Please use our menu and pictures to locate your cars OBD-II connector.

 

The OBD-II standard specifies the type of diagnostic connector and its pinout, the electrical signalling protocols available, and the messaging format.

It also provides a candidate list of vehicle parameters to monitor along with how to encode the data for each.

There is also a pin in the connector that provides power for the scan tool in use and is powered from the vehicles battery, which eliminates the need to connect a scan tool to a power source separately.

The OBD-II standard provides an extensible list of DTCs amongst other data also provided by this connection.

As a result of this standardization, a single device can query the cars on-board computer(s) in any vehicle. This OBD-II came in two models OBD-IIA and OBD-IIB. OBD-II standardization was prompted by emissions requirements, and though only emission-related codes and data are required to be transmitted through it, most manufacturers have made the OBD-II Data Link Connector the only one in the vehicle through which all systems are diagnosed and programmed.

OBD-II Diagnostic Trouble Codes are 4-digit and are preceded by a letter: P for engine and transmission (powertrain), B for body, C for chassis, and U for network or CAN.

 

Female OBD-II connector on a car

Female OBD-II connector pin out – front view

The OBD-II specification provides for a standardized hardware interface via the female 16-pin (2×8) J1962 connector, the OBD-II connector is required to be within 2 feet (0.61 m) of the steering wheel (unless an exemption is applied for by the manufacturer, in which case it is still somewhere within reach of the driver).

 

1 Manufacturer discretion –
GM: J2411 GMLAN/SWC/Single-Wire CAN[12]
VW/Audi: Switched +12 to tell a scan tool whether the ignition is on.
Ford: Infotainment CAN High[12]
9 Manufacturer discretion –
GM: 8192 bit/s ALDL where fitted.
Ford: Infotainment CAN-Low
2 Bus Positive Line of SAE J1850 PWM and VPW 10 Bus Negative Line of SAE J1850 PWM only (not SAE J1850 VPW)
3 Manufacturer discretion –
Ford: DCL(+) Argentina, Brazil (pre OBD-II) 1997-2000, USA, Europe, etc.
Ford: Medium Speed CAN-High[12]
Chrysler: CCD Bus(+)[12]
11 Manufacturer Discretion –
Ford: DCL(-) Argentina, Brazil (pre OBD-II) 1997-2000, USA, Europe, etc.
Ford: Medium Speed CAN-Low[12]
Chrysler: CCD Bus(-)[12]
4 Chassis ground 12 Manufacturer discretion –
5 Signal ground 13 Manufacturer discretion –
Ford: FEPS – Programming PCM voltage
6 CAN-High (ISO 15765-4 and SAE J2284) 14 CAN-Low (ISO 15765-4 and SAE J2284)
7 K-Line of ISO 9141-2 and ISO 14230-4 15 L-Line of ISO 9141-2 and ISO 14230-4
8 Manufacturer discretion –
BMW: Second K-Line for non OBD-II (Body/Chassis/Infotainment) systems.
16 Battery voltage