Archives: Glossary

OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics, second generation) is the standardised diagnostic system and connector mandated in cars for decades — the 16-pin port and baseline protocols every scan tool starts from.

PassThru is the working name for the J2534-defined technique where a generic interface device “passes through” communication between OEM diagnostic software on a PC and the vehicle.

J2534 is the SAE standard for pass-thru programming: a standardised interface that lets manufacturer software reprogram vehicle modules through a generic compliant device.

A DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) is the standardised code a vehicle stores when a monitored system detects a fault — the starting point of most diagnostic work.

The RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) is the single compliance marking showing a product meets the applicable Australian and New Zealand regulatory requirements — primarily electrical safety, EMC and radiocommunications.

An SGW (Secure Gateway) is a vehicle module that blocks write-level diagnostic access — clearing codes, calibrations, programming — unless the tool authenticates through the manufacturer’s authorisation scheme.

A VCI (Vehicle Communication Interface) is the hardware device that physically connects a diagnostic system to the vehicle, translating between the tool’s software and the vehicle’s communication protocols.

DoIP (Diagnostics over Internet Protocol) is a protocol that carries vehicle diagnostics over Ethernet instead of traditional CAN-based links.

CAN FD (Controller Area Network with Flexible Data-rate) is the faster evolution of the classic CAN bus, allowing larger data payloads and higher bit rates between vehicle electronic modules.

ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) is the umbrella term for camera-, radar- and sensor-based vehicle systems that assist the driver — lane keeping, adaptive cruise, emergency braking and similar functions.