GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Abbreviation

Meaning

A

A

Ampere(s)

ABS

Antilock Brake System

A/C

Air Conditioning

AC

Alternating Current

ACC

Accessory, Automatic Climate Control

ACL

Air Cleaner

ACR4

Air Conditioning Refrigerant, Recovery, Recycling, Recharging

AD

Automatic Disconnect

A/D

Analog to Digital

ADL

Automatic Door Lock

A/F

Air/Fuel Ratio

AH

Active Handling

AIR

Secondary Air Injection

ALC

Automatic Level Control, Automatic Lamp Control

AM/FM

Amplitude Modulation/Frequency Modulation

Ant

Antenna

AP

Accelerator Pedal

APCM

Accessory Power Control Module

API

American Petroleum Institute

APP

Accelerator Pedal Position

APT

Adjustable Part Throttle

ASM

Assembly, Accelerator and Servo Control Module

ASR

Acceleration Slip Regulation

A/T

Automatic Transmission/Transaxle

ATC

Automatic Transfer Case, Automatic Temperature Control

ATDC

After Top Dead Center

ATSLC

Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control

Auto

Automatic

avg

Average

A4WD

Automatic Four-Wheel Drive

AWG

American Wire Gage

B

B+

Battery Positive Voltage

BARO

Barometric Pressure

BATT

Battery

BBV

Brake Booster Vacuum

BCA

Bias Control Assembly

BCM

Body Control Module

BHP

Brake Horsepower

BLK

Black

BLU

Blue

BP

Back Pressure

BPCM

Battery Pack Control Module

BPMV

Brake Pressure Modulator Valve

BPP

Brake Pedal Position

BRN

Brown

BTDC

Before Top Dead Center

BTM

Battery Thermal Module

BTSI

Brake Transmission Shift Interlock

Btu

British Thermal Units

C

°C

Degrees Celsius

CAC

Charge Air Cooler

CAFE

Corporate Average Fuel Economy

Cal

Calibration

Cam

Camshaft

CARB

California Air Resources Board

CC

Coast Clutch

cm³

Cubic Centimeters

CCM

Convenience Charge Module, Chassis Control Module

CCOT

Cycling Clutch Orifice Tube

CCP

Climate Control Panel

CD

Compact Disc

CE

Commutator End

CEAB

Cold Engine Air Bleed

CEMF

Counter Electromotive Force

CEX

Cabin Exchanger

cfm

Cubic Feet per Minute

cg

Center of Gravity

CID

Cubic Inch Displacement

CKP

Crankshaft Position

CKT

Circuit

C/Ltr

Cigar Lighter

CL

Closed Loop

CLS

Coolant Level Switch

CMC

Compressor Motor Controller

CMP

Camshaft Position

CNG

Compressed Natural Gas

CO

Carbon Monoxide

CO2

Carbon Dioxide

Coax

Coaxial

COMM

Communication

Conn

Connector

CPA

Connector Position Assurance

CPP

Clutch Pedal Position

CPS

Central Power Supply

CPU

Central Processing Unit

CRT

Cathode Ray Tube

CRTC

Cathode Ray Tube Controller

CS

Charging System

CSFI

Central Sequential Fuel Injection

CTP

Closed Throttle Position

cu ft

Cubic Food/Feet

cu in

Cubic Inch/Inches

CV

Constant Velocity Joint

CVRSS

Continuously Variable Road Sensing Suspension

Cyl

Cylinder(s)

D

DAB

Delayed Accessory Bus

dB

Decibels

dBA

Decibels on A-weighted Scale

DC

Direct Current, Duty Cycle

DCM

Door Control Module

DE

Drive End

DEC

Digital Electronic Controller

DERM

Diagnostic Energy Reserve Module

DI

Distributor Ignition

dia

Diameter

DIC

Driver Information Center

Diff

Differential

DIM

Dash Integration Module

DK

Dark

DLC

Data Link Connector

DMCM

Drive Motor Control Module

DMM

Digital Multimeter

DMSDS

Drive Motor Speed and Direction Sensor

DMU

Drive Motor Unit

DOHC

Dual Overhead Camshafts

DR, Drvr

Driver

DRL

Daytime Running Lamps

DTC

Diagnostic Trouble Code

E

EBCM

Electronic Brake Control Module

EBTCM

Electronic Brake and Traction Control Module

EC

Electrical Center, Engine Control

ECC

Electronic Climate Control

ECI

Extended Compressor at Idle

ECL

Engine Coolant Level

ECM

Engine Control Module, Electronic Control Module

ECS

Emission Control System

ECT

Engine Coolant Temperature

EEPROM

Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

EEVIR

Evaporator Equalized Values in Receiver

EFE

Early Fuel Evaporation

EGR

Exhaust Gas Recirculation

EGR TVV

Exhaust Gas Recirculation Thermal Vacuum Valve

EHPS

Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering

EI

Electronic Ignition

ELAP

Elapsed

ELC

Electronic Level Control

E/M

English/Metric

EMF

Electromotive Force

EMI

Electromagnetic Interference

Eng

Engine

EOP

Engine Oil Pressure

EOT

Engine Oil Temperature

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

EPR

Exhaust Pressure Regulator

EPROM

Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

ESB

Expansion Spring Brake

ESC

Electronic Suspension Control

ESD

Electrostatic Discharge

ESN

Electronic Serial Number

ETC

Electronic Throttle Control, Electronic Temperature Control, Electronic Timing Control

ETCC

Electronic Touch Climate Control

ETR

Electronically Tuned Receiver

ETS

Enhanced Traction System

EVAP

Evaporative Emission

EVO

Electronic Variable Orifice

Exh

Exhaust

F

°F

Degrees Fahrenheit

FC

Fan Control

FDC

Fuel Data Center

FED

Federal All United States except California

FEDS

Fuel Enable Data Stream

FEX

Front Exchanger

FF

Flexible Fuel

FFH

Fuel-Fired Heater

FI

Fuel Injection

FMVSS

Federal U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

FP

Fuel Pump

ft

Foot/Feet

FT

Fuel Trim

F4WD

Full Time Four-Wheel Drive

4WAL

Four-Wheel Antilock

4WD

Four-Wheel Drive

FW

Flat Wire

FWD

Front Wheel Drive, Forward

G

g

Grams, Gravitational Acceleration

GA

Gage, Gauge

gal

Gallon

gas

Gasoline

GCW

Gross Combination Weight

Gen

Generator

GL

Gear Lubricant

GM

General Motors

GM SPO

General Motors Service Parts Operations

gnd

Ground

gpm

Gallons per Minute

GRN

Green

GRY

Gray

GVWR

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

H

H

Hydrogen

H2O

Water

Harn

Harness

HC

Hydrocarbons

H/CMPR

High Compression

HD

Heavy Duty

HDC

Heavy Duty Cooling

hex

Hexagon, Hexidecimal

Hg

Mercury

Hi Alt

High Altitude

HO2S

Heated Oxygen Sensor

hp

Horsepower

HPL

High Pressure Liquid

HPS

High Performance System

HPV

High Pressure Vapor

HPVS

Heat Pump Ventilation System

Htd

Heated

HTR

Heater

HUD

Head-up Display

HVAC

Heater-Ventilation-Air Conditioning

HVACM

Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning Module

HVIL

High Voltage Interlock Loop

HVM

Heater Vent Module

Hz

Hertz

I

IAC

Idle Air Control

IAT

Intake Air Temperature

IC

Integrated Circuit, Ignition Control

ICCS

Integrated Chassis Control System

ICM

Ignition Control Module

ID

Identification, Inside Diameter

IDI

Integrated Direct Ignition

IGBT

Insulated Gate Bi-Polar Transistor

ign

Ignition

ILC

Idle Load Compensator

in

Inch/Inches

INJ

Injection

inst

Instantaneous, Instant

IP

Instrument Panel

IPC

Instrument Panel Cluster

IPM

Instrument Panel Module

I/PEC

Instrument Panel Electrical Center

ISC

Idle Speed Control

ISO

International Standards Organization

ISS

Input Speed Shaft, Input Shaft Speed

K

KAM

Keep Alive Memory

KDD

Keyboard Display Driver

kg

Kilogram

kHz

Kilohertz

km

Kilometer

km/h

Kilometers per Hour

km/l

Kilometers per Liter

kPa

Kilopascals

KS

Knock Sensor

kV

Kilovolts

L

L

Liter

L4

Four Cylinder Engine, In-line

L6

Six Cylinder Engine, In-Line

lb

Pound

lb ft

Pound Feet Torque

lb in

Pound Inch Torque

LCD

Liquid Crystal Display

LDCL

Left Door Closed Locking

LDCM

Left Door Control Module

LDM

Lamp Driver Module

LED

Light Emitting Diode

LEV

Low Emissions Vehicle

LF

Left Front

lm

Lumens

LR

Left Rear

LT

Left

LT

Light

LT

Long Term

LTPI

Low Tire Pressure Indicator

LTPWS

Low Tire Pressure Warning System

M

MAF

Mass Airflow

Man

Manual

MAP

Manifold Absolute Pressure

MAT

Manifold Absolute Temperature

max

Maximum

M/C

Mixture Control

MDP

Manifold Differential Pressure

MFI

Multiport Fuel Injection

mi

Miles

MIL

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

min

Minimum

MIN

Mobile Identification Number

mL

Milliliter

mm

Millimeter

mpg

Miles per Gallon

mph

Miles per Hour

ms

Millisecond

MST

Manifold Surface Temperature

MSVA

Magnetic Steering Variable Assist, Magnasteer®

M/T

Manual Transmission/Transaxle

MV

Megavolt

mV

Millivolt

N

NAES

North American Export Sales

NC

Normally Closed

NEG

Negative

Neu

Neutral

NI

Neutral Idle

NiMH

Nickel Metal Hydride

NLGI

National Lubricating Grease Institute

N·m

Newton-meter Torque

NO

Normally Open

NOx

Oxides of Nitrogen

NPTC

National Pipe Thread Coarse

NPTF

National Pipe Thread Fine

NOVRAM

Non-Volatile Random Access Memory

O

O2

Oxygen

O2S

Oxygen Sensor

OBD

On-Board Diagnostics

OBD II

On-Board Diagnostics Second Generation

OC

Oxidation Converter Catalytic

OCS

Opportunity Charge Station

OD

Outside Diameter

ODM

Output Drive Module

ODO

Odometer

OE

Original Equipment

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer

OHC

Overhead Camshaft

ohms

Ohm

OL

Open Loop, Out of Limits

ORC

Oxidation Reduction Converter Catalytic

ORN

Orange

ORVR

On-Board Refueling Vapor Recovery

OSS

Output Shaft Speed

oz

Ounce(s)

P

PAG

Polyalkylene Glycol

PAIR

Pulsed Secondary Air Injection

PASS, PSGR

Passenger

PASS-Key®

Personalized Automotive Security System

P/B

Power Brakes

PC

Pressure Control

PCB

Printed Circuit Board

PCM

Powertrain Control Module

PCS

Pressure Control Solenoid

PCV

Positive Crankcase Ventilation

PEB

Power Electronics Bay

PID

Parameter Identification

PIM

Power Inverter Module

PM

Permanent Magnet Generator

P/N

Part Number

PNK

Pink

PNP

Park/Neutral Position

PRNDL

Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Low

POA

Pilot Operated Absolute Valve

POS

Positive, Position

POT

Potentiometer Variable Resistor

PPL

Purple

ppm

Parts per Million

PROM

Programmable Read Only Memory

P/S, PS

Power Steering

PSCM

Power Steering Control Module, Passenger Seat Control Module

PSD

Power Sliding Door

PSP

Power Steering Pressure

psi

Pounds per Square Inch

psia

Pounds per Square Inch Absolute

psig

Pounds per Square Inch Gauge

pt

Pint

PTC

Positive Temperature Coefficient

PWM

Pulse Width Modulated

Q

QDM

Quad Driver Module

qt

Quart(s)

R

R-12

Refrigerant-12

R-134a

Refrigerant-134a

RAM

Random Access Memory, Non-permanent memory device, memory contents are lost when power is removed.

RAP

Retained Accessory Power

RAV

Remote Activation Verification

RCDLR

Remote Control Door Lock Receiver

RDCM

Right Door Control Module

Ref

Reference

Rev

Reverse

REX

Rear Exchanger

RIM

Rear Integration Module

RF

Right Front, Radio Frequency

RFA

Remote Function Actuation

RFI

Radio Frequency Interference

RH

Right Hand

RKE

Remote Keyless Entry

Rly

Relay

ROM

Read Only Memory, Permanent memory device, memory contents are retained when power is removed.

RPM

Revolutions per Minute Engine Speed

RPO

Regular Production Option

RR

Right Rear

RSS

Road Sensing Suspension

RTD

Real Time Damping

RT

Right

RTV

Room Temperature Vulcanizing Sealer

RWAL

Rear Wheel Antilock

RWD

Rear Wheel Drive

S

s

Second(s)

SAE

Society of Automotive Engineers

SC

Supercharger

SCB

Supercharger Bypass

SCM

Seat Control Module

SDM

Sensing and Diagnostic Module

SEO

Special Equipment Option

SFI

Sequential Multiport Fuel Injection

SI

System International Modern Version of Metric System

SIAB

Side Impact Air Bag

SIR

Supplemental Inflatable Restraint

SLA

Short/Long Arm Suspension

sol

Solenoid

SO2

Sulfur Dioxide

SP

Splice Pack

S/P

Series/Parallel

SPO

Service Parts Operations

SPS

Service Programming System, Speed Signal

sq ft, ft²

Square Foot/Feet

sq in, in²

Square Inch/Inches

SRC

Service Ride Control

SRI

Service Reminder Indicator

SRS

Supplemental Restraint System

SS

Shift Solenoid

ST

Scan Tool

STID

Station Identification Station ID

S4WD

Selectable Four-Wheel Drive

Sw

Switch

SWPS

Steering Wheel Position Sensor

syn

Synchronizer

T

TAC

Throttle Actuator Control

Tach

Tachometer

TAP

Transmission Adaptive Pressure, Throttle Adaptive Pressure

TBI

Throttle Body Fuel Injection

TC

Turbocharger, Transmission Control

TCC

Torque Converter Clutch

TCS

Traction Control System

TDC

Top Dead Center

TEMP

Temperature

Term

Terminal

TFP

Transmission Fluid Pressure

TFT

Transmission Fluid Temperature

THM

Turbo Hydro-Matic

TIM

Tire Inflation Monitoring, Tire Inflation Module

TOC

Transmission Oil Cooler

TP

Throttle Position

TPA

Terminal Positive Assurance

TPM

Tire Pressure Monitoring, Tire Pressure Monitor

TR

Transmission Range

TRANS

Transmission/Transaxle

TT

Tell Tail Warning Lamp

TV

Throttle Valve

TVRS

Television and Radio Suppression

TVV

Thermal Vacuum Valve

TWC

Three Way Converter Catalytic

TWC+OC

Three Way + Oxidation Converter Catalytic

TXV

Thermal Expansion Valve

U

UART

Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter

U/H

Underhood

U/HEC

Underhood Electrical Center

U-joint

Universal Joint

UTD

Universal Theft Deterrent

UV

Ultraviolet

V

V

Volt(s), Voltage

V6

Six Cylinder Engine, V-Type

V8

Eight Cylinder Engine, V-Type

Vac

Vacuum

VAC

Vehicle Access Code

VATS

Vehicle Anti-Theft System

VCIM

Vehicle Communication Interface Mode

VCM

Vehicle Control Module

V dif

Voltage Difference

VDOT

Variable Displacement Orifice Tube

VDV

Vacuum Delay Valve

vel

Velocity

VES

Variable Effort Steering

VF

Vacuum Fluorescent

VIO

Violet

VIN

Vehicle Identification Number

VLR

Voltage Loop Reserve

VMV

Vacuum Modulator Valve

VR

Voltage Regulator

V ref

Voltage Reference

VSES

Vehicle Stability Enhancement System

VSS

Vehicle Speed Sensor

W

w/

With

W/B

Wheel Base

WHL

Wheel

WHT

White

w/o

Without

WOT

Wide Open Throttle

W/P

Water Pump

W/S

Windshield

WSS

Wheel Speed Sensor

WU-OC

Warm Up Oxidation Converter Catalytic

WU-TWC

Warm Up Three-Way Converter Catalytic

X

X-valve

Expansion Valve

Y

yd

Yard(s)

YEL

Yellow