Subaru glossary- terms and definitions for everyday Subaru use
Subaru-Speak: Do
you speak Subaru?& Glossary of Common Terms
Subaru Outback, WRX, Tribeca, Crosstrek, BRZ, Legacy, Impreza, Forester, WRX, STI, Baja...
a glossary
of commonly used terms
suggestions welcomed
unofficial definitions are by Joe Spitz who is responsible for content.
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AWD and Four Wheel drive (4WD)
including Subaru Continuous,
Active, , Active Torque Vectoring, Limited slip..
SUV, 4x4, part time
Limited Slip rear axle
Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
Disc brakes
Warped rotor
EBD electronic brake distribution&
and mechanical terms
Boxer, Horizontally opposed,
Flat, Pancake&
H6 3.0L, 3.6L 6 cylinder
Fuel injection
Valves- variable valves, active
LEV- Low Emission Vehicle
PZEV- partial LEV
SULEV- super low LEV
CVT, High-Torque transmission
Limp-home mode
Hill-Holder clutch (also incline
Incline Start Assist (also hill
Hood scoop
Intercooler
Paddle Shifters
SportShift Transmission
Supercharger
interference engine
Air bags: front, side, head,
curtain, advanced
Auto-off, Daytime running-lights
Crumple Zones
Side Door beams
LATCH child safety system
Childproof door locks&
TPMS tire pressure monitoring
Wheels: Alloy, steel, hubcap,
wheel cover&
Nitrogen in tires
EDR, Event Data Recoder
Spoilers, Dust deflectors
Recalls, technical service bulletin
Ground clearance
Lighting terms: fog, HIDs, auto-off,
smoked, projector, halogen, daytime running lights
Dust Deflector
Wipers: intermittent, variable
interval, de-icer, speed or rain sensitive
MSRP, Invoice, Flooring, Holdback
Stock, Order, Locate, Dealer
all information subject
to change, correction . All formatting and all text c. J. Spitz. Unauthorized
reproduction is prohibited.
Subaru-speak!
glossary of terms
commonly used when talking about Subarus
all information subject
to change, correction
Wheel Drive& (AWD): Most
cars are front wheel drive, some are rear wheel drive.
That means that either the
front or rear axle is powered and usually only one wheel.
All Wheel drive means
that instead of either front or rear, both axles get power from the engine.
This means that your Subaru is being pushed and pulled by all four wheel
at the same time resulting in far superior traction in all driving conditions.
Subaru's all-wheel-drive
is intended for everyday driving, detects any loss of traction and adjusts
instantly in all situations including emergency braking, hard cornering,
rain or snow slick roads with a substantial improvement in driver control
and safety.
In other words... it's great.
Subaru All Wheel Drive
(AWD). There are 3 systems- Continuous, Active and VTD
The types of all wheel
drive used are:
Continuous
AWD: Subaru manual transmissions use Continuous AWD, normally
50/50 front-to-back power split and use a mechanical viscous center differential
to to vary the power split when there is a loss of traction.
AWD: Subaru's automatic transmission use Active AWD, mostly
front wheel drive (normally 80/20) and uses traction sensing computer input
to electronically vary the front to rear power split via a hydraulic multi-plate
transfer clutch.
AWD (variable torque distribution). New in 2001, VTD transfers
powers front to back electronically. The power split is 45/55 front/rear
and the rear wheel bias is designed for a more luxury car feel as opposed
to the front bias of the Active AWD system. Usually 45/55 front to back
split but that varies according to wheel slippage. VTD includes VDC (vehicle
dynamics control) Subaru's electronic stability control system with TCS traction
control system
Dynamics Control, Subaru's electronic stability control system with
traction control. VDC is also the name of an Outback Limited model from
.&& The components of the VDC system are:
Direction: uses brakes to
slow down wheels to reduce spin and help control vehicle direction.
Skidding: yaw and steering
wheel sensors use brakes to slow down spinning wheels and re-direct power
to the wheel(s) with the best traction to re-gain control.
Engine power: controls engine
output to slow spinning by reducing spark to cylinders to cut back power
and help re-gain control.
new for 2015 with Active Torque Vectoring modulates inner front wheel when vehicle is turning
Slip Rear Axle: Limited Slip transfers power to rear wheel with
best traction. Also called Posi-traction. Available on some models. Replaced
Shift on the Fly 4WD:
this is an old system last used in 1994. refers to an less refined and
effective, older Subaru 4x4 system that allowed the driver to engage the
four wheel drive as the car was moving. Last used on the 1994 Loyale, but
also used on older GL, DL, Subaru, Brat etc. Not currently used on any
Subaru. All are now All-Wheel-Drive. At one time Subaru even offered a
hi/lo dual range 4x4 system. For more information on this and other older
Subarus please visit my archives page linked above.
Four Wheel Drive
Most four wheel drive systems are part time and need to be manually
engaged by the driver as opposed to a constant All Wheel Drive system
that requires no operator input. These are primarily used on trucks and
Sport Utility vehicles where improved traction is for infrequent off-road
or emergency use and not intended for normal everyday driving.
Full Time Four Wheel
drive: Similar to all-wheel-drive, and mostly used on higher priced sport
utility vehicles
Sport Utility Vehicle
(SUV): A truck based wagon such as Ford Explorer, Jeep Cherokee, Toyota
Runner that has been partly civilized to become a normal passenger vehicle.
These started out as working trucks and retain the stiff chassis (ride),
hard towing but fuel inefficient motors, and small interior passenger space
of their background.
The 4x4 systems usually
are driver operated, and only used in slick road conditions, when towing
the boat up the ramp, or off-road driving.
Differentials: A set
of gears that allows a wheel to turn. Easiest to see looking under the
back of a big truck... the big round thing in the middle of the rear axle
is the rear differential. On a Subaru there is a front, middle and rear
differential to transfer power to all the wheels.
Viscous Limited Slip Differential:&
Improves traction. Gears on the rear differential (rear axle) that transfer
power to the rear wheel with better traction.
all information subject
to change, correction
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS):
A brake system that prevents wheel lockup in hard braking conditions so
the driver can maintain control and not skid. Anti-lock brakes will 'pulse'
when activated under firm brake pedal pressure because they are pumping
the brakes at a very high rate.
Four Channel ABS:
a high end ABS system used in Subarus that monitors and controls each wheel's
Disc brakes: A flat
brake pad squeezes onto both sides of a flat metal disc (the rotor) to
stop the car. The larger the disc the better the stopping power. This is
a very efficient system.
Vented Disc Brakes:
When a disc brake is used under heavy load, heat can build up resulting
in warping which will need to be turned to be made 100% flat again. A vented
disc has a small air gap between the two sides of the disc to dissipate
heat, resulting in improved braking and lower maintenance.
Drum Brakes: A curved
brake pad is pressed outwards against the inside of the curved brake drum.
An older less efficient system than a disc brake. Only used on the rear
brakes on a few Subaru models.
Brake Fade: Loss of
the brake's ability to stop the car, occurring when brakes heat up under
heavy use or constant riding. Heat prevent the brake's pads from grabbing
and stopping the car, plus can lead to warped rotors (disc brakes only).
Calipers: A caliper
is the device that squeezes the brake pads against the disc or drum brake.
These need to be replaced when they weaken after a long time.
Dual Calipers: 2 (or
more) calipers allows a larger brake pad, which means more pressure can
be applied allowing safer and surer stopping.
Rotor: the disc in
the disc brake is called a rotor.
Warped Rotor: when
a rotor overheats it may warp, becoming 'unflat', and the driver will notice
a pulsing when braking. Fixed by a shop 'turning' the rotors, shaving off
the high spots to make it flat again.
Drilled Rotor: rotors
that have holes drilled in them for improved air circulation and cooling,
thus less fade.
Brake Proportioning Valve
(EBD):&& a valve that adjusts the braking force to the rear
wheel based for front-rear weight transfer.
Mechanical,
all information subject
to change, correction
Boxer Engine. Also
known as Horizontally Opposed, Flat, or Pancake Engine.
In this old and well respected
engine design, cylinders are arranged in a horizontal formation with pistons
moving from side to side. They lay flat, thus also known as a flat 4 (for
4 cylinder versions). This design is ideal for all-wheel-drive, permits
equal length axle half shafts, and allows a very aerodynamic low center
of gravity.
Other vehicles that use
Boxer Engines: older VWs, Honda Gold-Wing and BMW motorcycles, Porsche
cars, the Corvair
Other engine designs:
'straight' and 'V' formations.
In a straight, or 'in line'
engine the pistons are arranged all in a straight row, in a line, and move
up and down. Thus the term Straight 4 or 6 or 8 depending on the number
of cylinders.
In a V formation there are
2 banks of pistons angled away from each other, moving up and down. These
are the engines known as V-6, V-8 etc.
H6, H-6: Initials
for Horizontally opposed& 6 cylinder engine. See Boxer
Engine above. H-6 is the name of Subaru's 3.0L 6 cylinder engine used starting
in 2001, most often used H-6 3.0L and later 3.6L engines . Certain models
are called 3.0R& (3.0L) or later 3.6R (3.6L), and the 'R' is an older
marketing term from the early 2000s for 'revolution'. It also has been
claimed to not have any specific meaning.
Fuel injection: a
fuel delivery system that automatically delivers, or injects, the fuel.
No pumping of the gas pedal is required when starting the car. Subaru uses
a sequential multi-port injection system. This means that the fuel is delivered
to the proper cylinder in the correct firing sequence and that each cylinder
has it's own injector, thus a multi-port system. Older cars use a carburetor
or single port injection fuel delivery system.
Subaru has used muliple
systems over the years
& Active Valve Control system-
AVCS, variable valve timing system that varies intake camshaft timing and
varies the opening and closing of the valves.
& Active Valve Lift system-
AVLS varies the amount the valve opens. At lower speeds a smaller (low)
valve lift compresses and increases the speed of the air rushing into to
the chamber. At higher speeds a larger (higher) valve lift allows more
air into the chamber.
& i-active Valve Lift system
(variable valve lift)
& DAVCS dual active variable
valve control system, variable valve timing
Low Emission Vehicle
(LEV): when a car meets California and New York's stricter emission standards
it can be called LEV.
PZEV partial low emission
vehicle a brief, simple summary
The EPA says a PZEV is the cleanest running gas car on today's market based
on emissions testing for carbon-containing compounds, oxides of nitrogen,
particulate matter, and other tailpipe nastiness.
2008 it is required in CA, CT, NJ, NY, MA, ME, RI, VT, PA, OR, and WA.
in 2011 it is required in CA, CT, MA, MD, ME, NJ, NM, NY, OR, PA,
RI, VT, WA
How it works, a
brief, simple summary.
1. A charcoal cannister catches
unburned gas left in the engine when it's turned off so it doesn't just
evaporate.
2. Fuel injectors that close
tighter when they're not in use.
3. A finer mesh in the catalytic
converter, as well as optimized placement of its precious metal.
4.& The engine's electronic
brain is tuned to run the hot at start up to help the catalytic converter
heat up so it can start doing its job faster.
SULEV super low emission
vehicle when a car meets California and New York's stricter emission
standards it can be called LEV. A stricter standard the LEV
Limp-home: Subaru
uses an engine control unit and transmission control unit to monitor the
cars performance. If these components detect a problem they will compensate
for the problem allowing the car to be driven to a repair shop or safe
place. The check-engine light may come on but the car will still run so
you're not stuck.
CV Boot, Constant Velocity
Boot: The axles that turn the front wheels have a bend in the middle
called a knuckle joint. This joint is encased in a rubber boot, packed
with grease, called a CV Boot. You can see these if you look down at the
back of the engine. They are ribbed. A CV boot will last a long time but
needs to be replaced when the rubber tears due to age or bad road use.
CVT continuously variable
transmission - CVT is a gearless belt or chain drive transmission.
It efficiently matches RPMs and power requirements as needed for better
fuel economy without gears because the engine runs at its most efficient
RPM over a range of speeds. Subaru's CVT adds a 'manual mode' with paddle
shifters and 6 selected 'gears' for drivers who wants more control.
"Lineartronic" is Subaru's
name for their CVT.
Subaru uses a Lineartronic
chain CVT starting in the 2010 4 cylinder Outback and Legacy models, next
in the 2012 Impreza&
High-Torque CVT is used in performance models starting with the 2014 Forester 2.0XT turbo, 2015 Outback/Legacy 3.6Rs, and the 2015 WRX with optional CVT, and
CVTs have been around a
long time- Leonardo Davinci first imagined one in 1490. The first vehicle
use was a 1910 motorcycle.
Subaru's Justy EVCT was
the first production car in the U.S. to offer CVT technology, and Fuji
has sold their technology to other companies, and still use it in small
cars in Japan. Other companies using a version of a CVT recently are the
Toyota hybrids under the name Hybrid Synergy Drive (ie Prius, Highlander,
Camry, Lexus etc), Honda Civic hybrid, BMW's Mini Cooper, Mitsubishi Lancer,
Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot, Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and
Mercury Montego etc etc. (from wiki)
Hill Holder Clutch:
A Subaru exclusive (originally a Studebaker). Manual transmission models
only until cy2009 when all 2010 Outback and Legacy models also have it.
A system using a small rear brake (except starting with 2010 Outback/Legacy-see
note below) that, after being set by the brake pedal, prevents the car
from rolling back down a hill as long as the clutch is depressed! A very
popular feature. On all manual trans. Legacy Ls in the 1990s and many earlier
models. There is no hill-holder available with any 2.5L engine (1996 was
the first year for the 2.5L) and it was discontinued for 2000 and newer
Note: April 2002:
hill-holder is available on 03-08 Foresters. This will be the first use
in any 2.5L engine.
Note 2008- replaced
by 'Incline Start Assist' using the VDC, see below.
Note 2010 Outback and
Legacy uses the new electronic parking brake to prevent rollback
with all models regardless of transmission. There is a button to activate
the system in advance, or when stopped on a slippery hill the electric
brake can then be pressed and it holds the car it automatically relases
when the gas pedal is pressed.
Incline Start Assist
(replaced the old Hill Holder mechanical system, see above). Manual transmission
only. Uses the VDC system to hold brake pressure on all four wheels to
keep the car from rolling back down a hill for easier starting from a stop.
Holds the car for app 1 second.
Hood scoop: Turbo
models: functional air intake scoop on the hood to cool the hot compressed
air created by the turbo.
Outback Sport have a non-functional scoop on the hood,
just for show.
Intercooler: (see
turbo). A radiator that cools the compressed and thus heated air from a
turbocharger before it enters the engine cylinders. Frequently an air-to-air
radiator. With a hood scoop to force air over it as the car moves.
Turbo: (also turbocharger)
(see intercooler). An exhaust driven device that, like& a supercharger,
forces compressed air into the cylinders, allowing for stronger gas/air
mixture, thus more combustion and acceleration. Originally used in aircraft
Paddle Shifters: used
on any automatic. To manually shift an automatic transmission, you tap
paddle shifters attached to either the steering wheel or steering column
to go up or down a gear. This is similar to the SportShift automatic.
SportShift Transmission
an automatic transmission that has a manual mode to shift up or down without
a clutch by tapping ther shift lever forward or backward. Can be shifted
by pushing the shift lever forward or back or on some models the controls
are even on the steering wheel and hand controlled. The SportShift has
auto mode,& auto sport mode,& and the manual mode.
STI, STi: Subaru Technica
International, Subaru's performance division, and also the name of the
Impreza STI (STi) model that came out in 2004.
Supercharger: A belt
driven device that, like a turbocharger, compresses air in the cylinders,
allowing for stronger gas/air mixture, thus more combustion and acceleration.
Turbo is more common because it tends to use less power than the belt driven
supercharger.
Interference or non-interference
engine:& On an interference engine, if the timing belts breaks,
the pistons and valves collide, they will hit each other and basically
ruin the engine. On a non-interference engine there is room between the
valves and pistons. The Phase 1 2.2L engine is a non-interference engine.
The Phase 2 2.2Ls started on the 1999 Forester and are an interference
engine.& All 2.5L engine are interference.
Subarus come with up-to-date safety equipment
all information subject
to change, correction
Advanced Airbags (SRS
- Supplemental Restraint System): Dual stage front airbags that deploy
according to the occupant.
Driver airbags deploys according
to seat position.
Passenger airbag deploys
according to seat position and occupant weight and turns off if& the
system determines the passenger would be at risk.
Front Air bags (SRS
- Supplemental Restraint System): A safety air bag inflates to prevent
the driver from colliding with the steering wheel or and the passenger
with the front dashboard. Designed to activate in moderate to severe front
impacts. The bag deflates within milliseconds. Must be used with seat belts.
Most airbags after 1998 are de-powered and deploy with less force than
earlier versions so people who sit closer to them may experience less initial
Side Air Bags: air
bags that deploy in side impacts to cushion and prevent the occupant from
hitting the interior. May deploy from the seat (Subaru) or from the door
pillar area. Subaru comes from the seat.
Head Airbags: airbags
that deploy between the head area and the window. Usually part of a side
airbag. Similar to a Side Curtain airbag but covers a smaller area.
Curtain: Front and/or
Rear Side Curtain Airbags: airbags that deploy along the entire upper
sides above the windows, coming between and protecting the head dform the
window. Usually deploys downward from the edge of the interior roof. Similar
to a head and chest airbag.
Crumple Zones: Body
structure designed to crumple and absorb energy in an impact to protect
the occupants.
Side Impact Door beams:
reinforcing bars inside the body to strengthen the doors and protect occupants.
More to come...
Daytime driving lights:
front (only the front) lights are automatically on when the car is moving.
These may be less bright than normal headlight beams.
Automatic off headlights:
Subaru headlights cannot be left on when the car is turned off, thus you
can turn the headlight switch on and leave it on forever. Then when you
turn the car on the front and rear lights will be on and when you turn
the car they will go off.
Fog Lights: Extra
front lights set below the headlights that illuminate the ground. Most
fog lights are yellow so they don't reflect the light back in fog. Subarus
are white and they are great for normal night driving plus they really
cut the glare on wet roads.
new for 2015 Steering Responsive Fog Lights- included with Eyesight- uses steering wheel
position to briefly turn on the left or right fog light to illuminate a
corner when the vehicle is turned. The fog lights have to be off for the
system to turn them on
Halogen headlight bulb:
An easy to replace headlight bulb that is filled with gas that burns, producing
a brighter light than a standard old style light bulb. Don't touch the
halogen bulb when replacing, it will break due to the oil on your skin
and the higher heat of these bulbs.
LATCH (Lower Anchors
Tether for CHildren): consists of lower child seat anchors
at the base of the rear seats and a tether attachment in the rear. This
allows a child seat to be firmly and securely anchored at the base and
top to minimize movement. Requires a newer seat (2002?) with the appropriate
attaching straps. Check your child seat for specifics.
Cars, minivans, and light
trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat
cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a
top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles).& Child safety
seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors.&
Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether)
that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle. Together they make up the
LATCH system.
Why LATCH:
LATCH bars avoid seat belt incompatibility from different types of seat
belt retractors, different belt anchor locations (too far forward), plus
differing vehicle belt routings that people found confusing.& LATCH
was developed to offer a consistent attachment system independent of vehicle
When available: Passenger
vehicles except heavy trucks and buses, and all child restraints, except
car beds and boosters, manufactured September 1, 2002 must have LATCH attachments.
Many vehicles and child seats had LATCH before this date due to government
phase-in requirements and voluntary product offerings.
Which seats? Required
on child safety seats manufactured on or after September 1, 2002
Where are the anchors:
anchor bars are in the crease of the rear seats. By law, the vehicle LATCH
bar spacing is standardized at 11 inches (280mm) so that both the flexible
(webbing) and rigid (metal) type of LATCH attachments will work in all
How many seats? Very
few vehicles could fit three LATCH positions across a back seat. It was
decided that at least two are needed in back seats but vehicle manufacturers
can optionally add more if they fit. In limited cases, it's possible to
use the inboard LATCH bars to put a seat in the center position, but for
this to be safe, this method must be specifically allowed by the child
restraint manufacturer for that model restraint. There are limits as to
how wide and narrow is safe for use by a child seat. Use the vehicle seat
belts in the center rear unless the child restraint model instructions
specifically say the center inboard bars are ok.
Retrofit? Yes, there
may be a kit, contact your seat manufacturer to see if they make a retrofit
kit for your child seat. Do not use a kit from another company, the design
of the system and angles of attachment could be different enough to cause
crash loads that would break the system. Don't mix parts from different
manufacturers no matter how similar they might look.
Child Proof Door Locks:
a button on the rear door's inside jam that when pushed down disengages
the inside door handle so a youngster can't open the door from the inside
accidentally and fall out. Yes, the outside handle will still open the
door assuming the door is unlocked.
Seat belt Pre-tensioners:
automatically tightens the seatbelt in the event of an accident reducing
the force which the occupant will hit the belt
ELR: Emergency Locking
Retractor: allows the seatbelt to move free until rapid deceleration is
detected at which time the belt locks.
Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR): pull the belt all the way out and it locks into place and ratchets
back. Easy for adjusting child seats.
TPMS tire pressure monitoring
system.& A low tire pressure light on the dashboard that comes
on when a tire is low (app 20%). The light briefly comes on the engine
is turned on, The light is continously on when a tire is low, and when
it flashes there's a problem with the system itself. Required on all cars
starting in 2008, on many before that. This is the light&
Miscellaneous
all information subject
to change, correction
Alloy Wheel: A lighter
weight and more expensive wheel usually made of aluminum (or other) alloy
instead of stamped steel. The lighter weight is an advantage on sports
cars where the car maker tries to increase performance by minimizing the
weight. Alloy wheels certainly look nicer and and that is why they are
used on many cars such as Subaru's Legacy Outback and GT and Forester S
Steel wheel: A stamped
wheel, standard on the Subaru's Legacy, Impreza and Forester L models.
This is just a plain normal wheel. Frequently covered by a hubcap, or dressed
up with a trim ring.
Nitrogen in tires- Nitrogen
is an alternative to inflating tires with normal outside air. It maintains
tire pressure better than normal air which leaks out over time, and is
less sensitive to cold outside temperatures. As a result, Nitrogen minimizes
the Tire Pressure Monitoring light coming on.
And because it maintains
tire pressure better and is less sensitive to hot and cold, nitrogen can
improve economy, increase tire life, and might be safer because the tires
are less likely to blow-out when driven at high speeds for a long distance,
or on hot roads.
Nitrogen has been used by
Nascar, Formula One, the Tour de France and the military for years.
Mixing air and nitrogen.
Don't put normal air in a tire with nitrogen because you will lose the
nitrogen benefit, but it's not dangerous.
The downside to Nitrogen
is that you might have to pay for it (but air is free).
EDR, Event Data Recoder,
aka 'black box'. For years Subarus (and other cars) have had some 'memory'
though there have been few details about what it remembers, for how long,
where its stored or how to access it. Data probably involves accident or
airbag deployment and related speed, gas or brake pedal position, occupant
position, if seatbelt were fastened etc.
Starting with the 2012 Impreza
owner's manual, Subaru has released details on the EDR. It doesn't mention
previous versions or what is new with the 2012 Impreza, or if any other
models have this EDR.
'The main purpose of the
EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash conditions such as airbag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding
how a vehicle's sytems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time, typically
30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such
data as how various sytems were operating, if seatbelts were buckled, vehicle
speed, and if or how far gas or brake pedals were pressed.
EDR data are recorded only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs, no date is recorded under normal
driving conditions and no personal data (name, age, gender, crash location)
are recorded...& To read data, special equipment is required. In addition
to the vehicle manufacturer (Subaru), other parties such as law enforcement
that have the equipment can read the information if they have access to
the vehicle or EDR.& Existing laws generally provide that information
in an EDR is confidential and is the property of the owner of the motor
Information is accessed
through the airbag system using a Subaru service department computer.
With the total integration
of computer systems in every facet of the modern vehicle, there is going
to be an increasing amount of stored memory. This is industry-wide and
not Subaru specific. Personal tracking devices with memory have been available
for years, for theft prevention purposes and also so parents can monitor
children's driving location, speed and duration for example. No doubt insurance
companies are aware this information exists.
Ground clearance:
how high a vehicle rides, measured from the lowest point of the center
of the vehicle's undercarrriage, usually the rear differential.
Hubcap, or center cap:
A small decorative cover over the center of the hub on either alloy or
steel wheel.
Wheel cover: used
on steel wheels (see above), this is a full cover over the entire wheel
that makes it look nicer. These are made of plastic, years ago they were
metal. Forester L model comes with a steel wheel and no wheel cover.
Spoiler: a rear spoiler
is on the back...
wagon. It helps to
keep dust off the back window and changes the way the car looks.&
Works like the rear dust deflector (see below). Depending on the spoiler,
it may also exert down-force.
sedan. On a true
high performance car a rear spoiler helps maintain high-speed stability
with down-force. For example, the Subaru STI tall spoiler certainly is
fucnctional at high speed.
Fog Lights: commonly
used for a 2nd set of lights usually placed closer to the ground than the
main lights.yellow or amber tinted lights
are correctly called fog lights, and used in fog. They are less reflective
than white or blue. Often used as night-time driving lights however.
HID High Intensity Discharge- headlights
that, instead of putting an electrical current through a filament,
discharges it through a highly unreactive gas, usually xenon, to
produce a brighter, more natural daylight-like light.
Night-time driving lights: this
is what most Subarus have even though they are called fog lights. A set
of white or blueish tinted lights used to enhance visibility at night.
These are not fog lights which are yellow or amber.
Daytime Running Lights:
safety section above
Smoked Lens: the
lens (plastic or glass covering) of the light is slightly darkened or 'smoke'
Sealed beam: a standard
headlight where you replace the entire unit.
Halogen: a gas-filled
headlight bulb that is much brighter than a sealed beam, easy to replace
Projector: a focused
beam light usually from a smaller light than a typical single light with
a diffused pattern. Usually used for fog lights, sometimes found in headlights
using more than one bulb for high, low etc.
Dust deflector: trim
on the back of a wagon that forces air over the rear windows and helps
keep it cleaner for better visibility. The rear spoiler (see above) does
the same thing.
Interval, Intermittent
or Variable Speed Wiper: a wiper speed that is not a steady, constant
speed. Inotherwords in goes at an interval. All cars have at least 2 speeds-
steady slow/fast (or lo/hi etc). Intermittent is another setting that goes
intermittently. Used for light mist when a constant slow or fast steady
speed isn't necessary. Found on both front and rear wipers. Very convenient
as this intermittent speed keeps the window clear while not going so often
to be irritating. This is mostly on front wipers but is sometimes available
There are 2 kinds of intermittent
wiper speed.
Fixed Interval (or intermittent:
the wiper goes at a factory set interval, usually every 10-30 seconds.
Variable Speed Interval (or
intermittent): is when you can set the interval time. This is certainly
preferable to fixed interval.
Wipers can also be
Speed Sensing (or sensitive)
(typically on higher end cars) is where the wiper speed varies with vehicle
speed, so the faster you go the more they go.
Rain Sensing (or sensitive)
(found on higher end cars) wipers which turn on when rain is detected,
and usually they are also speed sensitive.
Wiper de-Icer:
usually a heating element, just like a rear defroster, in the glass under
where the wipers rest when turned off (there are some cars with wipers
arms that are electrically heated themselves as opposed to heating the
glass). This in-glass heating element heats the glass and thus defrosts,
unsticks, and 'De-ices' the wiper blades. Available for both front and
rear wipers. In the case of the front, hot air from the defroster can take
a long time to warm the lowest part of the windshield where the wiper blades
are and having a front De-icer is significantly faster. The rear de-icer
is equally convenient. The rear de-icer is usually a part of the rear defroster
that extends under the rear wiper. The De-icer can also be used anytime
the outside temperature is cold because it keeps the wiper blades supple
for a better swipe.
Recalls: A recall
is when a factory recognizes a problem and authorizes dealers to repair
it. Letters are sent to owners advising them to come in. These problems
can be anything from minor updates to major concerns. Sometimes letters
are sent and problems fixed without an official recall notice.
TSB technical service
bulletin. The factory sends updates to technicians with the latest mechanical
updates, fixes, things to look for and etc. Can address any issue.
all information subject
to change, correction
Price terms:
MSRP: Manufacturer
Suggested Retail Price
Monroney Sticker:
factory window sticker with price and model information
Invoice: What the
manufacturer charged the dealer for the car, including destination/shipping.
Flooring: Few dealers
actually own their inventory, a bank finances the cars and the dealer pays
interest as any borrower does.
Holdback: a pre-set
amount based on invoice that is paid to the dealer by the manufacturer
to help offset the huge costs of financing and maintaining inventory.
Without holdback dealers
would not be able to carry inventory
Inventory terms:
Stock a car that
is in the dealer's inventory
Dealer trade or locate.
These mean your dealer will attempt to find a vehicle in another dealer's
inventory and then trade with that dealer. The vehicle will be driven from
the other location. Your dealer will search for the correct model and then
contact the other dealer. This can take place within days if a vehicle
is already in stock someplace.
Pre-sell: You wait
for a vehicle the dealer already has ordered and is expecting to be delivered
into their own stock.
Order: If a vehicle
is freshly ordered, Subaru will give an expected delivery date but this
is not an exact date. Usually a vehicle arrives at a dealer within 5-8
weeks, but delays can happen at any point along the assembly and shipping
process, so be patient. The dealer wants you to get your car as quickly
as you want to get it!
and welcomed...
All terms and definitions
are by Joe Spitz who is responsible for content, text etc.
subject to change, correction
Corrections, additions and
chit-chat welcomed.&
links swapped from my
page. please add mine to yours and I'll add yours to mine...