MechanicDB maps 15,886 verified OBD-II trouble codes — 9,249 SAE-standard plus 6,637 manufacturer-specific across 32 makes — to 56,561 ranked repair procedures — each with a DIY difficulty rating, parts-cost range, and labor estimate. Built for OBD apps, scan-tool firmware, AI mechanic co-pilots, and shop software.
Normalized for databases, pre-joined for notebooks. Every code carries 3–5 fixes ranked by real-world likelihood; every fix maps to purchasable aftermarket parts.
The code registry: definition, system category, OEM flag/make, fault family, and a code-specific technical explanation.
Ranked repair procedures with difficulty tier, parts-cost range, labor hours, and step-by-step instructions.
Aftermarket part names per fix, with catalog search URLs derived from the part name.
The pre-joined analytical view — codes × fixes in one flat file for instant ingestion.
join chain: dtc_codes.code_id → diagnostic_fixes.code_id → replacement_parts.fix_id
| Coverage | 9,249 SAE-standard codes — P0, P2, P34–P39, C0, B0, U0, U3 generic ranges. Powertrain, chassis, body, and network, including hybrid/EV (P0Axx–P0Exx) and diesel aftertreatment. |
|---|---|
| OEM coverage | 6,637 manufacturer-specific codes across 32 makes — P1, P30–P33, C1/C2, B1/B2, U1/U2 manufacturer-controlled ranges (Ford, Toyota, BMW, GM, and 28 more). 15,886 codes total. |
| Repair intelligence | 647 authored fault families → 56,561 ranked fixes → 75,055 parts mappings. Difficulty tiers: Easy DIY / Moderate DIY / Professional Required. |
| Delivery formats | Pipe-delimited CSV (UTF-8 BOM, Excel-safe) · Apache Parquet, Snappy — a measured 92.0% smaller · SQLite database, all four tables. |
| Quality gates | Deterministic, test-gated build: referential integrity, anti-template uniqueness checks, and a no-fabricated-codes gate — every published code traces to the committed source. |
| Safety framing | High-voltage procedures lead with lockout / zero-volt verification; SRS work requires battery disconnect and capacitor discharge wait. Hazardous steps are never rated DIY. |
| Provenance | Code definitions compiled from public SAE J2012-derived sources (MIT-licensed, attribution preserved). Procedures, difficulty ratings, and costs are original authored content. |
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Every code follows the 5-character SAE J2012 format where character 1 designates the system (P=Powertrain, C=Chassis, B=Body, U=Network), character 2 specifies SAE standard ('0') vs manufacturer-defined ('1'), character 3 designates the subsystem, and characters 4-5 represent the specific fault index.
Procedures involving high-voltage hybrid/EV traction networks (>60V), supplemental restraint systems (airbags/pyrotechnic pretensioners), or internal engine/transmission overhauls are strictly classified as 'Professional Required' with mandatory lockout and zero-volt verification steps.
While the 90-code sample is available under ODbL v1.0, the complete 15,886-code and 56,561-fix dataset is available under an unrestricted commercial license delivered as flat pipe-delimited CSVs, Apache Parquet tables, and a relational SQLite database.
Our OEM Complete tier maps 6,637 manufacturer-controlled trouble codes across 32 major vehicle makes including Ford, GM, Toyota, BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.
Code-to-definition mappings originate in SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 and are compiled from an MIT-licensed public compilation, with the upstream license committed alongside the data. The value layer — fault-family explanations, ranked procedures, difficulty tiers, and cost ranges — is original editorial content grounded in standard diagnostic practice. Cost and labor figures are estimates for typical US aftermarket parts and independent-shop labor, not quotes.