A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Pace Car
Seen at NASCAR and Indy races, the pace car leads race cars out of the pole position at beginning of races or after a yellow flag or restart has been called.

Package Shelf
The ledge between the rear seat and the backlight (or rear windshield). The name is misleading because it's a bad idea to put anything on the package shelf. However, it often contains the sound system's rear speakers and, on some vehicles, the CHMSL or centre brake light. Sometimes also called the package tray. On European cars the package tray often contains a first-aid kit; on higher-end models it may contain storage compartments.

Papers of Origin
Manufacturer documents used to obtain vehicle titles.

Partial Loss
Any loss that does not completely destroy the property or exhaust the insurance.

Passive Restraint
A device or structure that automatically helps restrain vehicle occupants in an impact. This includes airbags, belt pretensioners, padded knee bolsters, and shoulder belts that are motorized, or attached to the door.

Peril
A cause of a possible loss.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
A broad type of medical payments insurance. Usually offers protection for expenses incurred up to a dollar amount.

Physical Damage
A generic term that describes injury or damage to property.

Physical Hazard
The material of the risk itself.

Pick-up
The type of truck with an open cargo bed behind the closed cab.

Pinion
A type of gear that has small teeth that mesh with other, larger gears.

Piston
The heavy, cylindrical metal shaft within each engine cylinder that travels up and down to turn the crankshaft, compress the air and fuel mixture for combustion and expel exhaust gases.

Policy Period
The amount of time that the policy covers (i.e., six months or two years).

Policyholder
The person who has possession of the policy.

Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve
An emission device that routes oil pan vapours to the intake manifold to be burned during combustion. Also known as the PCV valve.

Positive Equity
The vehicle's market value is greater than the amount the borrower owes on it.

Power Plant
Another name for a vehicle's engine.

Power Steering
A steering system that uses a separate motor or engine power to reduce the effort necessary to turn the front wheels.

Power-to-Weight Ratio
The maximum power output of the vehicle per unit mass. The higher the ratio, the more powerful the vehicle. In comparing several vehicles, this can be a better measurement than engine horsepower or torque because it considers the weight variable. In other words, a car that seems to have a powerful engine but is also heavy may have less get-up-and-go than a vehicle that has a similar or less powerful engine but also weighs less.

Powertrain
The combination of engine and transmission.

PPG
Actually, PPG Industries, founded in 1883 as the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. PPG has been the source of tough urethane finishes on cars racing in the Indianapolis 500 since 1975. In 1980, it became the title sponsor of the PPG Indy Car World Series.

Premium
The periodic payment to keep the policy enforced.

Preparation Charges
Charges incurred by the dealer while preparing a vehicle for delivery to the buyer.

Pressure Plate
Holds the clutch disc against the flywheel.

Pretensioner
A device that rapidly yanks in shoulder-belt slack when a crash sensor detects an impact. Some pretensioners are activated by a small explosive charge in the belt retractor; some contain their own inertial sensors. So far, pretensioners are still found on more expensive models, particularly those by European manufacturers. By pulling in belt slack within milliseconds of an impact, pretensioners help reduce chest and head injury by restricting occupant motion and preventing the occupant from hitting the belt.

PRO
Professional Racers Organization

Pro Rallies
Road rallies which are very competitive and are run at high speeds on roads closed to the public. Often sponsored by the SCCA.

Projector-Beam Headlights
A headlight that uses a spherical reflector to tightly control the light beam. The bulb or light source directs the light inward, toward the reflector at the back of the headlight assembly, which then projects it forward from the vehicle. These lights are more powerful, accurate and expensive than standard sealed-beam and halogen headlights, and are generally found on sport and luxury models.

Pro Start
A method of starting a drag race that differs from most starts in that it only has one amber light between the initial staging and the final lights on the "Christmas Tree."

Proof of Loss
A formal statement made by the insured to the insurance company regarding a loss.

Property Damage Liability
The protection of the property when not under control of the insured.

PSI
Acronym for pounds per square inch. A pressure measurement used in tyre inflation and turbocharger boost.

Purchase Option
The lessee's right to purchase the vehicle, if he so chooses, at lease end. It's a good idea to negotiate a purchase-option price at the same time you negotiate the capitalized cost and residual value, if possible. Some contracts lock-in a pre-determined value for the vehicle.

Pushrod
A metal rod that transmits the motion of the camshaft to the valve actuators to open and close the valves. Used on engines with overhead valves but without overhead camshafts.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

This article was written by Bruce Gow, an Australian search engine marketer who does search engine optimization for websites such as Used Car Prices. He has completed extensive research on used cars in both Australia and the USA, but is NOT a used car dealer.

You can reach him at bruce@searchengine-guy.com.au for all used car or SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) enquires in Australia or the USA.