OBD-II
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Automotive
| Stands for | On-board diagnostics II |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
OBD-II stands for On-board diagnostics II, an automotive abbreviation.
Standardized diagnostic system required on all cars and light trucks sold in the US since the 1996 model year, with a 16-pin connector usually under the dashboard near the steering column. It reports standardized fault codes that any generic scan tool can read.
Example: Emissions inspection here is just an OBD-II plug-in; they don't even look at the tailpipe anymore.
Usage notes
Also written OBD2 or OBDII. The connector and codes follow SAE standards, so a $20 reader works on almost any post-1996 car. Many US states run emissions tests through the OBD-II port instead of tailpipe sniffers. Europe introduced the similar EOBD for gasoline cars in 2001 and diesels in 2004.
Related abbreviations
More automotive abbreviations
- MPV – Multi-purpose vehicle
- MSRP – Manufacturer's suggested retail price
- MT – Manual transmission
- NACS – North American Charging Standard
- NCAP – New Car Assessment Program
- OBD – On-board diagnostics
- OEM – Original equipment manufacturer
- OHV – Off-highway vehicle
- OTA – Over-the-air updates
- OTD – Out-the-door price
- PCM – Powertrain control module
- PCV – Positive crankcase ventilation