“OBD2” is a common term that you have probably heard when it comes to vehicles. This acronym stands for “On-Board Diagnostics II,” which is a self-diagnostic tool that most modern vehicles have integrated into their system. It allows you to identify potential faults and vulnerabilities in your asset, allowing you to work on them as soon as possible to prevent further damage. For this, you’re going to need an OBD scanner, which you have to connect by using a 16-pin Cable for Volvo/Mack or the vehicle that you own at the moment.
If you’re not familiar with OBD2 connectors and how this resource works in general, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s learn together what this system is and how it can help you keep your vehicle in the best shape possible.
Key Takeaways
- An OBD2 connector is a cable that allows you access to your vehicle’s electronic control unit in real-time.
- You can use the information shown to identify faults or potential areas of improvement.
- There are two types of OBD2 connectors based on the vehicle that you’re using: Types A and B.
- This system also allows you to modify some of the sub-systems that your vehicle contains for better performance.
What is the “OBD2 Connector”?
An OBD2 Connector can be found in one of the ends of the adapter cable that you connect to your vehicle’s OBD port. Therefore, we could say that the 16-Pin Cable for Volvo/Mack is one of the many OBD2 connectors that we have available in the market, this time being made for certain car models. Once everything is connected, you will be able to see the information on your car’s OBD2 system and utilize it to find potential faults.
You can find two types of OBD2 Connectors in the market:
- The first would be wired, which allows you to connect the connector directly to the scan tool by utilizing the cable.
- The second would be wireless, which allows you to do the same thing without cables involved. It can be through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection, depending on the technology that the vehicle has integrated (most modern cars allow you to choose between both options).
OBD2 connectors are built to comply with a particular function, which is to read and provide information from your car’s electronic control unit or ECU to you in real-time. This way, you can easily find out what could be wrong with your vehicle based on the data it transmits.
Another useful feature of this system is that you can also utilize it to repair certain parts of the system of your car, allowing you to ensure that everything is working smoothly and making it easier for you to maintain your vehicle’s performance.
OBD2 Connectors: Type A or Type B?
If you are using the wired version of an OBD2 connector, you can differentiate between two options: type A and B. The first option is more common on regular cars, while the second is typically associated with medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
While both connectors essentially have the same function, the main difference between them is the battery power needed. For instance, a type A connector works with vehicles with +12V of battery power, while a type B connector needs more capacity and works with vehicles with +24V of battery power.
Therefore, if you’re looking forward to purchasing a 16-pin Cable for Volvo/Mack, we recommend you take a look at the vehicle you own before purchasing the right connector. This way, you can make an informed decision based on what your car or vehicle needs in order to access the OBD2 system.
OBD2 Protocols – The Basics
At first, it can be a tad complicated to understand all the OBD2 protocols, but it is relatively easy once you get used to all the information. For starters, OBD2 systems tend to utilize five protocols for communication, being the Controller Area Network the primary one.
The protocols utilized ensure that the information obtained through the OBD2 system is as accurate as possible regardless of the vehicle and the brand, making it easy for you to utilize the tool to obtain the data you need.
Why 16 Pins?
The cable has 16 pins because each one corresponds to a different protocol. Some of those are exclusive to the vehicle’s brand and vendor, while the others are universal, such as the battery power, which is usually the 16th pin on the connector. We recommend you read the manuals of both the connector and your vehicle to find out more about the protocols that they contain and what you can do with them to improve the performance of your asset and ensure it is in its best shape at all times.
Conclusion
It’s important to choose the right OBD2 connector for your vehicle because not all of them will work for the same asset. For instance, a 16-pin Cable for Volvo/Mack will likely not work in other brands or types of vehicles. It’s important to get as much information as possible about your vehicle so that you can make an informed decision.
