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Automotive vocabulary · Diagnostics, Service and Repair

OBD-II

Meaning in automotive, with examples

abbreviationCore term

In automotive, OBD-II means: Short for On-Board Diagnostics, second generation: a standard self-diagnosis system with a 16-pin connector that lets any scan tool read emission-related fault codes and live data.

In Turkish: OBD-II, araç üstü teşhis sistemi, OBD

How it is used

Required on cars sold in the US from model year 1996; the European version, EOBD, has been required on new petrol cars since 2001 and diesel cars since 2004. Technicians plug into the OBD port, usually under the dashboard.

Example sentences

  1. Plug the scanner into the OBD-II port and switch the ignition on.

  2. Generic OBD-II data shows the misfire, but you need the dealer tool to see the injector values.

Common collocations

  • OBD-II port
  • OBD-II scanner
  • generic OBD-II codes
  • OBD readiness
  • diagnostic trouble codeA standard code stored by a control unit when it detects a fault, such as P0300. The first letter shows the system: P for powertrain, B for body, C for chassis and U for network.
  • scan toolA handheld device or laptop software that connects to the vehicle's diagnostic port to read and clear fault codes, view live data and run tests on control units.
  • check engine lightThe amber engine-shaped warning light on the dashboard that comes on when the engine or emission control system detects a fault and stores a code.
  • emissionsThe gases and particles a vehicle releases, mainly from the exhaust, such as CO2, NOx and soot. Their limits are set by regulations such as the Euro 6 standard.

More terms: Diagnostics, Service and Repair

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