Car Glossary India - Index P

The park-assist system warns the driver of any object that comes close to the rear bumpers of the car. Each car manufacturer has different distance settings. When an object gets closer than the specified distance the device alerts the driver.

PATS prevents the engine from being started with an incorrectly coded key. It achieves this by automatically shutting off fuel to the fuel injection system after two seconds.

A power central locking system has a central switch to lock all the doors together. It can program the doors to lock automatically after a while. Turning the key in the driver's door and holding it there raises or lowers all windows and the sunroof at once. Its remote fob is designed to operate from a distance of about 150 feet.

In a car, drivetrain or powertrain is a set of machinery that produces power and distributes it to the wheels. The powertrain consists of the engine, transmission, driveshafts, differentials, and final drive (wheels, track, and so on).

It is a system for reducing the effort on turning a vehicle’s steering wheel by using an external source of power. Power steering is of two types, Electric Power Steering (EPS) and Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS). In ESP, sensors detect the motion and torque of the steering column, and a computer module supplies assistive power through an electric motor. This allows varying amounts of assistance to be applied, depending on driving conditions. HPS uses hydraulic pressure supplied by an engine-driven pump to help in turning the steering wheel.

In the event of an accident, pre-tensioners tighten the seat belt by using a very small pyrotechnic charge. Pre-tensioners reduce the occupant’s movement by tightening the loose seat belt and distribute the load over his whole body.

It is a refined way of injecting diesel into the cylinders. A high-pressure injector pump, which electronically controls the direct fuel injection very precisely, forms the core of this technology. Each cylinder has one of these pumps and the extremely high pressures translate into highly atomised fuel, leading to more efficient combustion in the cylinder. This, in turn, results in higher torque, better fuel economy and lesser exhaust emissions.