Mastering Geotab
★ Geotab Harnesses · OBD-II Harnesses
The HRN-GS16K22-A is Geotab's universal 16-pin OBD-II T-harness kit for GO devices, packed with 12 mounting adapters for light, medium and heavy vehicles. On every 24 V vehicle and on 12 V Volvo or Mack engines it must be paired with HRN-CG13S1-A.
The HRN-GS16K22-A is a universal 16-pin OBD-II T-harness kit for Geotab GO devices, made up of the HRN-BM16T22 T-harness and 12 mounting adapters. Geotab describes it as covering light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and fitting most models worldwide. One kit, one part number, most vehicles: that was the appeal.
It has a history that explains how the catalog looks today. Geotab's harness guide says this kit took over from five earlier OBD-II T-harnesses, the HRN-BE16T2, HRN-BF16T2, HRN-BG16T2, HRN-BS16T2 and HRN-BT16T2, and the identification document lists it as replacing the HRN-GS16K2. More recently, Geotab split the job into separate light-duty and heavy-duty kits, the HRN-GS16K2-LD and HRN-GS16K2-HD, which both name the GS16K22-A as the part they replace.
The kit serves GO devices that use the standard 16-pin GO connection, the generation before the GO10. It plugs into a 16-pin OBD-II port and measures 63 cm (24.8 in). Geotab lists light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles as in scope.
There is one firm condition. Geotab requires the HRN-CG13S1-A heavy-duty adapter with this harness on all 24 V vehicles and on 12 V vehicles with Volvo or Mack engines, because of a known interoperability issue. Geotab's harness guide also notes that for North American heavy trucks, a vehicle-specific harness should be used where Geotab or the truck maker offers one. Geotab produces the kit in region-specific versions and states there is no functional difference between them.
Two familiar headaches drive its use: a port so close to the driver's legs that a plugged-in unit becomes an obstacle, and a port recessed so deep in its housing that a device cannot seat properly. Mounting the harness core in the factory location and moving the device to its own lead fixes both, while the pass-through port stays available for diagnostics.
For fleets still running earlier GO hardware, it is also the part many existing vehicles already wear. When we service or move a unit on one of those vehicles, knowing whether a GS16K22-A is behind the dash, and whether that vehicle is 24 V or Volvo or Mack powered, tells us immediately whether the HRN-CG13S1-A should be in the chain.
Geotab publishes a dedicated installation guide and video for this kit. The general flow we follow:
Geotab's ceiling for the complete harness chain is 2 m (6.5 ft). At 63 cm, this kit leaves room for a straight extension where Geotab's guide allows one, but never for a second T-harness, because two T-harnesses together can corrupt data and cause ECU problems.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Part number | HRN-GS16K22-A (listed with HRN-GS16K22) |
| Kit contents | HRN-BM16T22 T-harness, 12 mounting adapters |
| Connector | 16-pin OBD-II |
| Length | 63 cm (24.8 in) |
| Vehicle range | Light, medium and heavy duty; most models globally |
| Requires | HRN-CG13S1-A on all 24 V vehicles and 12 V Volvo / Mack engine vehicles |
| Replaces | HRN-GS16K2 (and earlier HRN-BE16T2, BF16T2, BG16T2, BS16T2, BT16T2) |
| Succeeded by | HRN-GS16K2-LD and HRN-GS16K2-HD, which list it as replaced |
Skipping the HRN-CG13S1-A on a 24 V truck or a Volvo or Mack engine is the classic mistake with this kit, so we check voltage and engine make before the dash comes apart. Geotab's support document for the kit also flags that a growing number of vehicles use Ethernet diagnostic networks (DoIP), so newer vehicles get checked against Geotab's DoIP guidance before we commit to this kit. And remember the length budget includes the adapter when it is used.
Geotab reports a known interoperability issue on 24 V vehicles and on 12 V vehicles with Volvo or Mack engines, so it requires the HRN-CG13S1-A heavy-duty adapter with this kit in those cases.
Geotab lists the two part numbers together and notes the kit is made in region-specific versions with no functional difference between them.
It is built for earlier GO devices. The GO10 uses a different connector, so light-duty GO10 installs use the HRN-XGS16K2-LD and heavy-duty ones use the HRN-XGS16K2-HD.
Whether your vehicles already carry this kit or need a current replacement, API Signal supplies the right Geotab harness and device and fits it on site in your yard. Phone 803-513-1009 to talk through the fleet, or send details using Get a Quote.
Sources: Geotab Harness Identification page, Geotab ultimate guide to telematics harnesses, Geotab HRN-GS16K22 installation instructions. GEOTAB is a registered trademark of Geotab Inc. API Signal is an independent installer and is not Geotab.
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