OBD2 pin guide
Know your OBD2 pins.
Every OBD2 port shares the same 16-pin layout, the OBD2 pinout, but a vehicle only fills the pins it uses. Look at which pins have metal contacts in your vehicle’s port, then match them to the OBDX Pro that supports them.
The OBD2 connector
Looking into your vehicle’s OBD2 port, pin 1 is top left and pin 16 is bottom right. Pick a tool to light up the pins it uses.
Looking into the vehicle’s port
- Used by an OBDX ProUsed by this tool
- Power and ground
- Standard, not supported
- Manufacturer use
16 pin positions
Select a pin
Each pin position has a standard job. Select a pin to see what it carries and which OBDX Pro uses it, or pick a tool above to light up its pins. The full table is further down.
Manufacturer use
GM: single-wire CAN (GMLAN)
Found in most GM vehicles from 2006 on, typically for infotainment, HVAC, instrument clusters, park assist and other body modules.
SAE J1850 bus +
J1850 VPW
Commonly found in GM vehicles built between 1996 and 2006. J1850 PWM also uses this pin, together with pin 10.
Manufacturer use
Ford: medium-speed CAN (MS-CAN) +
Found in most modern Fords, typically for infotainment, the instrument cluster and park assist. Works with pin 11.
Chassis ground
Ground
Every OBD2 tool needs ground and battery power: pins 4, 5 and 16.
Signal ground
Ground
Every OBD2 tool needs ground and battery power: pins 4, 5 and 16.
CAN high
High-speed CAN (ISO 15765-4)
The main diagnostic bus on most modern vehicles, for the engine, transmission and many other modules. Works with pin 14.
K-line
ISO 9141-2 and KWP2000
Not supported by OBDX Pro tools.
Manufacturer use
Varies by manufacturer
Not used by OBDX Pro tools.
Manufacturer use
Holden: ALDL
The OBDX Pro GT supports the Holden ALDL protocol through pin 9.
SAE J1850 bus −
J1850 PWM
Not supported by OBDX Pro tools.
Manufacturer use
Ford: medium-speed CAN (MS-CAN) −
Works with pin 3.
Manufacturer use
Varies by manufacturer
Not used by OBDX Pro tools.
Manufacturer use
Ford: FEPS programming voltage (18 V)
Used to reflash Ford engine computers with J2534 dealership or tuning software. The OBDX Pro FT supplies it.
CAN low
High-speed CAN (ISO 15765-4)
Works with pin 6.
L-line
ISO 9141-2 and KWP2000
Not supported by OBDX Pro tools.
Battery power
+12 V
Every OBD2 tool needs battery power and ground: pins 4, 5 and 16.
What your pins tell you
The pins your vehicle’s port has filled point to the protocols it uses, and each protocol to the OBDX Pro that supports it.
- 614
High-speed CAN
The main diagnostic bus on most modern vehicles.
- 2
J1850 VPW
Pin 2 without pin 10. Common on GM vehicles built between 1996 and 2006.
- 1
GMLAN single-wire CAN
On GM vehicles, pin 1 carries the body-module bus.
- 9
Holden ALDL
On Holden vehicles with ALDL on pin 9.
- 311
Ford MS-CAN
Medium-speed CAN on most modern Fords.
- 13
Ford FEPS
The 18 V programming voltage for reflashing Ford engine computers.
- 210
J1850 PWM
Not supported by OBDX Pro tools.
- 715
ISO 9141-2 and KWP2000
Pin 7, sometimes with pin 15. Not supported by OBDX Pro tools.
Pins are a strong hint, not a guarantee. A metal contact shows a pin is wired, but your vehicle may not use it for diagnostics. Before you buy, check that your software supports your vehicle, ECU and model year, and that it supports OBDX Pro hardware or J2534.
CAN FD: some 2024 and newer vehicles need CAN FD for programming and security functions. It uses the same pins as high-speed CAN (6 and 14), so the pins alone can’t tell you. Check the product page before you buy.
The full OBD2 pinout
Every pin, its standard use, and which OBDX Pro uses it. Each product page lists the full protocol support for that tool.
| Pin | Use | GT | FT | VX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM: single-wire CAN (GMLAN)Manufacturer use | Yes | No | No |
| 2 | J1850 VPWSAE J1850 bus + | Yes | No | Yes |
| 3 | Ford: medium-speed CAN (MS-CAN) +Manufacturer use | No | Yes | No |
| 4 | GroundChassis ground | Every tool | ||
| 5 | GroundSignal ground | Every tool | ||
| 6 | High-speed CAN (ISO 15765-4)CAN high | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | ISO 9141-2 and KWP2000K-line | No | No | No |
| 8 | Varies by manufacturerManufacturer use | No | No | No |
| 9 | Holden: ALDLManufacturer use | Yes | No | No |
| 10 | J1850 PWMSAE J1850 bus − | No | No | No |
| 11 | Ford: medium-speed CAN (MS-CAN) −Manufacturer use | No | Yes | No |
| 12 | Varies by manufacturerManufacturer use | No | No | No |
| 13 | Ford: FEPS programming voltage (18 V)Manufacturer use | No | Yes | No |
| 14 | High-speed CAN (ISO 15765-4)CAN low | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | ISO 9141-2 and KWP2000L-line | No | No | No |
| 16 | +12 VBattery power | Every tool | ||
Found your match?
Pick the OBDX Pro for your pins
Each product page has the full protocol list for that tool. If you still have a question, send us a message.