Connecting via Internal CAN

In order to work with various components within the Mercedes-Benz vehicle range you will sometimes need access to the internal CAN and LIN network of the vehicles.

In the cases of the ELV units you need direct connection in order to bring the unit to a virgin state. Everything else is done via OBD.

We can recommend the usage of the following cable when connecting to the internal CAN network. The cable itself uses a DB25 connection and connects directly to the AVDI’s DB 25 port.

On the DB 25 connector you need to follow this principal

PINs 5 and 6 – Ground
Pin 7 – CAN H
PIN 15 – CAN L

This is the connection that is required.

A good rule of thumb in the Mercedes-Benz vehicles is that in most cases the different CANs have similar colouring. For example with CAN C – usually the green wire is the LOW can and the green with white is the HIGH.

With CAN B – LOW is normally brown and HIGH is normally brown with red.

N.B. Whenever you are connecting modules on a bench you need to be mindful of the resistors described below and where to place them. Always make sure to work with a constant power supply of at least 12V and ALWAYS put your safety first. Make sure that the correct pinouts are used and that the exact connection is followed.

Here are some common pinouts for various modules:

EDC15C6

Т1-7,8 -> B+
T1-5 -> GND
T2-11 -> CAN-H
T2-12 -> CAN-L
T3-28 -> K-line

W117/W176/ W246 Double Clutch gearbox TCM

EIS/ EZS connection pinouts for bench connection.

Only work outside the car when there is no other way. The margin for error is too high and the Abrites team cannot guarantee that the software will work correctly if you have different wiring. We always prefer to work in the car.

W210 / W208 / W202. For these cars there are three separate connectors on the back side of the EIS/ EZS – A, B and C:

Connector A

pin 1: CAN H
pin 2: CAN L

Connector B

pin 3: GND
pin 4: ESL 1
pin 5: ESL 2
pin 7: +12V
pin 14: K-Line

Connector C

pin 2: +12V
pin 4: +12V
pin 5: ELV B+
pin 6: +12V

W203 / VITO W639. These cars have 4 connectors but the ones you need are the two in the middle:

Connector A

pin 7: ESL 2
pin 9: +12V
pin 10: ESL 1

Connector B

pin 2: GND
pin 3: +12V
pin 4: K-Line
pin 5: CAN L
pin 6: CAN H
pin 7: CAN L
pin 8: CAN H

W220 / W215. Here the connectors are two A and B:

Connector A

pin 1: +12V
pin 3: +12V

Connector B

pin 1: +12V
pin 2: K-Line
pin 3: CAN L
pin 4: CAN H
pin 5: GND
pin 7: CAN H
pin 8: CAN L

W211 / W219 / W209. Three connectors, when they are at the bottom – the middle one is C, the one to the right is A and the one to the left is B. You need C and B