Molded-to-Open-Wire
The general-purpose build. Terminated pins, overmolded body, flying leads.
- Customer crimps or splices downstream
- Strain relief at the exit
- IP67 optional
OBD Diagnostic Pigtails
Custom OBD Pigtail Cables — Built to Your Pinout
16-pin J1962 connectors terminated to open wires. Overmolded to IP67 or assembled to your drawing, with DFM feedback and 2D drawings back within 12 hours.
01 / CONFIGURATION
Four configurations, one tooling base
Most custom pigtail enquiries fall into one of these four builds. Pick the shape closest to your harness and we will quote against it.
Right-Angle Pigtail
For behind-dash installs where a straight exit fouls the structure.
- 90° exit, left or right
- Reduced bend radius at root
- Same pinout as straight
Splitter Pigtail
Power and signal tapped from one connector into two legs.
- Split defined by pin group
- Independent leg lengths
- Shared overmold body
Extension Pigtail
Male-to-female run when the factory harness will not reach.
- Mating pair, keyed
- Length to order
- Overmolded both ends
02 / PINOUT REFERENCE
J1962 16-pin assignment
Quick reference for pin confirmation. The full electrical definition and bus protocol detail sit in our connector article.
| Pin | Function | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturer discretion | Reserved — leave empty unless the OEM spec names it |
| 2 | SAE J1850 Bus+ | Legacy PWM / VPW data |
| 3 | Manufacturer discretion | Reserved — repurposed as an Ethernet pair on DoIP vehicles |
| 4 | Chassis ground | Body return — never merge with pin 5 |
| 5 | Signal ground | Logic reference — keep a separate return |
| 6 | CAN High | ISO 15765-4 differential + |
| 7 | ISO 9141-2 / KWP2000 K-line | Single-wire serial |
| 8 | Manufacturer discretion | Reserved — OEM anti-theft and auxiliary circuits |
| 9 | Manufacturer discretion | Reserved — OEM anti-theft and auxiliary circuits |
| 10 | SAE J1850 Bus− | Legacy PWM data − |
| 11 | Manufacturer discretion | Reserved — repurposed as an Ethernet pair on DoIP vehicles |
| 12 | Manufacturer discretion | Reserved — repurposed as an Ethernet pair on DoIP vehicles |
| 13 | Manufacturer discretion | Reserved — repurposed as an Ethernet pair on DoIP vehicles |
| 14 | CAN Low | ISO 15765-4 differential − |
| 15 | ISO 9141-2 / KWP2000 L-line | Handshake return — often omitted |
| 16 | Battery positive | Unswitched +12V (Type A) / +24V (Type B) |
Table content is injected from the OBD-II connector article at build time — one source of truth, no divergence between pages.
03 / ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL
Wire and termination options
Values below are set per project against your load and environment. Confirm the ranges with us before specifying.
| Parameter | Option |
|---|---|
| Pin Count | 16 (J1962 standard) · partial population on request |
| Wire Gauge | AWG 24–20 (signal) · AWG 18–16 (power / ground) |
| Rated Current | 3–5 A per pin, dependent on wire gauge |
| Operating Temperature | −40 °C to +85 °C standard · up to +105 °C with high-temp compound |
| Length | Built to order |
| Termination | Open wire · tinned · crimped terminal |
04 / OVERMOLDING
Two-stage molding for IP67
Water ingress at the wire exit is where cheap pigtails fail. We mold in two stages to stop it at the root.
Inner mold first
A inner mold locks the pins in position before the outer shell goes on, so nothing shifts under injection pressure.
Outer mold, seamless
High-density PVC or TPU overmolded as one continuous body — no seam line at the wire exit for water to track along.
IP67 rated
Dust tight and protected against short immersion. Rated for automotive-grade environments when specified with the right compound.
Related: overmolded cable assembly guide · IP67 waterproof cable product
05 / PROCESS
From drawing to delivery
01
Send the spec
Pinout, wire gauge, length, exit direction, molding requirement.
02
DFM in 12 hours
We return manufacturability feedback and a 2D drawing within 12 hours.
03
Sample & FAI
7–10 working days for samples. First article inspection on request.
04
Pilot run
Small batch to validate fit before committing to volume.
05
Production
100% inspection, scheduled delivery.
06 / CAPABILITY
What you can verify, not what we claim
Tooling belongs to your project
Molds are held against the customer program. We do not share a generic mold across accounts to save cost.
Machining through assembly, in house
Machining, molding, stamping, assembly and inspection run on our own lines.
100% inspection
Every unit is inspected, not sampled from a batch.
First article at your site
You are welcome to witness first article inspection at our facility.
07 / MOQ & LEAD TIME
Low barrier to start, volume pricing after
Sampling is deliberately cheap so you can validate the build before committing.
Sample MOQ
2 pcs
Two units so you can keep one intact for reference and test the other to failure.
Sample Lead Time
7–10 days
Working days, covering wire prep, terminal crimping and molding.
Production MOQ
500 pcs
No restriction on length or pin count within the build.
Production Lead Time
On order
Confirmed per order against current capacity. We do not publish a fixed figure.
08 / FAQ
Questions we get before the first order
Can you build to my pinout instead of the standard J1962?
Yes. The standard assignment is a reference — we build to the pinout on your drawing, including partial population and non-standard assignments.
What wire gauge and length options do you offer?
Gauge and length are set per project against your current load and routing. Send the spec and we will confirm feasibility in the DFM response.
Do you provide 3D models?
2D drawings are available for download. 3D data is released only for qualified production programs, subject to review.
What is your sample lead time?
7–10 working days from drawing approval, covering wire preparation, crimping and molding.
Can the pigtail be overmolded to IP67?
Yes. We use a two-stage process — an inner mold to lock the pins, then a seamless outer mold in high-density PVC or TPU.
How do you handle pinout errors found after tooling?
We review the drawing with you at DFM stage precisely to avoid this. If an error originates in our build, it is corrected at our cost.
Send us the pigtail you need built
A drawing, a photo of the connector, or just the pinout and length. We will come back with DFM feedback and a 2D drawing within 12 hours.