Volvo Terms & Abbreviations Glossary
Volvo Term |
Definition |
| 4C | Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (Volvo’s active suspension system) |
| 854 | Slang for a Volvo 850 sedan (4 doors). Applies to all series, for instance 744, 244 etc. |
| 855 | Slang for a Volvo 850 wagon (5 doors). Applies to all series, for instance 745, 245 etc. |
| ACC | Automatic Climate Control (early climate control system in late 80’s / very early 90’s 760 has a big wheel for temperature setting and slide lever like a manual system) |
| ATF | Automatic transmission fluid |
| AUM | AUdio Module (the radio in post-’01 cars) |
| AWD | All-wheel drive |
| CAN bus | the Controller Area Network bus that Volvos use |
| CCM | Climate Control Module |
| CEL | Check Engine Light I also see it referred to as a MIL which I think is a Malfunction Indicator Light. |
| CEM | Central Electronic Module |
| CRM | Convertible Roof Module |
| CVM | Closing Velocity Module |
| DDM/PDM | Driver/Passenger Door Module (window switch packs on front doors of post-’01 cars) |
| DiCE | Diagnostic Communication Equipment–the replacement for the VCT2000; a diagnostic connection box that connects VIDA to the car. |
| DIM | Driver Information Module — expensive unit in the dash pod that controls and monitors many of the car’s functions. |
| ECC | Electronic Climate Control (ie:completely automatic, used in most 850+ cars) |
| ECC | Electronic Climate Control |
| ECM | Engine Control Module |
| ECT | Engine Coolant Temperature |
| ETA | Electronic Throttle Actuator (the “new” Bosch-made throttle in most ‘02 and newer cars) |
| ETM | Electronic Throttle Module (the Magnetti Marelli throttle in ‘99-02 cars) |
| ETS | Electronic throttle system |
| FCP | FCP Groton, a parts shop located in Connecticut, US |
| FWD | Front-wheel drive |
| Flame trap | Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve |
| LIN bus | Local area INterconnect; a bus that ties low-speed communication together in newer Volvos (siren modules, some heated seat commands, etc.) |
| Limp Mode | When something goes wrong on automatic transmissions the Volvo goes into a “limp mode” where it is drivable but it will run like crap. Essentially the car “limps” home. On 850/S70/V70/XC70 models this starts the car from a stop in 3rd gear. |
| MAF | Mass airflow sensor |
| MCC | Manual Climate Control (old school just the way it sounds, term typically used in 850’s for the non automatic system, but also descriptive of the 240 / 740 / 940 systems) |
| MCC | Manual Climate Control |
| N/A | A normally-aspirated Volvo; a Volvo that does not have a turbo |
| OBD | Onboard Diagnostic (System?) Set of standard for self diagnostic features in the engine control system, primarily for emissions reasons, but useful for other diagnostics. |
| OBDII or OBD2 (not “OBD11″) | Second generation OBD system, includes a standardized fault code table and 16 pin communications connector. Commonly used to refer to the code reader / codes stored by the diagnostic system and read with a universal scanner. |
| Oil Trap | Part of the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system which does, literally, trap oil that circulates through the PCV. It requires periodic cleaning or replacement to keep the PCV working properly. |
| PCV | Postive Crankcase Ventilation…on our Volvo’s it’s a series of hoses connected from the accordion air intake hose all the way to the oil trap (also called the separator or breather box) under the intake manifold- when it get’s clogged up, positive pressure builds up in the engine and can cause engine leaks. |
| PNP | Park Neutral Switch on automatic transmissions. Essentially tells the transmission what gear the shifter is in. Common failure point and there are a bunch of threads about the subject. |
| PSM | Power Seat Module |
| R134a | 2-Tetrafluoroethane, an environment-friendly refrigerant used in Volvo AC systems since the early 1990s. A gas at temperatures above -26.3 °C (-15.34 °F). In the US, it replaced dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12, “freon”). Old R-12 automobile air conditioning systems can be converted to R134a with conversion kits. |
| REM | Rear Electronic Module |
| RWD | Rear-wheel drive |
| SAS | Steering Angle Sensor |
| SRM | Sunroof control module |
| SUM | SUspension Module (found on P2 ‘R’ models and cars with 4C) |
| SWM | Steering Wheel Module (connects steering wheel controls to CAN bus) |
| TCM | Transmission Control Module |
| UEM | Upper Electronic Module (it’s inside the mirror in post-’01 cars except certain C70s) |
| VADIS | Volvo’s own internal repair documentation, now deprecated |
| VCT2000 | The actual interface cable / box used to let a computer running VADIS talk to a 99+ car. Typically used in the context of “I need a VCT system to check that” or “I wish I had one” Very expensive and hard to fine, but really fun to have. Officially deprecated by Volvo on October 15, 2009. |
| VGLA | Volvo Guard Lock & Alarm (found on pre-’01 cars) |
| VIDA | Volvo vehicle information / communication software, the successor to VADIS. |
| VOL-FCR software | Laptop / PC based diagnostic tool for Volvo cars made between 1996 and 1998/9 and some other models onwards. |
| VST | Volvo Scan Tool. Used to talk to computers on 96-98 cars. Unfortunetly nessessary to read / reset fault codes for the trans, climate control, srs, etc. Some functionality can be duplicated with the VOL-FCR or OBDII software. |
| “tranny” or “trans” | Transmission |
Have something to add? Reply to this Volvo forum topic and I’ll see that your term/definition finds its way to this list.
