Short for oxygen sensor, an O2 sensor (or sensors) detect the amount of oxygen in the vehicle’s exhaust, determine if the engine is running rich (too much fuel) or lean (not enough fuel) and signal to the engine control unit (ECU) to adjust the air/fuel mixture accordingly.

OCS operates on the front passenger seat, using weight sensors to detect how much weight (if any) is present. If the four weight sensors at the base of the seat frame detect no weight or very little weight, such as a purse or personal computer on the seat, the system deactivates the front passenger airbag, seat-mounted side airbags and front passenger seatbelt pretensioner.

Are we there yet? This instrument measures and registers the miles and tenths of miles the vehicle has been driven.

Okay, gonna get a bit techy here. This is a crankshaft that is offset from the engine’s cylinder bore centerline, keeping each connecting rod aligned with the cylinder bore centerline at the peak of the engine’s power stroke. This arrangement reduces side force on the cylinders and pistons, which in turn reduces friction, increases efficiency and improves durability.

(See “Auxiliary Engine Oil Cooler”)

Sounds sort of like a political debate, doesn’t it? In fact, an open differential delivers power to the drive wheel or drive axle with the least resistance, allowing the vehicle to corner smoothly under power. It offers no traction enhancing features, however, and is therefore not as effective on slippery surfaces as a limited-slip differential.

One look at these babies and your passengers will know you’re living right. These gauges use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide vivid, high-contrast meters that are easy to read and offer a unique, upscale look.

One of the reasons why today’s Toyota engines last longer than ever (and that’s a looong time). An overdrive transmission has a high gear in which the output shaft (power to the wheels) spins at a faster rate than the input shaft (power from the engine). As a result, the engine doesn’t need to turn as fast for a given speed, resulting in better fuel economy and increased engine longevity.

The mark of a serious off-roader. Unlike fender flares, an overfender is not a styled-in fender bulge, but an added fender extension designed to cover an off-road tire. Overfenders are specific to SUVs and trucks, and along with accommodating aggressive tires, they provide some body protection against brush and other light off-road obstacles.

There are a few engine designs that have made their mark on automotive history, and this is one of them. An overhead cam engine places the camshaft(s) directly above the combustion chamber in the cylinder head, instead of in the engine block (as is the case with an overhead valve or OHV engine). Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) engines use one overhead camshaft to operate both intake and exhaust valves. A Double Overhead Cam (DOHC) engine uses two camshafts: one to open the intake valves and another to open the exhaust valves.

Provides a ceiling-mounted location for storage compartments, reading and maplamps and various accessory controls and displays.