J1939-73 DBC file (DM1, DM2, ...)

J1939-73 DBC File - Heavy Duty Diagnostics (DM1, DM2, ...)

The SAE J1939-73 DBC file contains decoding rules for converting 'version 4' J1939 diagnostic messages (DM1, DM2, ...) to 'physical values'. This lets you identify issues in e.g. trucks, tractors and buses.

DBC is a CAN database format used in most automotive tools - incl. our CAN software/APIs.

The download includes a legal J1939-73 DBC and license, based on the J1939-73 PDF standard (also included). We offer this in collaboration with SAE. For company-wide quotes, contact us.

Tip: Contact us for a free 'sample conversion' of a CANedge log file.

Tip: You can combine this with our J1939 DBC.

Buy now - or learn more below!

Regular price
350 EUR
Unit price
per 
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 i  To get a PDF quotation, you can go through the normal purchase process via our webshop.

Under 'Payment Method', you can select 'Request PDF quotation'. Once you submit your request, we will send the PDF quotation in <30 minutes.

If you prefer, you can of course also contact us.




Decode Data From Heavy Duty Truck DECODE DTCs

Convert J1939 diagnostic messages via software/API tools

The Database Includes PGN and SPN Information 50+ DM

The DBC contains 50+ DM messages split into signals

You can review the DBC PGN list via our converter DEMO OFFER

Send us a CANedge log file for a free sample decoding

The DBC is crowd-tested for precise decoding rules CROWD INPUT

Benefit from free corrections based on large user base

You save time vs. creating your own database SAVE HOURS

Avoid manually constructing the DBC file from scratch

The DBC file includes the SAE Digital Annex LEGAL LICENSE

Includes J1939-73 PDF + license (price: 167$)



J1939-73 Grafana-Athena Dashboard Diagnostics




What is a DBC file?

A DBC file is a standardized method for storing the "rules" on how to interpret raw CAN bus data. In particular, it contains details on what 'signals' (e.g. RPM, Vehicle Speed, …) are contained within which 'messages' (i.e. CAN IDs).

In the J1939 standard, messages are referred to as Parameter Group Numbers (PGN) and signals as Suspect Parameter Numbers (SPN).

Further, a DBC file includes names, descriptions, positions and lengths of the signals - as well as how to offset and scale them.

This DBC file download includes:

  • A J1939-73 DBC file with details for DM1, DM2, ..., DM52
  • The J1939-73 standard PDF
  • One legal license (1 user, 1 PC) matching the J1939-73 license (stand-alone price: 167$)

CSS Electronics acts as a re-seller for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for the J1939 database file. Terms include the SAE terms related to purchase.

Decode diagnostic trouble codes across heavy duty vehicles

When is the database useful?

The J1939 protocol is used across most heavy-duty vehicles, including commercial trucks, tractors, transit buses etc. Because the protocol is standardized, you can use our J1939 DBC file to decode data across the majority of heavy-duty vehicle brands/models.

The J1939-73 DBC file complements our J1939 DBC by adding decoding information on the J1939 diagnostic messages, also known as DM1, DM2 etc. These messages contain critical information on potential issues in a heavy-duty vehicle through warning lamp statuses and Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). The latter contain information on which part of the vehicle has issues (through an SPN identifier) and e.g. what type of failure is present (though a failure mode identifier).

For basics on J1939 data logging, see our J1939 telematics intro.


If you are just looking to analyze data from heavy duty vehicles through signals like speed, RPM, temperatures etc then the J1939 DBC will suffice. However, if you also need to diagnose issues in the vehicle, the J1939-73 DBC offers a convnient tool in decoding relevant diagnostic information. Tools like our MF4 decoders support loading of both DBC files in parallel.


If you're using our CANedge, we can offer to decode a sample log file with the DBC before you decide whether to purchase the J1939-73 DBC file (this sample conversion is 100% free). This way you can see exactly what data parameters you can extract from a specific vehicle (or multiple vehicles) before deciding. Simply contact us with your data samples.


To decode J1939-73 data, you'll need a softare tool that supports J1939 diagnostics (like e.g. Vector tools) or a tool that at least supports J1939 TP (transport protocol) as the data relevant to J1939-73 is often communicated across multiple frames. If you are e.g. using our CANedge CAN bus data loggers, you can leverage our MF4 decoders to handle the decoding of your J1939 data via the J1939-73 DBC file. This also means that you can e.g. visualize the decoded signals in dashboard tools like Grafana - see our dashboard playground as an example of this.


Check out the tech specs and FAQ above - or buy now!

Do you have any questions?

Contact us

GENERAL
Standard(s) J1939-73 (2022-08) - PDF is included in download
#Messages 50+
#SPNS 2000+
Multipacket Multipacket syntax is used for the multipacket PGNs included in the DBC
Descriptions Partial message/SPN descriptions included in DBC (full included in PDF)
Value tables Some value tables are included
Network nodes Not included
DTC methodology DTCs are split into SPN, SPN_High, Failure Mode Identifier, Occurrence Count, Conversion Method
Version The DBC only supports the 1996 February Version 4 encoding of DTCs (CM = 0)
  15+ DTCs for each relevant DM (actual number depends on number of active DTCs in vehicle)



The J1939-73 standard specifies how to decode diagnostic messages like DM1, DM2 etc. - however, constructing a DBC file based on this can be cumbersome and time-consuming. By using our J1939-73 DBC file you'll save significant time and complexity vs. constructing your own from scratch.

The J1939-73 DBC information serves as a powerful enhancement on top of your basic J1939 DBC data (speed, RPM, ...) by providing information on active/past issues in a vehicle - letting you quickly pinpoint problems. This information can be visualized in dashboards like our J1939-73 Grafana playground example.


Different software tools handle J1939-73 diagnostic messages differently. Some tools expect the Diagnostic Trouble Codes to be packed as complete signals of 32 bit each, performing the unpacking within the software. This works well if your software has existing handling for J1939-73. If that is not the case, you will most likely prefer to split out each DTC into sub components: SPN, Failure Mode Identifier (FMI), Occurrence Count (OCC) and Conversion Method (CM). This enables you to perform a tool agnostic analysis of your decoded data, hence why this split version is our default methodology.

We do, however, also offer a version that includes each DTC as a combined signal - you can request this version if you buy the J1939-73 DBC file.


To decode the J1939-73 data, you'll need a software/API tool that can handle multiframe decoding (J1939 TP). If you're using our CANedge, you can process the data via our MF4 decoders to extract signals. For example, the DM1 message may contain a large number of Diagnostic Trouble Codes across multiple frames. Our decoders let you re-assemble these frames and extract data for each DTC separately.

Note that you cannot e.g. use this DBC file in tools like the asammdf GUI, since it does not (yet) support J1939 TP multiframe decoding. Similarly, other CAN software may treat J1939 ISO TP differently, which may require tweaks to the DBC. For such cases, you are welcome to reach out to us for sparring and support in adapting the DBC for your requirements.


A DTC consists of multile signals, including in particular the SPN. The SPN is useful in identifying the root cause of the DTC - i.e. what part of the vehicle is causing the problem. In some cases, the SPN will be a standardized J1939 SPN - while in other cases it will be proprietary.

If you order our J1939 DBC file (based off the J1939 Digital Annex), it will provide you with a lookup table that you can use to map standardized SPNs to their names and descriptions. This can in turn be used to create e.g. value mappings in tools like Grafana dashboards (as per our playground).

Note that when interpreting DTCs from e.g. a DM1 message, you'll need to construct the 'final' SPN by taking the sum of the SPN signal and the SPN_High signal. This is due to the nature of how the signal encoding is constructed in J1939-73 vs. what is possible to construct in DBC files. In our dashboard playground example, we achieve this via a 'custom signal' using Python - but you could also do this directly via the SQL query.


We'll inform you if there is an update to a DBC file revision that you've purchased within the same J1939-73 standard revision. For example, if you've bought a DBC file corresponding to the SAE J1939-73 2022-08 release, you'll be able to get updates for this version.

However, the legal license for the underlying SAE J1939 details is linked to each publication. As such, you would need to make a separate purchase if you want to get updated to a more recent publication.


No, the J1939-73 DBC file solely contains diagnostic message information, letting you extract and decode DTC details from heavy-duty vehicles. For decoding the basic J1939 data like speed, RPM, temperatures etc, see instead our J1939 DBC file.


We are very open to requests for additions - if you're looking for specific aspects of the J1939 standard to be added, let us know and we'll get back to you asap. For any further questions, please contact us - we always aim to get back in < 24 hours.


Should you identify any issues, please contact us and we'll review and resolve them.