A passthrough device is used in conjunction with a computer to reprogram vehicle control modules through the

OBD-II On-board diagnostics (OBD) is a term referring to a vehicle's self-diagnostic and reporting capability. OBD systems give the vehicle owner or repair technician access to the status of the various vehicle sub-systems. The amount of diagnostic inf ...

CANbus A Controller Area Network (CAN bus) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other's applications without a host computer. It is a message-based protocol, designed originally for m ...

port. Each manufacturer has their own type, but

SAE International SAE International, formerly named the Society of Automotive Engineers, is a United States-based, globally active professional association and standards developing organization for engineering professionals in various industries. SAE Internatio ...

standardized the J-2534 universal requirements in 2004, requiring all manufacturers to allow vehicles sold in the United States of America and Europe to accept powertrain reprogramming through specific universal parameters.

References

Automotive electronics {{automotive-tech-stub