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The Jargon

Time to shine a light on the latest jargon, so you know what to look out for when buying your next car.

Vehicle Intro
    Urban Cycle The urban cycle of a car is the calculated MPG of the car simulated city driving conditions, featuring frequent acceleration, deceleration, and idling at low speeds (under 31 mph).
    Extra-Urban Cycle The extra-urban cycle of a car covers driving outside of a city or town. It tests the car’s MPG at higher speeds (up to 75mph), with steady acceleration and deceleration and sustained speeds.
    Combined Cycle The combined cycle is an average of the urban and extra-urban cycles to give a wider picture of your car’s miles per gallon.
    Traction Control Traction control is a software that limits power to one or more of the wheels to prevent slipping if it detects that the wheel isn’t able to put power do. This is particularly effective in rain, ice or snow, or during heavy acceleration.
    ABS Under hard braking, the wheels can lock up, preventing them from gripping the road. ABS (anti-lock braking system) is a technology that applies the brakes rapidly on and off under hard deceleration.
    Immobiliser The immobiliser is a theft deterrent device that prevents the car from starting unless it detects a signal from the owner’s key. In modern vehicles, electronic immobilisers are standard, but mechanical immobilisers were available on older cars.
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       Co2 Emissions CO2 emissions measure how much CO2 is being put into the atmosphere from the combustion of fossil fuels in an ICE.
      Horse Power Horsepower is a measurement of an engine’s strength. This can also be measured as brake horsepower (bhp), PS, and kW. In simple terms, the more horsepower that car has, the faster it will go.
      Fuel Consumption Fuel consumption is an important metric that helps drivers determine how far their car will drive with a certain amount of fuel. Fuel consumption is measured in miles per gallon (MPG). There are 4.55 miles in a gallon.
      Service Internals If your car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, you must keep up with the correct service intervals to maintain the warranty. Usually, this means having your car serviced by an authorised garage every 12 months or every 10,000 miles - whichever is first.

      Engine Management Lights

      Engine management lights can look scary and confusing, but with the info below, you’ll know what each light is indicating.

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         Oil Pressure The oil pressure light looks like a red or yellow oil can. It indicates that the pressure of your oil is too low. This could require a simple top-up, or it could indicate a more serious issue.
        Front Fog Light The front fog light symbol is a D-shape with three diagonal lines through a wavy line. Fog lights should only be used if visibility is below 100 metres. If this light is on your dashboard with clear visibility, you should turn off your fog lights.
        Low Fuel The low fuel light is an orange illuminated petrol pump located next to your fuel gauge. If it’s illuminated, it typically means that you’ve got less than 15% of your fuel remaining. You won’t run out of fuel immediately, but you should try and get to a petrol station as soon as possible.
        Adjust Light The dashboard light control is usually located near the headlight switch. Once this has been located, turn it up or down until the light is clearly visible but not blinding.

        Need to Book an Appointment?

        Still unsure about any of the jargon above, or have a specific question about a feature or system in your car? Our friendly team at Brindley Group is always on hand to help, you just need to get in touch.

        Whether you’re buying your first car, upgrading to something new, or making the switch to electric, we’ll make sure you understand everything clearly before you drive away. 

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