| WEB-EXTRA: A Tricked Out Glossary of Terms |
From "Tricked Out"
episode DTRK-104 |
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A Tricked Out Glossary of Terms 12v constant power: 12-volt electricity straight from the battery. Used mainly for accessories that are powered when the vehicle is off, like alarms and courtesy lights, and also for accessories that have "memory" like clocks, radios, and some power seats. (Tricked Out episode 105)
12v switched power: 12-volt electricity that is only available when the ignition switch is in on. Most electronic accessories are wired to a switched power source to protect the car's battery when the ignition is off. (Tricked Out episode 105) Adjustable shock absorber: Performance shock absorbers have adjustable dampening, or resistance to free suspension travel. (Tricked Out episode 101) Air-fuel ratio: The amount of fuel mixed with air for combustion. Too much fuel is considered running "rich", while too little fuel creates a "lean" condition. (Tricked Out episode 102) Alloy: Metal product composed of two or more metals mixed to produce desired attributes. Commonly found in wheels and other lightweight, strong components. (Tricked Out episode 101) Axle-back exhaust system: Any exhaust system that replaces the midpipe, muffler, tailpipe, and exhaust tip. (Tricked Out episode 102) Bezel: The rim of an instrument (gauge) that holds the glass or plastic lens in place. Bump stops: Rubber bumpers found in the suspension that protect against metal-to-metal contact in the event of an over-compressed suspension. (Tricked Out episode 101) Adjustable cam gears: Add-on component that allows independent adjustment of cams for proper timing in a modified engine. Camber: A term used to describe the angle of the wheels against the ground. Zero degrees camber results in the wheels being perpendicular to the ground. A positive camber setting indicates the wheel is leaning out at the top, while with negative camber the wheels will lean in. (Tricked Out episode 101) Camber kit: An accessory that allows precise adjustment of camber, especially helpful for correcting camber in lowered vehicles. (Tricked Out episode 101) Carbon-fiber reinforced plastics: A composite material composed of carbon fiber suspended in a plastic matrix. Carbon fiber components are both strong and lightweight. (Tricked Out episode 104) Cat-back exhaust system: An performance exhaust system that replaces all factory exhaust components behind the catalytic converter. (Tricked Out episode 102) Chip: Short for a performance upgrade that involves replacing the car's original factory engine management program with a hi-performance version. Usually accomplished by opening the ECU and replacing a plug-in computer chip. (Tricked Out episode 102) Coil-over spring: A shock with an integral spring. Most upgrades feature adjustable spring perches which allow the ride height of the car to be raised and lowered easily. (Tricked Out episode 101) Cold-air intake: An intake system that draws cold air from outside the engine compartment. (Tricked Out episode 102) Control arm: A hinged suspension component that connects the wheel hub to the vehicle's frame. (Tricked Out episode 101) Dubs: Slang for wheels with a 20" radius. (Tricked Out episode 101) Dynomometer: A machine that places load against the engine to measure horsepower and torque. (Tricked Out episode 102) ECU: Engine control unit. A computer system devoted to engine management. (Tricked Out episode 102) EVAP OBD canister: A temporary storage unit for evaporated fuel vapors. (Tricked Out episode 102) Fiber Optic Lighting: Accent lighting that contains optic fibers constructed to carry light along the axis of the cable. Fiberglass Body Kit: The original body kit material, fiberglass is lightweight, inexpensive, and easily repaired. (Tricked Out episode 104) 12v Ground: Needed for all electronic accessories, a 12-volt ground wire can usually be connected to bare metal on the car's body or frame. A ground connection completes the electric circuit. (Tricked Out episode 105) Hid light: A lamp that produces light when electricity excites a gas-filled bulb element. Requires a ballast to operate. Hog ring: A specialized upholstery fastener. Special hog-ring pliers recommended for installation and removal. (Tricked Out episode 103) L.E.D. lighting: Accent lighting kits that use Light Emitting Diodes to produce light. LED's are bright, efficient, and quick to react, making them a perfect choice for a wide range of effects. (Tricked Out episode 105) Listing wires: An upholstry reinforcement wire used to anchor cloth or leather to the seat frame. (Tricked Out episode 103) Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act: A law that provides consumer protection against warranty denial based soley on the use of aftermarket parts. (Tricked Out episode 102) Mass airflow sensor: A sensor in the air intake that measures the amount and density of air entering the engine for fuel and spark management. (Tricked Out episode 102) Nitrous injection: Adding Nitrous Oxide to the air-fuel mixture entering a combustion chamber increases the Oxygen content and, combined with additional fuel, produces a significant power increase. Piggyback ECU: An add-on engine control unit that adds engine performance and functionality without disrupting factory control of non-performance oriented engine systems. (Tricked Out episode 102) Polyurethane body kit: Constructed of the same materials as factory bumper covers, polyurethane body kits are lightweight and flexible, but cost more than traditional fiberglass kits. (Tricked Out episode 104) Ride-height: Height of the vehicle off the ground. Adjustable with a coil-over strut package. (Tricked Out episode 101) Rims: Wheels (Tricked Out episode 101) S.C.C.A. : Sports Car Club of America. Offers driver training and autocross events across the country. More information is available at www.scca.com. (Tricked Out episode 101) Short-ram intake: An aftermarket intake system that draws air from inside the engine compartment. (Tricked Out episode 102) Spanner wrench: A large hooked wrench used for adjusting coil-over spring perches. As designs differ, most coil-over kits include the proper tool for adjustment. (Tricked Out episode 101) Spring rate: The amount of force needed to compress a spring. Typically measured in pounds/inch, or kilograms/centimeter. (Tricked Out episode 101) Strut tower bar: A chassis stiffening bar attached between upper strut mounts to improve handling. (Tricked Out episode 101) Supercharger: A belt or gear driven air pump that forces more air and fuel into the combustion chamber for more power. Turbocharger: An exhaust-driven air pump that forces more air and fuel into the combustion chamber for more power. Unibody: A term used to describe vehicles in which the frame and body structure are connected as one unit. (Tricked Out episode 101) Graphics: Painted or vinyl-adhesive designs applied to a vehicle for styling. (Tricked Out episode 105) VTEC: (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) A system used in some Honda engines to allow the engine to breathe differently at different RPMs for optimum performance. --Compiled by the Tricked Out series producers.
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