Understanding your vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD2) system is crucial for modern car maintenance and repair. The OBD2 port, typically located under the dashboard on the driver’s side, is your gateway to accessing a wealth of information about your car’s health and performance. A common question for those new to vehicle diagnostics is: How Many Pins In Obd2 connectors are there, and what do they all mean?
The OBD2 connector is designed with 16 pin locations. These pins are not all created equal; they serve different functions depending on the communication protocol your vehicle uses. While all OBD2 connectors have 16 pin locations, not all of them are always populated with actual pins. The presence or absence of certain pins is key to identifying the communication protocol used by your vehicle’s computer system.
For car enthusiasts and those in the automotive repair field, understanding the OBD2 pinout is essential. It allows you to determine compatibility with various scan tools and diagnostic equipment. Companies like Auterra, with their range of scan tools including Windows PC, Android, and DashDyno SPD versions, design their products to be compatible with the various OBD2 protocols used across different vehicle manufacturers and international markets.
While in the US, OBD2 compliance is mandated, making pin inspection generally unnecessary, for vehicles in international markets, especially Europe (EOBD and EOBD2 compliant vehicles), checking the OBD2 connector pins can be a helpful initial step in determining scan tool compatibility. Even if the pin configuration seems to match a known protocol, slight variations in international vehicles might still lead to compatibility issues. For in-depth information on international vehicle compatibility, consulting resources like FAQs is always recommended.
Let’s delve into how the pin configuration relates to the different OBD2 communication protocols. The Auterra Dyno-Scan tool, for example, supports up to 5 different protocols, each utilizing specific pins within the 16-pin OBD2 connector to establish communication. Some pins are mandatory for certain protocols, while others are optional, varying based on the vehicle’s specific implementation. It’s also worth noting that your OBD2 connector might have additional pins populated that are not relevant to the diagnostic protocols themselves.
To understand which protocol your vehicle uses and ensure compatibility with diagnostic tools, examining the populated pins in your OBD2 connector is a practical step. The 16 pin locations are numbered for easy identification, as illustrated in the diagram below.
Vehicle OBD II Connector (front view)
Now, let’s break down the pin configurations for the common OBD2 protocols:
CAN Protocol Pins
If you find pins 5, 6, 14, and 16 populated in your OBD2 connector, your vehicle likely utilizes the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol. CAN is a widely adopted protocol known for its robustness and high-speed communication capabilities in modern vehicles.
| Pin # | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 | Ground |
| 6 | CAN High (Data) |
| 14 | CAN Low (Data) |
| 16 | Power |
ISO and KWP Protocol Pins
Vehicles employing the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) protocols, including Keyword Protocol 2000 (KWP2000), will typically have pins 5, 7, and 16 populated. Pin 15 might also be present as an optional data line in some ISO/KWP implementations.
| Pin # | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 | Ground |
| 7 | K-Line (Data) – ISO 9141-2 and ISO 14230-4 (KWP2000) |
| 15 | L-Line (Data) – Optional in ISO 9141-2 and ISO 14230-4 (KWP2000), may not be present |
| 16 | Power |
VPW Protocol Pins
Vehicles using Variable Pulse Width Modulation (VPW) protocol, primarily older General Motors vehicles, will typically show pins 2, 5, and 16 populated in their OBD2 connector.
| Pin # | Description |
|---|---|
| 2 | J1850 VPW Bus Positive |
| 5 | Ground |
| 16 | Power |
PWM Protocol Pins
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) protocol, mainly used in older Ford vehicles, is indicated by populated pins 2, 5, 10, and 16 in the OBD2 connector.
| Pin # | Description |
|---|---|
| 2 | J1850 PWM Bus Positive |
| 5 | Ground |
| 10 | J1850 PWM Bus Negative |
| 16 | Power |
In conclusion, while all OBD2 connectors feature 16 pin locations, the specific pins that are populated are crucial for identifying your vehicle’s communication protocol. Understanding how many pins in OBD2 are used and their arrangement is a fundamental step in vehicle diagnostics and ensuring compatibility with OBD2 scan tools and equipment. By checking the pinout, you can gain valuable insights into your vehicle’s diagnostic system and streamline the process of troubleshooting and maintenance.
