Automotive Acronyms
Automotive AcronymsSometimes, a symbol or indicator is in the form of a three or four letter Acronym or Abbreviation. Auto manufacturers assume that any given driver knows exactly what these acronyms stand for.
This is almost never true…
Here They Are
2WD: 2 Wheel Drive
4LO: Low Speed 4WD
4WAS: 4 Wheel Active Steer
4WD: 4 Wheel Drive
AAS: Alfa Active Suspension
ABS: Anti-lock Braking System
ABL: Active Bending Lights
ABLS: Active Brake Limited Slip
A/C: Air Conditioning
ACC: Adaptive Cruise Control
ACC: ACCessory or Active Cornering Control
ACE: Active Cornering Enhancement
ADAS: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
ADS: Active Damper System
AEB: Autonomous/Automatic Emergency Braking
AFL: Adaptive Forward Lighting
AFSL: Adaptive Front Lighting System
AFS: Adaptive Front-lighting System
AGC: Auto Glide Control
AHB/AHBA: Active High Beams/Auto High Beam Assist
AHC: Active Height Control
AHDA: Automated Highway Driving Assist
AKI: Anti Knock Index
ALR: Automatic Locking Retractor
ASC: Automatic Stability Control
ASCC: Advanced Smart Cruise Control
ASL: Automatic Shift Lock
ASL: Automatic Speed Limiter
ASPC: All Surface Progress Control
ASR: Anti-Slip Regulation
AST: Alfa Steering Torque
ASTC: Active Skid and Traction Control
A/T or AT: Automatic Transmission
ATPC: All Terrain Progress Control
A-TRAC: Active TRACtion
Auto H: Automatic brake Hold
AV: Autonomous Vehicle
AVH: Auto/Automatic Vehicle Hold
AVS: Adaptive Variable Suspension
AVSM: Advanced Vehicle Safety Management
AWD: All Wheel Drive
AWS: Accelerated Warm-up System
AYC: Active Yaw Control
BA: Brake Assist
BCI: Backup Collision Intervention
BLIS: BLind spot Information System
BAS: Brake Assist System
BSA: Blind Spot Alert
BSD: Blind Spot Detection
BSI: Blind Spot Intervention
BSM: Blind Spot Monitor/Monitoring
CAV: Connected and Automated Vehicle
CCB: Carbon Ceramic Brake
CDC: Continuous Damping Control
CMBS: Collision Mitigation Brake System
CNG: Compressed Natural Gas
CRS: Child Restraint System
CVT: Continuously Variable Transmission
DAC: Downhill Assist Control/Driver Alert Control
DBC: Dynamic Brake Control
DCA: Distance Control Assist
D-CVVT: Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing
DNA: Dynamic, Natural and Advanced efficiency
DEF: Diesel Exhaust Fluid
DFCM: Diesel Fuel Conditioner Module
DFD: Dual Flow Damper
DIC: Driver Information Center
DLC: Data Link Connector
DPF: Diesel Particulate Filter
DRCC: Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
DRL: Daytime Running Lights
DRS: Dynamic Rear Steering
DSA: Distance & Speed Alert
DSC: Dynamic Stability Control
DSF: Dynamic Skip Fire
DSP: Dynamic Shift Program
DSR: Downhill Speed Regulation
DSRC: Dedicated Short-Range Communications
DSSM: Driver Selectable Steering Mode
DST: Dynamic Steering Torque
DSTC: Dynamic Stability and Traction Control
DTC: Dynamic Traction Control/Drive Train Control
DTE: Distance To Empty
EACC: Electronic Air Conditioner Compressor
eAWD: electric All Wheel Drive
EBD: Electronic Brake force Distribution
ECB: Electronically Controlled Braking
ECM: Electronic Control Module
ECO/ECON: ECO(N)nomy operation
ECS: Electronically Controlled Suspension
ECT: Electronically Controlled Transmission
ECU: Electronic Control Unit
EDL: Electronic Differential Lock
EDR: Event Data Recorder
ELD: Electronic Locking Differential
EML: Elektronische Motorleistungsregelung
EPB: Electric Park Brake
EPC: Electronic Power Control
EPS: Electronically controlled/Electronic/Electric Power Steering
ESC: Electronic Stability/Stabilization Control
ESP: Electronic Stability Program
ETC: Electronic Throttle Control
ETCS: Electronic Throttle Control System
EV: Electric Vehicle
EVIC: Electronic Vehicle Information Center
FCA: Forward Collision Avoidance
FAST: Free-hand Advanced Security Transmitter
FCTA: Front Cross Traffic Alert
FCW: Forward Collision Warning
FCWS: Forward Collision Warning System
FEB: Forward Emergency Braking
FTM: Flat Tire Monitor
FWD: Front Wheel Drive
GAW: Gross Axle Weight
GAWR: Gross Axle Weight Rating
GDI: Gasoline Direct Injection
GPCM: Glow Plug Control Module
GPS: Global Positioning System
GVW: Gross Vehicle Weight
GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
HAC: Hill-start Assist Control
HAS: Highway Assist System
HDA: Highway Driving Assist
HDC: Hill Descent Control
HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle
HID: High Intensity Discharge
HMI: Human Machine Interface
HSA: Hill Start Assist
HUD: Heads Up Display
IBA: Intelligent Brake Assist
ICC: Intelligent Cruise Control
ICS: Intelligent Clearance Sonar
IDS: Interactive Driving System
i-Eloop: Intelligent Energy Loop
IMA: Integrated Motor Assist
iMT: intelligent Manual Transmission
ISG: Idle Stop & Go
ISL: Intelligent Speed Limiter
ISO: International Standards Organization
IVD: Interactive Vehicle Dynamics
KDSS: Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System
KESSY: Keyless Entry Start and Exit System
LAS: Lane-keep Assist System
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren
LCA: Lane Change Assist
LDA: Lane Departure Alert
LDM: Lane Departure Mitigation
LDP: Lane Departure Prevention
LDW: Lane Departure Warning
LDWS: Lane Departure Warning System
LKA: Lane Keeping Assist/Aid
LKAS: Lane Keeping Assistant System
LSD: Limited Slip Differential
LSF: Low Speed Follow
MAP: Manifold Absolute Pressure
MIL: Malfunction Indicator Light
MPFI: MultiPoint Fuel Injection
MPV: MultiPurpose Vehicle
MSP: Maserati Stability Program
MSR: Drag Torque Control (German)
NVH: Noise, Vibration, Harshness
OBD: On Board Diagnostics
O/D: OverDrive
OTA: Over The Air
PAL: Performance Algorithm Liftfoot
PASM: Porsche Active Suspension Management
P-AWS: Precision All-Wheel Steer
PBA: Panic Brake Assist
PCS: Pre-Collision/Crash Safety System
PCS: Precision Control System
PD: Pedestrian Detection
PDA: Proactive Driving Assist
PDC: Park Distance Control
PDLS: Porsche Dynamic Light System
PFCW: Predictive Forward Collision Warning
PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid (E)Vehicle
PSB: Pre-safe Seat Belt
PSM: Porsche Stability Management
PWR: PoWeR
PZEV: Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle
RAB: Reverse Automatic Braking
RAP: Retained Accessory Power
RAS: Rear Active Steer
RBS: Recuperative Brake System
RCD: Rear Camera Detection
RCTA: Rear Cross Traffic Alert
RON: Research Octane Number
RSC: Roll Stability Control
RSCA: Roll Sensing Curtain Airbag
RTT: Reconfigurable TellTale
SBL: Static Bending Light
SC: Spin Control
SCC: Smart Cruise Control
SCR: Selective Catalytic Reduction
SES: Service Engine Soon
SH-AWD: Super Handling-All Wheel Drive
SRH: Steering Responsive Handling
SRS: Supplemental Restraint System
SUV: Sport Utility Vehicle
TCL: Traction ControL
TCS/TCSS: Traction Control System
TDI: Turbo Direct Injection
TIN: Tire Identification Number
TJA: Traffic Jam Assist
TMK: Tire Mobility Kit
TPM: Tire Pressure Monitor
TPMS: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
TRAC: Traction Control
TSA: Trailer Stability Assist
TSS: Toyota Safety Sense
TVCC: Torque Vectoring Corner Control
ULEV: Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
UMS: Ultrasonic misacceleration Mitigation System
UVO: yoUr VOice
V2V: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
VATS: Vehicle Anti-Theft System
VDC: Vehicle Dynamic Control
VDCS: Vehicle Dynamics Control Systems
VDIM: Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management
VESS: Virtual Engine Sound System
VGRS: Variable Gear Ratio Steering
VSA: Vehicle Stability Assist
VSC: Vehicle Stability Control
VSM: Vehicle Stability Management
VSP: approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians
WLTP: Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle Test Procedure
WOT: Wide Open Throttle
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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.