| Kamm
tail |
A
body design that consists of an abruptly cut off sloped-tail design
used on many race cars and high-performance sport cars. From an aerodynamic
standpoint, a perfectly designed tail would need to be conical and
very long, impractical for racing and sports cars. The German aerodynamic
expert Dr. Wunibald Kamm showed that once the cross-sectional height
of a vehicle's tail tapers to about 1/2 of the maximum vehicle height
the law of diminishing returns comes into play making a long tail
unnecessary for most applications. |
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| K-band |
A
radar frequency designated by the FCC for use by police and other
agencies to monitor vehicle speeds with radar. |
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| Keepers |
Small
cone-shaped devices, like a split-collar which attach to the top
of valves and secure the valves in place and keep them from falling
into the cylinder which would destroy the motor. Two keepers are
used for each valve.
What
keeps the keepers in place? Well, In order to install the valve
keepers, the valve spring and a retainer on top of the spring must
be compressed (using a special tool). The center of the retainer
is also coned. When the spring and retainer have been compressed
enough the keepers can be installed at the top of the valve stem.
The spring is then released and the cone-shaped hole at the center
of the retainer and the cone shaped keepers fit together essentially
wedging the keepers tight to the valve stem.
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| KE-Jetronic |
An
improved type of fuel injection system developed by the Bosh corporation
(Germany) that uses a mechanical flap in the airstream and electronic
controls to determine the amount of fuel to deliver into the airstream.
The advantage over previous designs is the use of electronic controls,
and feedback from sensors such as an oxygen sensor which allows for
better fuel management, particularly during cold start up. |
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| Kevlar |
A
synthetic fiber developed by the DuPont Corp. which is very strong,
light and flexible. It is often combined with a plastic resin to produce
an expensive lightweight composite material used in race car body
panels. The fibers can also be used in high performance tires and
drive belts. |
| Key |
A
security device with ridges and lands used to start a vehicle
Also,
a small square block that can be inserted in a machined groove on
a shaft and pulley or gear so they turn as a unit. The machined
groove is called the keyway. There is a keyway groove machined on
the shaft and inside the bore of the pulley or gear.
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| Keyless
entry |
A
feature that allows an automobile door to be opened without the use
of a key. Usually consists of an infrared remote control or a keypad
located below the door handle. Electrically operated solenoids in
the door release the door latch when the proper code or signal is
transmitted. Cars with keyless entry still have key door locks that
permit entry in case of a malfunction or the battery were to go dead.
Also called Remote keyless entry. |
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| Keyway |
A
machined grooved of measured height and width on a shaft or inside
the bore of a pulley or gear's mounting surface that accepts a key
(small square metal block). When a key is installed, the shaft and
pulley turn as a single unit. |
| Kickback |
The
tendency for a steering wheel to jolt or jerk when a vehicle hit's
a large bump. Shock from the bump is transmitted through the steering
linkages to the steering box and back to the steering wheel. More
pronounced on vehicles with manual steering.
Also
the term used to describe the pulsation or "chatter" felt
at the brake pedal during hard braking when a vehicle's antilock
braking system modulates hydraulic pressure to it's wheel cylinders.
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| Kickdown |
A
feature found on most automatic transmissions where a driver can select
a lower gear by pressing down harder on the accelerator -- usually
for purposes of passing or accelerating uphill. A lever or cable is
connected from the engine's throttle to the transmission. "Kicking
down" a transmission basically shifts it down to a lower gear.
Older vehicles use a cable mounted to the carburetor accelerator.
Also known as Carburetor kickdown. |
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| Kickdown
switch |
An
electrical switch used in place of a cable or lever that accomplishes
a kickdown (shifting into a lower gear by pressing the accelerator)
in an automatic transmission. Used on newer vehicles with electronic
shift management. See Kickdown (above). |
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| Kick
panel |
Interior
plastic or carpeted coverings in the lower front of the passenger
compartment near the driver's and passenger's foot. On some vehicles,
the computer is located behind the passenger side kick panel. |
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| Kingpin |
A
solid and very hard steel pin that functions as a pivot point for
suspension components on front solid axle suspension systems of vintage
vehicles. Was also used on early independent front suspension systems
as well until manufacturers switched over to using ball joints. |
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| Kingpin
inclination |
The
angle between a vertical line drawn longitudinally through a wheel
and a vertical line drawn through the center point of upper and lower
king pins on an early independent front suspension system. Also known
as Steering-axis inclination. Performed a task similar to camber. |
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| K-Jetronic |
An
early fuel-injection system developed by Bosh that uses mechanical
means to meter the flow of fuel to an engine based on the amount
of air flowing to the motor. A primary component of the system is
a hinged air-flap that hangs in the airstream in the engine's intake.
As airflow to the engine's cylinders increases (due to increased
engine speed) the flap is deflected which allows more fuel to flow
into the engine.
An
improved version of this system known as the KE-Jetronic
system, retains the air flap but incorporates electronic controls
and sensors which aid cold starting and produces more precise air/fuel
ratios.
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| Knee
bolster |
A
padded panel located on the lower edge of the dashboard designed to
protect the knees of a driver and passenger in the event of an impact.
Part of a supplemental restraint system. Sometimes called a Knee
bar. |
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| Knock |
A
sound caused by a loose or worn part.
Also,
another term used to describe Detonation. See Detonation.
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| Knock
sensor |
A
device mounted to the engine block of modern engines that detects
the sharp vibrations caused by detonation (knock). If "knock"
is detected, a signal is sent to the engine management system (the
computer) and adjustments are made to correct it (usually retarding
the spark timing) to prevent engine damage caused by detonation. The
use of knock sensors allows engineers to design more efficient engines
that put out more power because higher compression ratios, more advanced
timing and increased turbo boost can be used than would be possible
without knock sensors. |
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| Knuckle |
Part
of a steering system. See Steering knuckle. |
