- C -

Courtesy Light

Lamps that illuminate the vehicle interior and/or exterior when a door is opened, and are controlled from the headlight and for switches.

Covalent Bonding

When atoms share valence electrons with other atoms

Covered Electrode

A composite filler metal consisting of a core of bare electrodes or a metal-cored electrode, with a covering sufficient to provide a slag layer on the weld metal.

Cowl

That part of a vehicle between the passenger compartment and engine to which the windshield and dashboard are attached.

Cowl

The portion of a vehicle's body that is just under the front windshield.

Cowl Air Intake

The inlet at the base of the windshield that allows outside air to enter the heater/air-conditioning system, or driver/passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Cowl Induction

A hood design that has an opening near the cowl. If the opening faces rearward (toward the windshield), it typically is designed to vent hot underhood air, which helps engine performance. If the opening faces forward (toward the nose of the vehicle), it often is used to draw in cooler outside air, which also helps engine performance. Some vintage vehicles have "functional" cowl induction hoods; in this case, a flap opens to take in air when the driver floors the gas pedal. GM called this setup Cowl Induction during the musclecar era, while Chrysler called its similar hood/air intake design the Air Grabber.

CP

[1] acronym for crank position [2] acronym for canister purge

CPA

Connector position assurance

CPCS

Canister purge control solenoid

CPCV

Canister purge control valve

CPDV

Choke pull-off delay valve

Cpe

An abbreviation for coupe.

CPM

1. An Acronym for Cellular Phone Module (Ford)

CPP

Clutch pedal position

CPRV

Canister purge regulator valve

CPS

Crank position sensor or cycles per second or canister purge solenoid or central power supply

CPSV

Canister purge solenoid valve

CPTVS

Canister purge thermal vacuum switch

CPU

An acronym for central processing unit.