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UK-US translations

  • balinwire
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19 Jan 2005 00:43 #2724 by balinwire
UK-US translations was created by balinwire
A quick reference guide for owners of right hand drive cars wishing to 'translate' US motoring terms to their UK equivalent(s), and vice versa. <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

US - UK translations:

1st gear = Bottom gear
Antenna = Aerial
Axleshaft = Halfshaft
Back-up = Reverse
Barrel = Choke
Barrel = Venturi
Car-top carrier = Roof rack
Coast = Freewheel
Connecting rod = Trackrod (steering)
Convertible = Drop-head coupe
Cotter pin = Split pin
Countershaft = Layshaft (gearbox)
Dome lamp = Interior light
Driveshaft = Propeller shaft
Energiser = Battery
Fender = Wing
Fender = Mudguard
Firewall = Bulkhead
Flashlight = Torch
Float bowl = Float chamber
Freeway = Motorway
Frozen = Seized
Gas pedal = Accelerator
Gas tank = Petrol tank
Gasoline = Petrol
Generator (AC) = Alternator
Generator (DC) = Dynamo
'Gone South' = 'Gone West'
'Gone West' = 'Gone South'
Ground = Earth (electrical)
Hard-top = Fast-back (coupe)
Hard-top = Coupe (Fast-back)
Header = Manifold (exhaust)
Heat riser = Hot spot
High = Top gear
Hood = Bonnet
Kerosene = Paraffin
Lash = Clearance
Lash = Free-play
Latch = Catch
Latches = Locks
License plate = Number plate
Liftgate = Tailgate
Lock (valve spring) = Split cotter
Lug nut = Wheel nut
Muffler = Silencer
Oil pan = Sump
Panel wagon = Van
Parking brake = Handbrake
Parking lights = Side lights
Pinging = Pinking
Piston pin = Gudgeon pin
Pitman arm = Drop-arm
Primary shoe = Leading shoe (brakes)
Prussian blue = Engineer's blue
Quarter window = Quarterlight
Recap = Retread
Recap = Remould
Ring gear = Crown wheel
Rocker panel = Sill
Rotor = Disc (brake)
Secondary shoe = Trailing shoe (brakes)
Sedan = Saloon
Sheet metal = Bodywork
Shift = Gearchange
Side marker lights = Side indicator lights
Snap-ring = Circlip
Soft top = Hood
Stabiliser or Sway = Anti-roll bar
Station wagon = Estate car
Tang, lock = Tab washer
Throw-out bearing = Thrust bearing
Tie-rod = Trackrod (steering)
Tire = Tyre
Torch = Acetylene cutting torch
Transmission = Gearbox
trouble-shooting = Fault finding
trouble-shooting = Faulting
trouble-shooting = Diagnosis
Trunk = Boot
Turn signal = Indicator
Turnpike = Motorway
Valve cover = Rocker cover
Valve lifter = Cam follower
Valve lifter = Tappet
Vise = Vice
Whole drive line = Transmission
Windshield = Windscreen
Wrench = Spanner
Wrist pin = Gudgeon pin


UK - US translations:

Accelerator = Gas pedal
Acetylene Cutting torch = Torch
Aerial = Antenna
Alternator = Generator (AC)
Anti-roll bar = Stabiliser or Sway bar
Battery = Energiser
Bodywork = Sheet metal
Bonnet = Hood
Boot = Trunk
Bottom gear = 1st gear
Bulkhead = Firewall
Cam follower = Valve lifter
Catch = Latch
Choke = Barrel
Circlip = Snap-ring
Clearance = Lash
Coupe (Fast-back) = Hard-top
Crown wheel = Ring gear
Diagnosis = trouble-shooting
Disc (brake) = Rotor
Drop-arm = Pitman arm
Drop-head coupe = Convertible
Dynamo = Generator (DC)
Earth (electrical) = Ground
Engineer's blue = Prussian blue
Estate car = Station wagon
Fast-back (coupe) = Hard-top
Fault finding = trouble-shooting
Faulting = trouble-shooting
Float chamber = Float bowl
Free-play = Lash
Freewheel = Coast
Gearbox = Transmission
Gearchange = Shift
Gudgeon pin = Piston pin
Gudgeon pin = Wrist pin
Halfshaft = Axleshaft
Handbrake = Parking brake
Hood = Soft top
Hot spot = Heat riser
Indicator = Turn signal
Interior light = Dome lamp
Layshaft (gearbox) = Countershaft
Leading shoe (brake) = Primary shoe
Locks = Latches
Manifold (exhaust) = Header
Motorway = Freeway
Motorway = Turnpike
Mudguard = Fender
Number plate = License plate
Paraffin = Kerosene
Petrol = Gasoline
Petrol tank = Gas tank
Pinking = Pinging
Propeller shaft = Driveshaft
Quarterlight = Quarter window
Remould = Recap
Retread = Recap
Reverse = Back-up
Rocker cover = Valve cover
Roof rack = Car-top carrier
Saloon = Sedan
Seized = Frozen
Side indicator light = Side marker lights
Side lights = Parking lights
Silencer = Muffler
Sill = Rocker panel
Spanner = Wrench
Split cotter = Lock (valve spring)
Split pin = Cotter pin
Sump = Oil pan
Tab washer = Tang, lock
Tailgate = Liftgate
Tappet = Valve lifter
Thrust bearing = Throw-out bearing
Top gear = High
Torch = Flashlight
Trackrod (steering) = Tie-rod
Trackrod (steering) = Connecting rod
Trailing shoe (brake) = Secondary shoe
Transmission = Whole drive line
Tyre = Tire
Van = Panel wagon
Venturi or Choke = Barrel
Vice = Vise
Wheel nut = Lug nut
Windscreen = Windshield
Wing = Fender

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