DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Wa"

W
  1. A letter rating for tires to indicate that they are theoretically rated for speeds up to 270 kph, as in P220WR15.The next higher rating is Y and the one lower rating is V
  2. Acronym for Watt
W/
Abbreviation for with, as in black w/white top.
WAC
  1. Acronym for Wide Open Throttle A/C Cutoff Relay
  2. Acronym for Wide Open Throttle A/C Cutout Relay
WACA
Acronym for A/C Wide Open Throttle Cutout Relay Monitor
Waddle
A side to side rocking movement of a vehicle in motion, caused by suspension or tire damage or excessive lateral runout
Wading plugs
Oil drain holes are provided in the bottom of the clutch housing (and the camshaft drive-belt housing on Tdi and 2.5D engines) to preclude the possibility of the clutch or cam belts becoming contaminated in the event of oil leaks from the adjacent bearings. Wading plugs should be fitted to block these holes when driving through water over 30 cm deep and subsequently removed.
Wad punch
A tool with a round cutting edge for cutting out holes in gaskets or other soft materials
Wafer
A thin sheet of semiconductor (photovoltaic material) made by cutting it from a single crystal or ingot.
Wagon
See
Waistline
A British term for Belt line. An imaginary or molded horizontal line below the bottom of the side window that separates the roof area from the bottom of the body
Waiver
See
Wakening
See
Walcker
See
Walked over
Trucker slang for Over powered by a stronger c.b. signal as in "Come back on that someone walked all over you."
Walk-in cooler
Larger. commercially refrigerated space kept below room temperature. Often found in supermarkets or wholesale meat distribution centers.
Walking Beam Suspension
A type of truck and tractor rear suspension consisting of two beams, one at each side of the chassis, which pivot in the center and connect at the front to one axle of a tandem and at the rear to the other axle.
Walking Floor
A type of dump trailer with a conveyor belt or chain running down the center of the floor of the trailer to unload the cargo. Also called live bottom
Wall
See
Walnut
See
Wander
A steering action where the vehicle moves or rambles from a fixed course without positive control.
Wanderer
The first Wanderer car with a 5/12 hp four-cylinder engine was test driven in 1912. It went into series production in 1913. This small Wanderer car had not been on the market very long when it became a stage star in the operetta Puppchen (which can be translated loosely as "darling") by Jean Gilbert. The title song was rather catchy "Darling, you are the apple of my eye, darling, I think the world of you." From then on the little Wanderer was known simply by the name Puppchen.
Wandering
A condition in which the front wheels of an automobile tend to steer slowly one way and then another, and interferes with directional control of stability
Wankel engine
A rotary Internal combustion engine invented by Felix Wankel (1902-1988). It consists of an equilateral triangular member with curved sides orbiting about an Eccentric on a shaft inside a stationary Housing whose inner working surface is in the shape of an Epitrochoid. The Rotor is in sliding contact with the Eccentric and imparts power to the eccentric shaft as a connecting rod does to a Crankshaft. With one-third of a rotor revolution per shaft revolution and a power impulse for each of the three rotor sides, the Wankel generates one power impulse per revolution per rotor--twice that of what the Four-cycle Piston engine produces. Thus it has become accepted practice to multiply the geometry Displacement of the Wankel by a factor of two for comparison with Otto-cycle piston engines. The Wankel's advantages include compact size, light weight and smooth operation because there are no Reciprocating parts. Its drawbacks include relatively high Exhaust emission, possible sealing problems and low Fuel economy. Mazda, however, has made significant improvements in all three areas.
Warding file
See
Warm Air
See
Warm Air Furnace
See
Warm up
  1. To run an engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
  2. The laps taken on the track prior to the race used to warm up the tires, transmission, engine fluids and other components of the race car before the start of the event.
Warm-up
The action of starting an engine and allowing it to idle until it reaches operating temperature before driving away.
Warm-up control unit
A unit that produces the richer mixture needed for cold running and modulates fuel system pressure according to engine temperature; the unit includes an electrically heated thermostatic spring, which reduces the force on a spring-loaded control diaphragm
Warm-up enrichment
A reduced enrichment of the air/fuel mixture following cranking and after-start enrichment. In the past, warming up an engine was thought to be good practice but now manufacturers recommend that motorists should drive off immediately, as this is the quickest way of heating up the engine and preventing oil being washed off the cylinder walls by partially burnt rich mixture (which causes engine wear)
Warm-up regulator
On Bosch CIS, the original name for the control-pressure regulator
Warning
See
Warning Flasher
See
Warning indicator
See
Warning lamp
A small lamp on the instrument panel that lights up if there is a problem
Warning light
A small lamp on the instrument panel that lights up if there is a problem.
Also see
Warning light valve
A valve in the hydraulic circuits of a dual brake system that switches on a dash warning light when one system fails.
Warning signal
See
Warning switch
See
Warning Switch Assembly
See
Warning system
See
Warning tracks
  1. The little ridges in the road that warn you of an upcoming tollbooth or another lane. Sometimes called wake-up bumps or Bot's Dots -- Mr. Bot got very rich off these.
  2. A part of the race track which is off the main part of the section for driving.
Warning triangle
A triangular red safety reflector that should be carried on all vehicles and be placed at the side of the road to warn of an obstruction ahead, such as a broken-down vehicle
Warp
  1. A bending or twisting out of shape.
  2. Threads in cloth that run along the length of the material.
  3. To bend or twist out of shape
Warranty
The promise made by both the vehicle manufacturer and the vehicle dealer to fix or replace parts on a new vehicle if there is a malfunction before a specific time or distance has elapsed. In some instances some manufacturers or dealers grant warranty even after the expiry of the designated time or distance. This is called good will warranty.
Also see
Wash
See
Washboard
A road surface which has a series of lateral grooves -- usually found on gravel roads and caused by water runoff. Also called corrugations
Washcoat
An oxide layer on the catalyst substrate which increases with the active surface area
Washer
A flat Disc with a hole in the center. It may be made of metal, rubber, plastic, or leather. It is often placed under a nut to even out pressure and prevent damage to the part on which it rests.
Also see
Washer face
A circular rim or boss on the underside of the head of a bolt (i.e., the bearing surface) or on one side of a nut to give a flat surface for the bolt or nut to sit on. A smooth washer face takes away any burrs or imperfections caused by the manufacturing process.
Washer fluid
A fluid added to the water in the windshield washer and rear window washer reservoirs/bottles to improve the cleaning action and lower the freezing point.
Also see
Washer pump
See
Wash/wipe
See
Wash/wipe switch
A switch on the instrument panel that operates the rear wash/wipe system
Wash/wipe system
See
Waste
See
Wastegate
See
Waste gate
A valve used to limit the boost developed in a turbocharger. A waste gate operates by allowing some of the engine's exhaust flow to bypass the turbocharger's Turbine section under certain conditions.
Also see
Waste materials
Otherwise discarded combustible materials that, when burned, produce energy for such purposes as space heating and electric power generation. The size of the waste may be reduced by shredders, grinders, or hammermills. Noncombustible materials, if any, may be removed. The waste may be dried and then burned, either alone or in combination with fossil fuels.
Waste oil
Petroleum-based materials that are worthless for any purpose other than fuel use.
Waste spark method
In distributorless ignition systems, dual-spark coils fire two spark plugs at the same time; one of these sparks is in a cylinder during its exhaust stroke, where the spark has no effect (waste spark); the other spark occurs in the cylinder near the end of the compression stroke
Waste tar
Petroleum-based materials that are worthless for any purpose other than fuel use.
Watchdog timer
A device that detects controller malfunction and initiates independent action to safely deactivate the equipment operated by the failed controller. The device accomplishes failure detection, by monitoring a periodic update signal from the controller, and activation, if this periodic signal does not occur within a specified time period.
Water
See
Water bar
A diversion ditch and/or hump installed across a trail or road to divert runoff from the surface before the flow gains enough volume and velocity to cause soil movement and erosion, and deposit the runoff into a dispersion area. Water bars are most frequently used on retired roads, trails, and landings.
Water column
A reference term used in connection with a manometer
Water-cooled
An engine which is cooled by antifreeze in contrast with an air-cooled engine.
Water-cooled condenser
  1. Heat exchanger designed to transfer heat from hot gaseous refrigerant to water.
  2. Condensing unit which is cooled through use of water flow.
Water cooling system
The normal cooling system used on most cars and trucks to keep the temperature of the engine down to a desirable level; engine heat is removed via water acting as a coolant which surrounds the cylinders in a water jacket; the system typically includes water passages, coolant pump, thermostat, hoses, and radiator
Watercourse
A definite channel with bed and banks within which concentrated water flows continuously, frequently or infrequently.
Water defrosting
Use of water to melt ice and frost from evaporator during off-cycle.
Water extractor
See
Water fade
A delay in brake application caused by water contamination that reduces friction between the brake linings and drum or rotor.
Water gauge
A device, often a glass tube, which shows the level of water.
Water hammer
Noise generated by back pressure of water when a valve is closed.
Water injection
In an attempt to improve performance and allow the use of lower octane Gasoline, water injection was developed. The cooling of the water vapor charge suppresses Detonation. A small amount of water or alcohol-water fluid is injected into the Fuel-air mixture as it enters into the Carburetor. Theoretically, as the water evaporates it should cool the incoming charge which then becomes denser, leading to higher Volumetric efficiency. This in turn should lead to improvements in performance and Economy and allow the use of lower octane fuel because cooling of the charge suppresses Detonation.
Water jacket
  1. The area around the Cylinder block and Head or Intake manifold that is left hollow so that water may be admitted for cooling. Also called cooling jacket.
  2. Channels in the engine through which water and coolant circulate to cool the engine.
Also see
Water jet cutter
A stream of water under great pressure (50,000 psi) which is controlled by a computer and is used to accurately cut plastic and fiberglass, etc.
Waterline
The line of the water's edge when the ship is afloat.
Also see
Water marking
Stains on the paintwork caused when a drop of water evaporates, leaving behind an outline of the drop
Water passage
A passage within the water jacket designed to prevent the formation of pockets of steam
Water pump
A device that circulates the liquid through the Cooling system by pumping it from the engine Water jackets to the Radiator. The pump is usually mounted at the front of the engine and is driven by a belt from a Pulley on the front end of the Crankshaft. Also called a coolant pump.
Water separator
A device found on diesel cars which removes any water that may have contaminated the diesel fuel.
Water splash
See
Water spotting
Stains on the paintwork that occur when a drop of water evaporates from the painted surface and leaves a white spot behind.
Also see
Water-spotting
Drops of water that mar the Finish before it is thoroughly cured.
Water temperature gauge
A gauge on the instrument panel which indicates coolant temperature
Water turbine
A turbine that uses water pressure to rotate its blades; the primary types are the Pelton wheel, for high heads (pressure); the Francis turbine, for low to medium heads; and the Kaplan for a wide range of heads. Primarily used to power an electric generator.
Water valve
  1. A shut-off valve, mechanically or vacuum operated, for stopping the flow of hot coolant to the heater.
  2. In most water cooling units, a valve that provides a flow of water to cool the system while it is running.
Also see
Water vapor
Water in a vaporous form, especially when below boiling temperature and diffused (e.g., in the atmosphere).
Waterways
See
Watt
(W)
  1. The international unit of measurement of power. One watt equals one Joule per second.
  2. The unit of electrical power equal to one ampere under a pressure of one volt. A Watt is equal to 1/746 horsepower.
Also see
Watt linkage
A Suspension Linkage which has three-bars to locate the De Dion or Live axle. There are two usual methods for arranging a Watt linkage Frame to pivot on axle Housing to frame or axle to pivot on frame to axle. In either arrangement, this link structure restrains all movement of the axle to a vertical plane.
Watts link
A device used to control side to side motion in a ladder bar, torque-tube, or 4-link rear suspension. A watts link has a pivot point in the center of the axle and a rod that runs to each side of the car. This design eliminate the side to side motion of a panhard rod.
Wave
See
Wave AC Current
See
Waveband
A series of wavelengths forming a group
Waveform
See
Wave rectifier
See
Wave supercharger
See
Wax
  1. A substance resembling beeswax in appearance and character, and in general distinguished by its composition of esters and higher alcohols, and by its freedom from fatty acids; used for underbody sealing, cavity sealing, and paintwork care.
  2. Ingredient in many lubricating oils which may separate from the oil if cooled enough.
  3. A solid or semi-solid material at 25°C consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained or derived from petroleum fractions, or through a Fischer-Tropsch type process, in which the straight chained paraffin series predominates. This includes all marketable wax, whether crude or refined, with a congealing point (ASTM D 938) between 80 (or 85) and 116°C and a maximum oil content (ASTM D 3235) of 50 weight percent.
  4. To treat with wax.
Also see
Waxing
  1. The formation of wax crystals in diesel fuel in freezing conditions, thus clogging the fuel filter and stopping the engine; avoided by the use of a fuel heater or fuel additives.
  2. The application of a wax finish on the paint surface of a vehicle to preserve the paint and maintain its beauty
Wax injection
The injection of corrosion-inhibiting wax into car body cavities
Wax lancing
The injection of corrosion-inhibiting wax into car body cavities
Wax-type thermostat
A thermostat in which the expansion of melting paraffin wax (in a rigid cylinder) deforms a molded rubber membrane and displaces a piston/pin from the cylinder; this has the advantage of being insensitive to sudden temperature fluctuations or to the pressure in the system
Way
See
Way clutch
See
Ways
  1. The machined abutments on which a sliding brake caliper rides
  2. Special sliding surfaces machined into the anchor plate and caliper body where these parts of a sliding caliper make contact and move against one another.

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