Glossary

Below we have provided a glossary of some of the most common acronyms or TLA's and standards used in the automotive industry in relation to vehicle electrics.

Many of the entries are linked to further information pages.

Acronym Meaning
ALDL Assembly Line Diagnostics Link (Precursor of OBD)
ASAM Association for Standardization of Automation and Measuring Systems
CAN Controller Area Network
CAN 2.0A Using 11bit Identifiers
CAN 2.0B Using 29bit Identifiers
CARB California Air Resources Board
CCP CAN Calibration Protocol
DTC Diagnostics Trouble Code
ECOS Electrical Check Out System (AKA VETS)
ECOSi ECOS with ECU Communications
ECM Electronic Control Module (see ECU)
ECU Electronic Control Unit (see ECM)
EOBD European Onboard Diagnostics
FlexRay Latest High Performance Bus based Technology
ISO 9141-2 Road vehicles - Diagnostic systems - Part 2: CARB requirements for interchange of digital information
ISO 11519-4 Off-Board Diagnostics SAE J1850
ISO 11898 Controller Area Network (CAN)
ISO 14229 Unified diagnostic services (UDS)
ISO 14230 KW2000 Off-Board Diagnostics
ISO 15031-3.6 Specification for the J1962 / OBD / EOBD connector
ISO 15764 Road vehicles - Extended Data Link Security
ISO 15765-1 Diagnostics on CAN - Part 1: general information
J1962 Vehicle Diagnostics Connector
K Bus Inter ECU communications used by BMW
K Line Diagnostics Interface (see ISO 9141)
KW2000 Keyword 2000 Diagnostics Protocol (see ISO 14230)
LIN Local Interconnect Network
MIL Malfunction Indicator Light
MOST Media Oriented System Transport
OBDII On Board Diagnostics (Rev2)
OSEK Open Systems and the Corresponding Interfaces for Automotive Electronics
PID Parameter ID
SCP Ford Standard Corporate Protocol
VETS Vehicle Electrical Test System (AKA ECOS)
XCP Universal CAN Calibration Protocol

HOME

Sorion
Magreal Industrial Estate
Freeth Street
Ladywood
Birmingham
B16 0QZ