S-AWC
Super All Wheel Control - traction system that combines electronically controlled all-wheel drive, Active Stability Control, AYC and an Active Center Differential (ACD) that distributes torque between the front and rear wheels. |
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SAE
Society of Automotive Engineers - The SAE J 300 norm defines what is called a "Grade of viscosity" for each lubricant. Ex : S.A.E. 40 (summer viscosity grade). The higher the number, the more the oil will preserve viscosity when subjected to heat.
:: Click for detailed SAE information |
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Sealed Beam Headlamp
A one-piece, hermetically-sealed headlamp in which the filament is an integral part of the unit and the lens itself is the bulb. Sealed beams are relatively inexpensive and when one burns out or the lens cracks, the whole unit is replaced. |
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SEFI
Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection - system is managed by a sophisticated computer that precisely controls when each injector opens and closes. This improves starting on cold days and helps provide better fuel economy. |
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Self-levelling Suspension
Counteracts with problematic tendency by inflating pneumatic cylinders integrated in the rear axle assembly that lift the chassis higher. Pneumatic pressure is maintained be auxiliary compressors which are electrically operated. The compressors run independently of the engine and can be adjusted individually if required - for example, when carrying an uneven load.
Maintaining a steady chassis level is essential to vehicles dynamic handling. Towing or transporting heavy loads can lead to uneven tyre wear. |
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Servotronic
A control unit adjusts the amount of steering assistance to suit the speed of the vehicle. An electromagnetic valve accurately controls the amount of force applied by the steering hydraulics, enabling outstandingly precise steering that suits your current driving situation. Conventional power steering systems, by contrast, regulate the power steering in relation to the engine's RPM. The electromechanical steering system EPS uses an electric motor to achieve the same effect. |
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Shiftlock-interlock.
Shiftlock is a safety feature in automatic transmission systems. It makes sure that the gearshift lever can be moved from neutral (N) or park (P) into a drive gear (D or R) only if you hold down the brake pedal. Interlock is an additional safety function that prevents loss or unintentional removal of the ignition key while driving: the ignition key cannot be withdrawn without having the gearshift being in park (P). |
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Shock Absorbers
The other main part of a car's suspension is the shock absorber. Contrary to its name, a shock absorber plays a minimal role in absorbing impacts taken by the Suspension. That's the Spring's job. A shock absorber dampens road impacts by converting the up and down oscillations of the spring into thermal energy.
People who live and breathe shock absorbers don't like the term shock absorbers; they prefer "dampers".
:: Click for detailed Shock Absorbers information |
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Short Circuit
A defect in an electrical circuit that permits current to take a "short patch," or circuit, instead of following the prescribed path. This often results in the burning out of related circuits and/or failure of the device. |
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Side Impact Protection
An impact from the side present particular dangers, as there is a far smaller deformation zone available to absorb the impact forces. Automobiles are designed with a side impact protection system. This ranges from doors and robust B column to specialised head and side protection airbags (varies from manufacturers).
Diagonal aluminium cross-members are embedded within each door and ensures that the doors and side walls are exceptionally strong and stiff, preventing intrusion of external objects into the cabin. |
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SII
Service Interval Indicator - automatically informs the drivers how many kilometres remain before the next service is due. It works this out on the basis of set service intervals and your vehicle's individual fuel consumption, and even takes your driving habits into account - such as the amount of long- or short-distance driving you do. Gentler and more fuel-efficient driving for instance will mean the vehicle needs servicing less frequently.
More cost-effective than relying on fixed service intervals alone, the Service Interval Indicator allows you to see almost to the nearest kilometre when your next oil or brake fluid change is needed by simply looking at the instrument panel's digital readout.
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SISS
Smart Idling Stop System - (Mazda Tech) An internal combustion engine that is outfitted with idle-stop technology can save fuel by shutting down the engine when the vehicle stops, and nearly instantly restarting it when the driver takes his foot off the brake pedal.
Such technology is common on hybrid cars, but it is starting to appear on non-hybrids too. Usually, it is an electrical motor that restarts the engine by acting like an oversized starter motor.
Mazda has developed another way to stop & start an engine: With direct injection technology, fuel is injected directly into the cylinder while the engine is stationary and then ignited to create the downward force necessary to restart the engine (it is actually a bit more complicated than that to get the cylinders in the right position, but that's the general idea). "Mazda claims that the Smart Idling Stop System is more energy-efficient than an electric motor restart, and also restarts the engine more quickly and quietly than a conventional idle-stop system.
:: Click for detailed SISS information |
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Sludge
A composition of oxidized petroleum products along with an emulsion of oil and water, forming a pasty substance that clogs oil lines and passages, interfering with engine lubrication. |
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SMG II - Gearbox
Available only on the M3 (at the time of writing), SMG II is a clutchless manual gearbox drawing on BMW's William F1 transmission technology. With 11 separate programmes which can be operated by two paddles behind the steering wheel, by the traditional gear selector, or a mixture of both, it can also be driven in self-selecting mode where the gear changes take place automatically.
The Sequential Manual Gearbox, aka Sequential M Gearbox, Tiptronic. This is not an automatic, and its not a manual. It's a sort of mix between the two. There's no torque converter ( like an Automatic ), yet the driver can opt to have the onboard computers change gears for them. The clutch is also no longer required in this type of gearbox since the SMG-II computes the information, all gear changes are made via hydraulics which are electronically controlled.
:: Click for detailed SMG II - Gearbox information |
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Soft Close Automatic
In tight parking spaces or whenever a gentle closing of the door is appreciated, Soft close automatic provides a helping hand: simply push the door until it is almost closed. When the door is within approximately 6 mm of the lock, sensor activates an electric motor that pulls the door firmly and quietly closed and secures it. The components of the door locks are automatically returned to their original position.
The door can be opened again at any time. The soft close automatic process is also run whenever the door is manually closed, to ensure the door is properly shut. |
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Spark Plugs
Correct spark plug choice and maintenance is essential for the optimum running of your engine. Diagnosis of the appearance of a spark plug is an effective method of evaluating how the engine is functioning and what improvements can be made.
It is important to use the spark plug type recommended for your vehicle. Those dimensions have been tested and approved for that model. A plug of different dimensions may cause harm to the engine.
:: Click for detailed Spark Plugs information |
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Spark Plugs - Nitrous Oxide
What Works, What Doesn't, and Why
Over the years there seems to have been a great amount of technical material written about the simple operation of a spark plug and what they can do in relation to the way an engine runs. There are a few basic characteristics about spark plugs that you need to know to make an intelligent choice about the correct spark plug for your application. First, and most important; a spark plug must be of the correct design to operate within the environment of your engine, not the other way around. This means that the spark plug has virtually no influence on how the engine burns fuel or runs in general. The correct spark plug will simply survive the conditions present in your engine. A spark plug must maintain a certain temperature to keep itself clean. The wrong heat range can cause an overheated plug or a fouled plug. The heat range refers to the temperature of the ceramic material surrounding the center electrode.
:: Click for detailed Spark Plugs - Nitrous Oxide information |
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Speed-Rated Tires
A designation of the sustained high-speed capability of the tire. Special compounds and construction enable these tires to withstand the increase in pressure that comes at higher speeds. The speed rating is the letter on the sidewall in the tire's size (e.g., P205/65HR15, H=130 mph-rated).
:: Click for detailed Speed-Rated Tires information |
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Spoiler
An aerodynamic device attached to a car (usually on the rear decklid) to either reduce drag or induce downforce on the car. It is so called because it "spoils" the normal flow over the car. |
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Springs - Coils
Springs absorb and store road shock caused by bumps, dips, cracks, and so forth. They absorb this shock by either compressing or extending. When a car's wheel goes over a bump and gets pushed upward, the spring absorbs that additional load, keeps the road shock from reaching the chassis, and makes sure the tire maintains contact with the pavement.
:: Click for detailed Springs - Coils information |
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SRS
Supplemental Restraint System - Airbags - As well as impact-absorbing crumple zones and the safety cell structure, SRS Airbags add an extra level of protection. Airbags are placed around the front, side, rear and top of the cabin to minimise the risk of injury during an accident. In some cases, the rate at which an airbag deploys is governed by the severity of the collision, which is determined by sensors and an on-board microprocessor. |
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Stabilizer Bar
Stabilizer bars are part of a car's suspension system. They are sometimes also called anti-sway bars or anti-roll bars. Their purpose in life is to try to keep the car's body from "rolling" in a sharp turn.
Think about what happens to a car in a sharp turn. If you are inside the car, you know that your body gets pulled toward the outside of the turn. The same thing is happening to all the parts of the car. So the part of the car on the outside of the turn gets pushed down toward the road and the part of the car on the inside of the turn rises up. In other words, the body of the car "rolls" 10 or 20 or 30 degrees toward the outside of the turn. If you take a turn fast enough, the tires on the inside of the turn actually rise off the road and the car flips over.
:: Click for detailed Stabilizer Bar information |
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Start-Off Assistant
Prevents car from rolling backward on an incline by holding the button / lever steady as driver moves his / her from the brake to the gas pedal.
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Steering Arm
The arm attached to the steering knuckle that turns the knuckle and wheel for steering. |
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SULEV
Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle(s) - Vehicle designed to produce minimal air pollution at their point of use, typically less than 10% of that of an equivalent ordinary vehicle.
Controlled pollution categories are:
* Hydrocarbons
* Nitrous oxides
* Carbon monoxide |
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SunReflective
Based on a special pigment during the treatment of the leather, which reflects direct sunlight in the invisible waveband. As a result, the surfaces do not become as hot as usual and maintain a pleasantly low temperature. Compared to conventional leather, SunReflective Technology keeps your steering wheel and seats up to 25 °C cooler. The difference is especially large for dark-coloured upholstery. However, even pale leather is kept noticeably cooler thanks to SunReflective Technology. Developed by BMW Individual, SunReflective Technology guarantees a pleasant surface temperature even after exposure to strong direct sunlight - a significant bonus when you love driving a Convertible. |
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Supercharging
The motor’s four-stroke cycle first allows the pistons to draw air in through the Carburetor, the intake manifold and the intake valves. The air is then compressed by the piston while all the valves are closed and ignited by the spark plug. The resulting explosion forces the piston down in the power stroke. The final stage of the four-stroke cycle is when the piston comes back up and forces the spent gases out of the exhaust valve. To better understand this process see also How Does An Engine Work.
:: Click for detailed Supercharging information |
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Suspension
The term suspension refers to the ability of this bridge to "suspend" a vehicle's frame, body and powertrain above the wheels.
Solid axle suspension (also known as rigid beam, or rigid axle) is the most elementary form of connecting the upper and lower halves of a vehicle. As the name implies, it utilizes a single piece of metal -- a common axle for both wheels -- sprung beneath the car's undercarriage. Pivots located between the axle and the wheel spindles allow the wheels to swivel on each end.
:: Click for detailed Suspension information |
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Suspension - Troubleshooting
Why does my car squeak over bumps?
Either the bushings or the steering and suspension boots are worn-out.
Why is may car not level?
The springs are probably sagging or the control arms damaged.
Why does my car lean when I take a corner?
Your vehicle may be overloaded; a stabilizer or sway bar loose, broken or the bushings worn; or sagging suspension springs.
:: Click for detailed Suspension - Troubleshooting information |
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