MITO Light Auto L5 key terms

The maximum total mass a vehicle is designed to carry safely, including the vehicle itself, fuel, occupants, and cargo. It is set by the manufacturer and printed on the compliance label.

The difference between a vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating and its curb weight; the combined mass of passengers, cargo, and accessories the vehicle may legally carry.

The mass of a vehicle with all standard equipment, fluids, and a full tank of fuel, but without occupants or cargo. It is the baseline used when calculating payload.

A passenger car or light truck below a defined weight and seating threshold, typically up to 3,500 kg gross vehicle weight and nine seats, which determines the licence class and inspection rules that apply.

A 17-character code stamped on the chassis that encodes manufacturer, model, model year, plant, and a serial number. It is the primary identifier for parts lookup, registration, and history checks.

A manufacturer plate or sticker, usually in a door jamb or engine bay, listing VIN, gross vehicle weight rating, axle ratings, tyre pressures, and paint code. Technicians read it before lifting or loading a vehicle.

The sequence of intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes that completes one power event in a piston engine over two crankshaft revolutions. Valve timing and ignition timing are referenced to this cycle.

The ratio of cylinder volume with the piston at bottom dead centre to the volume at top dead centre. It affects power, efficiency, fuel octane requirement, and the outcome of a compression test.

The precise crankshaft angles at which intake and exhaust valves open and close, usually expressed relative to top dead centre. Incorrect timing causes poor running, low compression, or valve-to-piston contact.

A toothed belt that synchronises the crankshaft and camshaft so valves open in step with piston movement. It has a fixed replacement interval, and failure on an interference engine causes severe internal damage.

An engine design in which valve and piston paths overlap, so a broken timing belt or skipped tooth lets pistons strike valves. Timing component condition is therefore a critical inspection item.

An exhaust-driven turbine coupled to a compressor that forces extra air into the engine. It raises power density but adds heat, requires clean oil, and introduces lag and boost-control faults.

A valve that bypasses exhaust gas around the turbine once target boost pressure is reached, preventing overboost. Sticking closed causes detonation and overboost codes; sticking open causes low power.

A system that routes blow-by gases from the crankcase back into the intake for burning. A clogged PCV valve raises crankcase pressure and causes oil leaks and seal failure.

Combustion gases that escape past the piston rings into the crankcase. Excessive blow-by shows as heavy crankcase pressure, oil mist from the breather, and low power.

Cold cranking amps rate a battery's current delivery at low temperature, while ampere-hours rate its energy storage. Both must meet or exceed the vehicle specification, especially with added electrical loads.

A live measurement of voltage lost across a cable, connector, or ground while current flows. Excessive drop reveals high resistance that a static resistance test would miss.

Current consumed by a vehicle with all accessories off and modules asleep. Measured in milliamps, an excessive draw flattens the battery overnight and is found by fuse-by-fuse or clamp-meter testing.

A check of alternator voltage and current under load, typically 13.5 to 14.8 volts at idle with accessories on. Low or fluctuating output points to the alternator, regulator, belt, or wiring.

A two-wire differential serial network that lets electronic control units exchange data. Faults appear as bus-off conditions or multiple unrelated warning lights and are traced with a scope or scan tool.

A stored alphanumeric code set when a control module detects a fault in a monitored circuit or system. It identifies the affected circuit, not the failed part, so further testing is required.

A snapshot of engine and vehicle conditions, such as speed, load, and temperature, recorded when a diagnostic trouble code set. It helps reproduce the fault under the same operating conditions.

A sensor that reports intake manifold pressure to the engine control module so it can calculate air mass and load. Vacuum leaks, boost faults, and wiring issues all distort its signal.

Adjustment of wheel angles relative to the chassis: camber is vertical tilt, caster is steering-axis tilt, and toe is the front-to-rear difference across the tyre. Wrong angles cause uneven wear and pull.

The designed angular relationships among steering axis, wheels, and road, including Ackermann effect and toe-out on turns. It governs straight-line stability, steering effort, and tyre scrub in corners.

Hydraulic or electric assistance that reduces driver effort at the steering wheel. Faults show as heavy steering, whine, fluid leaks, or a warning light, and each type has different diagnostic steps.

Reading uneven tread wear to infer a fault: centre wear from overinflation, edge wear from underinflation, one-sided wear from camber, and feathered wear from toe. It guides alignment and pressure correction.

The measured groove depth and the raised bars moulded into it that show the legal minimum. Worn tread reduces wet grip and aquaplaning resistance, so depth is checked at several points across the tyre.

The tendency of glycol-based brake fluid to absorb moisture from the air, lowering its boiling point and risking vapour lock under heavy braking. Fluid is tested or replaced at the specified interval.

Loss of braking force when friction material or fluid overheats, felt as a spongy or long pedal. It is prevented by correct pads, fresh fluid, and cooling, and it is a key roadworthiness check.

A system that modulates brake pressure to prevent wheel lock during hard braking, preserving steering control. Wheel speed sensors, hydraulic pump, and warning lamps are the usual inspection points.

A test that feeds compressed air into a cylinder at top dead centre and measures the percentage lost. Listening at the intake, exhaust, or oil filler localises leakage to valves, rings, or head gasket.

The instrument that records total distance travelled, used to schedule maintenance and verify vehicle history. Tampering or implausible readings are a roadworthiness and fraud concern during inspection.

A documented check of a new or repaired vehicle before handover, covering fluids, tyre pressures, torque, function tests, and road test. Its checklist protects both the customer and the workshop.

A calibrated tool that releases or signals at a set tightening torque. Correct use prevents stretched bolts and joint failure, and calibration records are part of workshop quality control.

A procedure that isolates energy sources, locks them off, and tags them before work begins. It protects technicians from unexpected start-up, stored hydraulic pressure, and high-voltage battery hazards.

The rules for working near traction batteries and orange-cabled systems, including isolation, insulated tools, and trained-person limits. Contact can be fatal, so de-energising is verified before any work.

Gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, and breathing protection selected for the task. Correct PPE is a legal minimum in the workshop and is inspected before each use.

The controlled collection and handover of used oil, coolant, brake fluid, and solvents to licensed recyclers. Pouring them into drains is illegal and pollutes watercourses.