See mountain tire.

Tire paint: A black paint, compatible to tire bodies, used to enhance the appearance of a tire after retreading.

Tire plies: The layers of nylon, rayon, etc., cloth that are used to form the casing. Most vehicle tires are two ply with a four ply rating. Two ply indicates two layers of cloth or plies.

Tire ply: See
Tire plies.

Tire pressure: The manufacturer's recommended pressure for a tire, dependent on load, speed, etc., usually given in bar or pound-force per square inch (psi). (1.8 bar = 26 psi; 2 bar = 29 psi; 2.2 bar = 32 psi; 2.4 bar = 35 psi; 2.7 bar = 39 psi)

Tire pressure gauge: An instrument for measuring air pressure in a tire

Tire Pressure Monitor System: (TPMS) Pressure sensors located in each wheel to directly measure the pressure in each tire and warn the driver when the air pressure in any tire drops at least 25% below the recommended cold tire inflation pressure identified on the vehicle placard.

Tire, road: See road tire.

Tire roll-off: A condition in which the bead unseats because a tire was run while flat. Also, the sudden loss of air due to side forces, such as hard cornering, combined with underinflation. The Safety ledge on passenger rims (a necessity for tubeless mountings) guards against a roll-off.

Tire rotation: Moving the wheel and tire assemblies to different locations (e.g., front wheels to the rear and the rear to the front) to equalize any wear irregularities in the tires.

Also See
Wheel rotation

Tire scuff: Removal of some sidewall rubber as the tire drags along the edge of a curb. Also see Tire wear

Tire sidewall: That portion of the tire between the Tread and the bead.

Tire size designation: A designation specified on the tire sidewall; e.g., P205160 R 15, where P=Passenger car; 205 = tire width in millimetres; 60 = tire section height to width ratio; R = radial ply; 15 = nominal rim diameter in inches

Tire Size Markings: Those designations that appear on the side of a tire to indicate its basic dimensions; width, and rim diameter.

Tire slip: The difference between the speed of the vehicle and the speed between the tire and the ground, expressed in a percentage.

Tire slip angle: See
Slip angle

Tire spreader: Any device, manual or hydraulic, used to spread tire beads for inspection, repair, service, etc.

Tire squeal: The noise made by the tires when experiencing sudden acceleration or braking or when cornering too fast

Tire store: Retail outlet selling and installing tires and often offering other vehicle repair services.

Tire system: See
Conti tire system

Tire tread: That part of the tire that contacts the road.

Tire tread gauge: See
Tread depth gauge

Tire, triathlon: See triathlon tire.

Tire tube: An inflatable rubber device mounted inside some tires to contain air at sufficient pressure to inflate the casing and support the vehicle weight.

Tire unbalance: A tire that is not weighted properly can cause vibration. The condition is exaggerated by centrifugal force which increases as speed is increased and by the distance the heave spot is from the wheel axis.

Tire valve: Tire valve

A small valve, mounted on the wheel rim of a Tubeless tire that allows air to be added to the tire with an air hose and allows air to be withdrawn from an over-inflated tire by pressing on the little stem at the end of the valve. Some tire valves have little caps to protect against leaks and keep dirt from fouling the valve. On tires with Inner tubes the tire valve is mounted on the inner tube. There are two kinds of valves used Presta and Schrader.

Tire wear: The amount by which, for example, the tread of a tire is worn down, or the sidewall damaged by impact with the curb

Tire width: The width of a tire measured across the carcass

TISC: The Industry Safety Council.

TIV: Acronym for Thermactor Idle Vacuum Valve (Ford)