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
A notice of a violation of a traffic law
Also see
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
  1. To run at low speed with the throttle control closed and the transmission disengaged.
  2. To idle
Tick-over
The speed of an engine when it is turning over
Tie
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
  1. Any connecting red or bar, usually under tension.
  2. 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
Tie rod end
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.
TIF
Acronym for Traffic Impact Fee
TIG
Term used to describe gas tungsten inert arc welding (tungsten inert gas).
Tight
  1. A handling condition in which the car's front end wants to go straight when the wheel is turned. Also called understeer or push.
  2. A description of a vehicle indicating its ability to easily negotiate curves at high speed.
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
Tile setter hammer
A hammer used to secure tile
Tilt
  1. Abbreviation for Tilt steering wheel.
  2. A cab which tilts up for maintenance. It does not mean the vehicle is necessarily a COE. The engine cowls of some conventional power units tilt although the entire cab does not.
Tilt Body
A flatbed for hauling equipment. Sometimes specialized dumps are called this.
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
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
Timed injection
Timer
Clock-operated mechanism used to control opening and closing of an electrical circuit.
Timer core
A magnetic pick-up assembly.
Also see
Timer-thermostat
Thermostat control which includes a clock mechanism. Unit automatically controls room temperature and changes temperature range depending on time of day.
Time To Repair
Time Trial
(TT) A competition where a vehicle seeks to cover a certain distance in the best time possible. In most cases the vehicle proceeds solo (i.e., other vehicles are not on the track at the same time)
Time valve
Timing
  1. The capability of the valves, ignition system, and other engine-driven parts of a vehicle to work together for maximum efficiency.
  2. 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.
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 CrankshaftSprocketCamshaft 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
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
Timing gun
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
Timing marks
  1. 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.
  2. 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 Meter
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
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 tapered roller bearing
Timken® roller bearing
A type of tapered roller bearing
Tin
A malleable and ductile metal which increases strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance against salt water when added to brass alloys.
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
Tinner's hammer
A hammer used to shape tin plates
Tinners Rivet
A small rivet having a head of the same form as a flat head rivet but larger in diameter, used in sheet metal work.
Tinners snips
See
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
Tint
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

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.
Tipper
Rear/side tipper: Specialized dump rig, usually. A roll-off tipper is a roll-off container carrying setup.
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
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
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 balanceDynamic 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
Tire carrier
Tire casing
  1. The main body of the tire exclusive of the Tread tube, etc.
  2. Layers of cord, called plies, shaped in a tire form and impregnated with rubber, to which the tread is applied.
Tire chains
Tire clearance
Tire contact area
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
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
Tire gage
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
  1. A tool for removing a tire from the rim of a wheel.
    Also see
  2. A tool for removing the nuts holding a wheel to the hub since one end is flat and the other has a socket.
Also see
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.
Also see
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.
Also see
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
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 Pressure Warning
Tire, road
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
Tire scuff
Removal of some sidewall rubber as the tire drags along the edge of a curb.
Also see
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 millimeters; 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
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
Tire tread
That part of the tire that contacts the road.
Tire tread gauge
Tire, triathlon
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

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.
Titanium
A silvery gray metal with high corrosion resistance against salt waters, chlorides, and many acids. It is strong, though lightweight, and very expensive.
TIV
Acronym for Thermactor Idle Vacuum Valve (Ford)