Here is a list of common acronyms, abbreviations, and terms used in the OBDLink® knowledge base of support articles.
You can find additional details on many terms by doing an internet search.
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| ABS | Anti-lock Braking System |
| BLE | Bluetooth Low Energy |
| BMW | Bavarian Motor Works vehicle manufacturer |
| CCM | Clews Competition Machines motorcycle manufacturer |
| CoD | Class of Device. Encoded data that identifies the type of Bluetooth device. |
| CSV | Comma-Separated Values. File format used for sending data. |
| DLC | Data Link Connector. 16-pin D-shaped connector used to connect an OBD-II adapter. |
| DTC | Diagnostic Trouble Code |
| E85 fuel | Fuel mixture of ethanol and gasoline. Also called flex fuel. |
| ECU | Electronic Control Unit. Term can also refer to the specific Engine Control Unit. |
| EOBD | European On-Board Diagnostics standard |
| EPA | Environmental Protection Agency. United States governmental agency. |
| EV | Electric Vehicle |
| FCA | Fiat Chrysler Automobiles vehicle manufacturer |
| GM | General Motors vehicle manufacturer |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| HS-CAN protocol | High-Speed Controller Area Network protocol. Used by all passenger vehicles sold in the US after 2008. OBDLink adapters support a variety of protocols. For details, see Which adapter is right for me? |
| HTML | Hyper Text Markup Language. File format used for sending information. |
| HUD | Heads-Up Display |
| iOS | iPhone Operating System |
| ISO | International Standards Organization. Group that develops and publishes technical standards. |
| ISO protocol | ISO9141 and ISO14230 are communication protocols for automobiles that are approved by the ISO. Also called K-Line protocols as a group. OBDLink adapters support a variety of ISO standards and protocols. For details, see Which adapter is right for me? |
J1850 VPW protocol J1850 PWM protocol | J1850 is a communication protocol for automobiles that is approved by the SAE. The protocol has two alternatives: VPW (Variable Pulse Width) and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). OBDLink adapters support a variety of protocols. For details, see Which adapter is right for me? |
| JOBD | Japanese On-Board Diagnostics standard |
| KTM | Motorcycle manufacturer |
| LED | Light Emitting Diode. Indicates adapter status, such as Power. |
| MPH | Miles Per Hour |
| MS-CAN protocol | Medium-Speed Controller Area Network protocol. OEM proprietary network used by select manufacturers including Ford and some FCA passenger vehicles. OBDLink adapters support a variety of protocols. For details, see Which adapter is right for me? |
| MY | Model Year |
| O2 sensors | Oxygen sensors |
| OBD | On-Board Diagnostics |
OBD-II OBD2 | On-Board Diagnostics revision 2. Standard that applies to vehicles sold in the United States in 1996 and later. |
| OBD Solutions LLC | Company that makes and distributes OBDLink adapters and applications. |
| OBDLink adapter | The OBDLink family of devices is a set of OBD interpreters that can be used to convert messages between any of the OBD-II protocols currently in use (as well as some proprietary OBD protocols) and a user application. |
| OBDLink application | Phone/tablet application for OBDLink adapters. Supports Android and iOS phones and tablets. For details, see Which adapter is right for me? |
| OBDwiz application | Windows application for OBDLink adapters. Supports Windows Vista and newer versions. For details, see Which adapter is right for me? |
| OEM | Original Equipment Manufacturer |
| OS | Operating System |
| OTG | On-the-Go cable type |
| Portable Document Format. File format used for printing documents. | |
| PIDs | Parameter IDs |
| PWM | Pulse Width Modulation |
| QSG | Quick Start Guide |
| RPM | Revolutions Per Minute |
| SAE | Society of Automotive Engineers |
| SRS | Supplemental Restraint System |
| STN | ScanTool.net. Subsidiary company of OBD Solutions LLC. |
| SW-CAN protocol | Single-Wire Controller Area Network protocol. OEM proprietary network used by select manufacturers including General Motors (GM). OBDLink adapters support a variety of protocols. For details, see Which adapter is right for me? |
| TPMS | Tire Pressure Monitoring System |
| USB | Universal Serial Bus. Standard connection used to transfer data and provide power between many types of electronic devices. |
| VE | Volumetric Efficiency |
| VIN | Vehicle Identification Number |
| VPW | Variable Pulse Width |
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