SURFACE
VEHICLE
STANDARD
J1979
REV.
APR2002
Issued
Revised
1991-12
2002-04
Superseding J1979 SEP1997
(R) E/E Diagnostic Test Modes — 
Equivalent to ISO/DIS 15031-5:April 30, 2002
This document supersedes SAE J1979 SEP1997, and is technically equivalent to ISO/DIS 15031-5:April 30, 2002,
except for minor reorganisation of Paragraphs 1 and 2.
Foreword—On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulations require passenger cars, and light and medium duty trucks, to
support  communication  of  a  minimum  set  of  diagnostic  information  to  off-board  “generic”  test  equipment.    This
document  specifies diagnostic services and functionally addressed request / response messages required to be
supported by motor vehicles and external test equipment for diagnostic purposes which pertain to motor vehicle
emission-related  data.  These  messages  are  intended  to  be  used  by  any  external  test  equipment  meeting  the
requirements of SAE J1978 for retrieval of OBD information from a vehicle.
SAE J1979 was originally developed to meet U.S. OBD requirements for 1996 and later model year vehicles.  ISO
15031-5  was  based  on  SAE  J1979  and  was  intended  to  combine  the  U.S.  requirements  with  European  OBD
requirements for 2000 and later model year vehicles.  In addition, this document and later versions of the ISO/DIS
document  include  new  data  reporting  requirements  included  in  proposed  U.S.  regulations,  and  also  include
specific requirements for retrieval of the same diagnostic information from vehicles equipped with ISO 15765-4 as
a diagnostic data link.
SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely
voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”
SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.
Copyright ©2002 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE.
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SAE J1979 Revised APR2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
1.1
1.2
2
2.1
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.2
2.2.1
2.2.2
3
4
4.1
4.1.1
4.1.2
4.1.3
4.1.4
4.1.5
4.2
4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.2.4
4.2.5
4.2.6
4.2.7
4.2.8
4.2.9
4.2.10
4.3
4.4
4.5
5
5.1
5.1.1
5.1.2
5.1.3
5.1.4
5.2
5.2.1
5.2.2
5.2.3
5.2.4
5.3
5.3.1
5.3.2
5.3.3
5.3.4
Scope........................................................................................................................................................4
Purpose ....................................................................................................................................................4
Differences from ISO Document...............................................................................................................5
Reference(s) .............................................................................................................................................6
Applicable Publications .............................................................................................................................6
SAE Publications ......................................................................................................................................6
ISO Publications .......................................................................................................................................6
Related Publications .................................................................................................................................6
SAE Publications ......................................................................................................................................6
ISO Documents ........................................................................................................................................6
Term(s) and Definition(s) ..........................................................................................................................6
Technical Requirements ...........................................................................................................................8
Diagnostic Service, General Requirements..............................................................................................8
Multiple Responses to a Single Data Request .........................................................................................8
Application Timing Parameter Definition ...................................................................................................8
Minimum Time between Requests from External Test Equipment ......................................................... 10
Data Not Available ..................................................................................................................................15
Maximum Value ...................................................................................................................................... 19
Diagnostic Message Format ................................................................................................................... 19
Addressing Method ................................................................................................................................. 19
Maximum Message Length .....................................................................................................................19
Request/Response Message Format ..................................................................................................... 20
Response Code Parameter Definition ....................................................................................................21
Header Byte Definition of ISO 9141-2, ISO 14230-4, and SAE J1850 ................................................... 22
Header Byte Definition of ISO 15765-4 .................................................................................................. 22
Data Bytes Definition of ISO 9141-2, ISO 14230-4, SAE J1850, and ISO 15765-4 ............................... 23
Non-Data Bytes included in Diagnostic Messages with SAE J1850....................................................... 23
Non-Data Bytes included in Diagnostic Messages with ISO 9141-2 and ISO 14230-4.......................... 23
Bit Position Convention........................................................................................................................... 23
Allowance for Expansion and Enhanced Diagnostic Services ................................................................ 23
Definition of PIDs for Service $01 and $02 .............................................................................................23
Format of Data to be Displayed ..............................................................................................................23
Diagnostic Service Definition for ISO 9141-2, ISO 14230-4, and SAE J1850 ........................................ 24
Service $01 - Request Current Powertrain Diagnostic Data ................................................................... 24
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................24
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................25
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................26
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................26
Service $02 - Request Powertrain Freeze Frame Data.......................................................................... 29
Functional description ............................................................................................................................. 29
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................30
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................31
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................31
Service $03 - Request Emission-Related Diagnostic Trouble Codes ..................................................... 32
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................32
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................33
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................34
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................34
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5.4
5.4.1
5.4.2
5.4.3
5.4.4
5.5
5.5.1
5.5.2
5.5.3
5.5.4
5.6
5.6.1
5.6.2
5.6.3
5.6.4
5.7
5.7.1
5.7.2
5.7.3
5.7.4
5.8
5.8.1
5.8.2
5.8.3
5.8.4
5.9
5.9.1
5.9.2
5.9.3
5.9.4
6.
6.1
6.1.1
6.1.2
6.1.3
6.1.4
6.2
6.2.1
6.2.2
6.2.3
6.2.4
6.3
6.3.1
6.3.2
6.3.3
6.3.4
6.4
6.4.1
6.4.2
6.4.3
6.4.4
6.5
SAE J1979 Revised APR2002
Service $04 - Clear/Reset Emission-Related Diagnostic Information ..................................................... 37
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................37
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................37
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................37
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................37
Service $05 - Request Oxygen Sensor Monitoring Test Results............................................................ 39
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................39
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................39
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................40
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................41
Service $06 - Request On-Board Monitoring Test Results for Specific Monitored Systems .................. 43
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................43
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................43
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................44
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................45
Service $07 - Request Emission-Related Diagnostic Trouble Codes Detected
During Current or Last Completed Driving Cycle .................................................................................... 47
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................47
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................47
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................48
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................48
Service $08 - Request Control of On-Board System, Test or Component ............................................. 48
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................48
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................48
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................50
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................50
Service $09 - Request Vehicle Information ............................................................................................ 51
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................51
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................51
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................52
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................53
Diagnostic Service Definition for ISO 15765-4 ....................................................................................... 63
Service $01 - Request Current Powertrain Diagnostic Data ................................................................... 63
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................63
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................63
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................65
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................65
Service $02 - Request Powertrain Freeze Frame Data.......................................................................... 69
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................69
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................69
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................71
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................71
Service $03 - Request Emission-Related Diagnostic Trouble Codes ..................................................... 74
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................74
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................74
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................75
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................75
Service $04 - Clear/Reset Emission-Related Diagnostic Information ..................................................... 76
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................76
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................76
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................77
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................77
Service $05 - Request Oxygen Sensor Monitoring Test Results............................................................ 78
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SAE J1979 Revised APR2002
6.6
6.6.1
6.6.2
6.6.3
6.6.4
6.7
6.7.1
6.7.2
6.7.3
6.7.4
6.8
6.8.1
6.8.2
6.8.3
6.8.4
6.9
6.9.1
6.9.2
6.9.3
6.9.4
7.
7.1
Service $06 - Request On-Board Monitoring Test Results for Specific Monitored Systems .................. 78
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................78
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................78
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................80
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................83
Service $07 - Request Emission-Related Diagnostic Trouble Codes Detected
During Current or Last Completed Driving Cycle .................................................................................... 85
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................85
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................86
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................86
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................86
Service $08 - Request Control of On-Board System, Test or Component ............................................. 86
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................86
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................87
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................88
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................88
Service $09 - Request Vehicle Information ............................................................................................ 90
Functional Description ............................................................................................................................90
Message Data Bytes ...............................................................................................................................90
Parameter Definition ...............................................................................................................................92
Message Example ..................................................................................................................................92
Notes ......................................................................................................................................................98
Marginal Indicia....................................................................................................................................... 98
Appendix A (normative) PID (Parameter ID)/OBDMID (On-Board Monitor ID) /
TID (Test ID)/INFOTYPE supported definition........................................................................................ 99
Appendix B (normative) PIDs (Parameter ID) for Service $01 and $02 Scaling and Definition ...............................100
Appendix C (normative) TIDs (Test ID) for Service $05 Scaling and Definition .......................................................122
Appendix D (normative) OBDMIDs (On-Board Diagnostic Monitor ID) Definition for Service $06 ...........................123
Appendix E (normative) Unit and Scaling ID definition for service $06....................................................................127
Unsigned Unit and Scaling Identifiers Definition ...................................................................................127
E.1
E.2
Signed Unit and Scaling Identifiers Definition .......................................................................................144
Appendix F (normative) TIDs (Test ID) for Service $08 Scaling and Definition .......................................................152
Appendix G (normative) INFOTYPEs for Service $09 Scaling and Definition..........................................................153
1.
Scope
1.1 Purpose—This document supersedes SAE J1979 SEP1997, and is technically equivalent to ISO/DIS 15031-
5:April 30, 2002.
This  SAE  Recommended  Practice  is  intended  to  satisfy  the  data  reporting  requirements  of  On-Board
Diagnostic (OBD) regulations in the United States and Europe, and any other region that may adopt similar
requirements in the future.  This document specifies:
a. Message formats for request and response messages,
b. Timing  requirements  between  request  messages  from  external  test  equipment  and  response
messages from vehicles, and between those messages and subsequent request messages,
c. Behavior of both the vehicle and external test equipment if data is not available,
d. A set of diagnostic services, with corresponding content of request and response messages, to satisfy
OBD regulations,
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SAE J1979 Revised APR2002
This document includes capabilities required to satisfy OBD requirements for multiple regions, model years,
engine types, and vehicle types.  Those regulations are not yet final for some regions, and are expected to
change  in  the  future.    This  document  makes  no  attempt  to  interpret  the  regulations  and  does  not  include
applicability of the included diagnostic services and data parameters for various vehicle applications.  The user
of this document is responsible to verify the applicability of each section of this document for a specific vehicle,
engine, model year and region.
This document is based on the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Basic Reference Model in accordance
with ISO/IEC 7498 and ISO/IEC 10731 which structures communication systems into seven layers as shown in
the table below.
TABLE 1—APPLICABILITY AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DOCUMENTS
Applicability
OSI 7 layer
Emissions-related 
Applicability
OSI 7 layer
Emissions-related 
diagnostics
Physical (layer 1)
ISO 9141-2
ISO 14230-1
SAE J1850
Seven layer 
according to
Data link (layer 2)
ISO 9141-2
ISO 14230-2
SAE J1850
ISO/IEC 7498 
Network (layer 3)
and 
ISO/IEC 10731
Transport (layer 4)
Session (layer 5)
Presentation (layer 6)
Application (layer 7)
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
diagnostics
ISO 11898, 
ISO 15765-4
ISO 11898, 
ISO 15765-4
ISO 15765-2, 
ISO 15765-4
---
ISO 15765-4
---
SAE J1979 /
ISO 15031-5
SAE J1979 /
ISO 15031-5
SAE J1979 /
ISO 15031-5
SAE J1979 /
ISO 15031-5
1.2 Differences from ISO Document—There are no technical differences between this document and ISO/DIS
15031-5:April 30, 2002.
NOTE— Both this document and the ISO 15031-5 document are intended to satisfy the requirements of OBD
requirements  in  the  United  States  and  Europe,  and  any  other  region  that  may  adopt  similar
requirements in the future.  Those regulations change with time, and often when a requirement is
introduced in one region, it will later also become a requirement in another region.  The ISO task
force  responsible  for  ISO  15031-5  and  the  SAE  task  force  work  closely  together  to  maintain
consistency in diagnostic reporting requirements in these two documents, and to ensure usability of
these  documents  for  all  regions.    The  goal  is  to  maintain  identical  technical  content  in  the  two
documents, but this document may need to change if additional capabilities are required for the U.S.
before the ISO document can be modified to include those changes.
-5-
2.
References
SAE J1979 Revised APR2002
2.1 Applicable Publications—The following publications form a part of this specification to the extent specified
herein.  Unless otherwise indicated, the latest version of SAE publications shall apply.
2.1.1
SAE PUBLICATIO NS—Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.
SAE J1850: MAY2001—Class B Data Communications Network Interface.
SAE J1930—Electrical/Electronic Systems Diagnostic Terms, Definitions, Abbreviations, and Acronyms -
Equivalent to ISO/TR 15031-2: April 30, 2002
SAE J1978—OBD II Scan Tool - Equivalent to ISO/DIS 15031-4:December 14, 2001
SAE J2012—Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions - Equivalent to ISO/DIS 15031-6:April 30, 2002
2.1.2
ISO DO CUMENTS—Available from ANSI, 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036-8002.
ISO 9141-2: 1994—Road vehicles - Diagnostic systems - Part 2: CARB requirements for interchange of
digital information
ISO  9141-2:  1994/  Amd.1:1996—Road  vehicles  -  Diagnostic  systems  -  Part  2:  CARB  requirements  for
interchange of digital information Amendment 1
ISO 14230-4:2000—Road vehicles - Keyword protocol 2000 for diagnostic systems - Part 4: Requirements
for emissions-related systems
ISO/DIS  15031-5:  April  30,  2002—Road  vehicles  -  Communication  between  vehicle  and  external  test
equipment for emissions-related diagnostics - Part 5: Emissions related diagnostic services
ISO 15765-2—Road  vehicles  –  Diagnostics  on  Controller  Area  Network  (CAN)  –  Part  2:  Network  layer
services
ISO 15765-4—Road vehicles – Diagnostics on Controller Area Network (CAN) – Part 4: Requirements for
emissions-related systems
2.2 Related Publications—The following publications are provided for information purposes only and are not a
required part of this specification.
2.2.1
SAE PUBLICATIO N—Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.
SAE J1962—Diagnostic Connector - Equivalent to ISO/DIS 15031-3:December 14, 2001
2.2.2
ISO DO CUMENT—Available from ANSI, 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036-8002.
ISO  15031-1:2001—Road  vehicles  -  Communication  between  vehicle  and  external  test  equipment  for
emissions-related diagnostics - Part 1: General information
3.
Term(s) and Definition(s)
3.1 Absolute Throttle Position Sensor—This value is intended to represent the throttle opening.
NOTE— For  systems  where  the  output  is  proportional  to  the  input  voltage,  this  value  is  the  percent  of
maximum input signal. For systems where the output is inversely proportional to the input voltage,
this value is 100% minus the percent of maximum input signal. Throttle position at idle will usually
indicate  greater  than  0%,  and  throttle  position  at  wide  open  throttle  will  usually  indicate  less  than
100%.
-6-
SAE J1979 Revised APR2002
3.2 Bank—Specific group of cylinders sharing a common control sensor, bank 1 always contains cylinder number
1, bank 2 is the opposite bank.
NOTE— If there is only one bank, use bank #1 DTCs and the word bank may be omitted. With a single “bank”
system utilising multiple sensors, use bank #1 DTCs identifying the sensors as #1, #2, #3 in order as
they move further away from the cylinder(s).
3.3 Base Fuel Schedule—The  fuel  calibration  schedule  programmed  into  the  Powertrain  Control  Module  or
PROM  when  manufactured  or  when  updated  by  some  off-board  source,  prior  to  any  learned  on-board
correction.
3.4
Load—Typically Calculated Load Value for spark ignition engines, an indication of the current airflow divided
by peak airflow, where peak airflow is corrected for altitude, if available. 
NOTE— Peak airflow is typically represented as the maximum theoretical airflow possible (a single number)
or  is  calculated  as  a  function  of  engine  RPM.  Either  method  is  acceptable.  Mass  airflow  and
barometric pressure sensors are not required for this calculation. This definition provides a unit-less
number, and provides the service technician with an indication of the percent engine capacity that is
being used. 
For  diesel  applications,  the  calculated  load  value  shall  be  determined  by  the  ratio  of  current  measured  or
calculated output torque to maximum output torque at current engine speed.
3.5 Client—The function that is part of the tester and that makes use of the diagnostic services. A tester normally
makes use of other functions such as data base management, specific interpretation, man-machine interface.
3.6 Continuous Monitoring—Sampling at a rate no less than two samples per second.
3.7 Convention (Cvt)—The convention column is integrated in each message table and marks each parameter
included.
NOTE— The  following  conventions  are  used:  C  =  Conditional:  the  parameter  marked  “C”  in  a  request/
response  message  is  present  only  under  a  condition  specified  in  the  bottom  row  of  the  message
table. M = Mandatory: the parameter marked “M” in a request/response message table shall always
be present. U = User optional: the parameter marked “U” in a request/response message table shall
or  shall  not  be  supplied,  depending  on  dynamic  usage  by  the  manufacturer.  The  convention
recommends  a  mnemonic,  which  might  be  used  for  implementation.  In  no  case  is  the  specified
mnemonic a mandatory requirement for any implementation.
3.8 ECM—Engine Control Module
3.9 ECU—Electronic Control Unit is a generic term for any electronic control unit.
3.10 FT—Fuel Trim, feedback adjustments to the base fuel schedule. 
NOTE— Short-term fuel trim refers to dynamic or instantaneous adjustments. Long-term fuel trim refers to
much more gradual adjustments to the fuel calibration schedule than short-term trim adjustments.
These long-term adjustments compensate for vehicle differences and gradual changes that occur
over time.
-7-
3.11 Negative Numbers
SAE J1979 Revised APR2002
— signed binary - the most significant bit (MSB) of the binary number is used to indicate positive (0) /
negative (1)
— 2s complement - negative numbers are represented by complementing the binary number and then
adding 1
EXAMPLE –0.99 = 8001 hex = 1000 0000 0000 0001 binary
       
0 = 0000 hex = 0000 0000 0000 0000 binary
+0.99 = 7FFF hex = 0111 1111 1111 1111 binary
NOTE
(–0.99) + (+0.99) = 0
3.12 Number—Is expressed by this symbol “#”.
3.13 P2, P3 Timing Parameter—Both  parameters  are  application  timing  parameters  for  the  ECU(s)  and  the
external test equipment. 
3.14 PCM—Powertrain Control Module
3.15 Server—A function that is part of an electronic control unit and that provides the diagnostic services.
NOTE— This document differentiates between the Server (i.e., the function) and the electronic control unit so
that this document remains independent from the implementation.
3.16 Service—An information exchange initiated by a client (external test equipment) in order to require diagnostic
information from a server (ECU) or/and to modify its behaviour for diagnostic purpose. 
NOTE— This is also the equivalent of test mode or mode.
3.17 SI— Abbreviation for International System of Units.
3.18 TCM—Transmission Control Module
4.
Technical Requirements
4.1 Diagnostic Service, General Requirements—The  requirements  specified  in  this  section  are  necessary  to
ensure  proper  operation  of  both  the  external  test  equipment  and  the  vehicle  during  diagnostic  procedures.
External  test  equipment,  when  using  messages  specified,  shall  not  affect  normal  operation  of  the  emission
control system.
4.1.1 MULTIPLE RESPONSES TO A SINGLE DATA REQUEST—The request messages are functional messages, which
means the external test equipment will request data without knowledge of which ECU(s) on the vehicle will
respond.  In  some  vehicles,  multiple  ECUs  may  respond  with  the  information  requested.  Any  external  test
equipment requesting information shall, therefore, have provisions for receiving multiple responses.
4.1.2
APPLICATIO N TIMING P ARAMETER DEFINITION—The  definition  of  P2  and  P3  is  included  in  this  section.  A
subscript is added to each timing parameter to identify the protocol:
— P2K-Line, P3K-Line: P2, P3 for ISO 9141-2 and ISO 14230-4 protocols
— P2J1850: P2 for SAE J1850 protocol
— P2CAN: P2 for ISO 15765-4 protocol
-8-