Where is obd port in car?

OBD port connector is within 3 feet (91cm) of the steering wheel.

The port can be black or white.  This is an example of what it looks like:

Normally, this port is located just under the dashboard above the gas or brake pedal.  It can normally be located by simply looking under the dashboard or running your hand along the bottom edge of the dashboard until you "bump" into the connector.

Here are some examples of where your port may be located:

There are other instances where the connector is behind a cover panel to make its appearance more appealing.  In these cases it's necessary to open that panel to gain access to the OBDII port.

Here are some examples of it behind a cover:

The OBD-II port is usually located under the dashboard, beneath the steering wheel column (1 - 3 in the diagram below). If not located beneath the steering column, look for the port in the areas indicated by numbers 4 - 9.

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions by business owners and individuals alike who are interested in learning more about OBD ports and how to use them.

OBD came on the scene in the 1960s as a version of an onboard vehicle computer and stands for “on-board diagnostics,” which refers to a vehicle’s self-diagnostic reporting capabilities. The actual port that relays this information from various vehicle subsystems is called the OBD port.

The OBD system monitors the vehicles’ critical systems and warns you when things start to go wrong. Basically it is a system on vehicles that self-monitors and informs you when things go wrong. A common example of this that many vehicle owners have experienced is the ‘check engine light’. Most of this data is only displayed and useful to mechanics or those that import the data from the OBD II system.

An OBD code reader, OBD scanner, and OBD adapter are all essentially the same thing. They are used to read the diagnostic trouble codes that are relayed from the OBD port itself.

These readers and adaptors plug directly into the port. Within the plug, are various individual pins that extract the information. Some have more robust capabilities, like an LED screen to give updates, while others relay these updates to a phone or computer.

All gasoline powered passenger cars and trucks built after 1996 have OBD II ports. Diesel passenger cars and trucks built after 1997 have OBD II ports. Some gasoline powered vehicles from 1994 and 1995 have OBD II ports but it’s rare.

Heavy duty trucks generally don’t have OBD II ports, but have 9 pin or 6 pin connector ports.  Some heavy duty trucks do have OBD II ports but it’s unusual.

OBD I was invented in the 1960’s though wasn’t mandated until much later. The state of California’s Air Resource Board, mandated the need for OBD I in 1988 to monitor emissions from vehicles for the purposes of improving air quality. OBD I had significant shortcomings and was not effective towards realizing this goal of being able to measure vehicle emissions.

OBD II was mandated in 1996 for all passenger cars and trucks. OBD II has been extremely successful for allowing service providers to maintain vehicle issues that might significantly create emissions issues.

OBD III is a concept to further minimize the delay between an engine issue and a vehicle being serviced. The delay would be minimized by the OBD III device remotely transmitting the OBD II data to monitoring devices. There is no known timeline for OBD III to be released.

OBD ports are used to pull an array of different vehicular information. In terms of diagnostics, they can monitor:

Businesses may use an OBD port for other reasons, like pulling tracking and location information, ignition and fuel status, and speed. For these purposes, they are particularly useful paired with a GPS device that plugs into the port.

An OBD port is typically located beneath the steering wheel of your car, or somewhere on the dashboard. It can also be beneath the passenger-side glove compartment or center console.

Its location may vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle, so be sure to consult your owner’s manual or contact your dealership or local automotive technician if you have trouble locating it.

Pulling and reading non-diagnostic live data from your OBD port is quite simple. If you are using the OBD port with an adapter, code reader, or scanner, there is usually an app or software paired with the device that relays the information after it’s plugged in. There are variety of low-priced OBD II readers available on Amazon and other retailers.

GPS trackers that plug into an OBD port can be useful for several reasons.

One, they are very easily installed. If you need a GPS tracker to track a vehicle, you can simply purchase an OBD GPS tracker and plug it into your OBD port. With that simple installation, you can remotely know where your vehicle is and was at all times. You can also know if it’s speeding or braking harshly.

With a telematics device, you can get a far more in-depth view of your vehicle, from understanding the fuel usage to knowing when critical systems are malfunctioning. By acting early to fix these issues, you can prolong the life of your vehicle greatly.

If you’re new to the DIY world of auto repair, diagnosing a check engine light might seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, the FIXD scanner and smartphone app makes easy work of vehicle diagnostics and repair using the factory OBD2 port. Whether you’re a professional mechanic or a DIYer, the OBD2 connector is critical in performing diagnostics, and here’s how to find it.

Your car’s OBD2 system is a lot like a home computer. The computer itself can perform many tasks, but you need a screen to be able to see what the computer is doing. An OBD2 scanner like FIXD is that display. The OBD2 port is a trapezoid-shaped connector that is universal across all makes and models allowing any code reader to be used in any OBD2-equipped vehicle, which is 1996-newer gasoline-powered passenger vehicles and 2008-newer diesel vehicles.

Knowing how to properly use the OBD2 system allows you to do various tasks ranging from simply resetting the check engine light to performing in-depth diagnostics using the live data from your vehicle’s computers.

Knowing where to plug in your car code reader is the first step in getting your check engine light diagnosed. While the location of the OBD2 port can vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle, these connectors are always found inside the car.

The most common place to find your car’s OBD2 port is under the dashboard on the driver’s side.

Most vehicles have the connector under the instrument panel (aka, the dashboard) on the driver’s side, but some can be found near the center console area or even on the passenger’s side of the car. Additionally, some OBD2 ports are exposed and easily found, while others are hidden behind a cover. Keep in mind that since the connector is under the dash, you will likely need to be outside the vehicle to get low enough to find it and connect your scan tool.

If you’re still unable to locate your OBD2 port, consult your owner’s manual or enter your vehicle information into our OBD2 port locator.

Regardless of the make and model, all gasoline-powered passenger vehicles produced since 1996 (and diesel trucks produced since 2008) come equipped with an onboard diagnostics system (OBD2). Connected to this system is the OBD2 port, which allows you to “speak car” and understand what’s going on with your vehicle when there’s a check engine light.

This connector is universal, and it provides the power, ground, and communication capability for scan tools such as the FIXD sensor. This design means that all you have to do is plug the scan tool into the OBD2 connector, and it will power up and be able to read any diagnostic trouble codes that are detected.

For any scan tool to operate, the vehicle ignition must be turned on, and for proper diagnostics, the engine must be running. If the OBD2 port still isn’t working with the ignition on, chances are you either have a faulty scan tool or damaged connector and/or wiring.

There is a wide variety of affordable OBD2 readers and scan tools on the market. At the very least, these scan tools have to be able to read and clear any diagnostic trouble codes that have been triggered by the car’s computer, but the best OBD2 readers should be a true multi-purpose tool allowing for in-depth diagnostic capability.

For everyday drivers to car enthusiasts, FIXD is a great fit and a versatile scan tool that does more than just read and reset the check engine light. Check out our top 10 best OBD2 scanners for more on how to pick the right OBD2 reader for your needs.

DIY diagnostics and repairs of a check engine light or other driveability concerns start with the OBD2 port, so it’s important to know where to find this connector and how to use it.

Whether you want to have more control over your car to save money on repairs or to customize features and make it more unique, you have made it to the right place!

Sit back, relax, and don’t worry if you are not sure what an OBD port is or how it works. Today we will help you become an OBD expert. By the end of this article, you will know the best way to gain control of your car!

Like having your own mechanic!

Let’s start with the main term that will help you understand it all! The initials “OBD” stand for “on-board diagnostics”. The OBD systems give car owners and/or mechanics access to the status of the many sub-systems a modern vehicle has.

Moreover, an OBD reader (also called an adapter or scanner) is a pocket-sized electronic device. It allows you access to this data, helping you see a car’s overall health status.

Additionally, an OBD reader also helps you detect faults earlier than your car would. It also makes it possible for you to carry out your own maintenance for your car. Thus, these features can help you save money by detecting errors early and avoiding unexpected expenses at the mechanic’s workshop!

The best part about all of this, its that you can access the data and carry out these diagnostics all by yourself in no time! Basically, you just plug the Carly OBD reader into your car, open the Carly app on your phone, and start just with a couple of taps from your phone!

For some car models, an OBD reader (technically, an OBD2 reader, as that is the latest standard) even allows you to code cool features to personalize your car.

In order to access this information and features, you only need to purchase the Carly OBD Adapter and download the Carly app.

The Carly app is the software that lets you access all the information that the OBD reader collects from your car. With the app, you can easily view your car’s information and makes changes to the software (aka coding) via your phone.

Now that you know what an OBD reader is, let’s get into detail and find out how it works!

With the previous generation of OBD adapters, the only way for connecting them to your phone was through a long cable. However, with the introduction of OBD2, you have access to more standardized error codes. Additionally, you can also connect the adapter to your phone via Bluetooth or WLAN, without the need for cables.

At Carly, you can find the “Carly Universal Adapter” which is an OBD2 reader and can be used for almost all car brands in the world!

Now that you know what an OBD reader is, we can move to the OBD port! An OBD port is simply a space that is uniquely designed for connecting the OBD reader to it.

When you take your car to the mechanics, this is the outlet where they plug in the OBD equipment. Nevertheless, their equipment usually consists of a long cable and a computer that lets them access your car’s information. Once they connect their equipment to the OBD port, they can diagnose your car and find out what parts need to be repaired, for instance.

However, with the Carly OBD and app, you no longer need to visit a mechanic or use all this complicated equipment to access your car’s data. Now, you can easily diagnose your car through your phone and a lightweight OBD adapter that you can carry in your glovebox everywhere!

Nowadays, cars have up to 80 built-in ECUs in their system. An ECU stands for “electronic control unit”. These units are embedded in the car and they control one or more electrical systems of a vehicle.

For example, there is a specific ECU in your car that controls the fuel system. With an OBD reader, you are able to access this ECU to get data about your fuel system!

The embedded software in these ECU makes cars more sophisticated, not just in their functions but also in how much data they provide!

You can find an OBD2 port in all gas vehicles manufactured since 2001 in the European Union, and in all vehicles from 1996 onwards in the USA. Therefore, if you own a car manufactured in recent years, it will be equipped with an OBD2 port!

If your car was built after 2001, the answer is probably yes! However, if you own a BMW manufactured prior to 2001, we got you covered too! The Carly Universal Adapter is compatible with:

If you are not sure about your car’s manufacturing date, you can find this information in your vehicle’s registration documents. You can also check if your car brand and model are supported by the Carly OBD2 reader!

In case that you have a BMW car manufactured between 1996 and 2000, you will also need a 20-pin adapter extension to use the Carly Universal Adapter! However, don’t worry about this additional extension. You can easily find it for affordable prices on eBay or Amazon, for instance.

When looking into purchasing Carly, you might find the Carly adapter for resale on eCommerce sites. However, we highly advise you only buy adapters via our website and avoid buying Carly on eBay or other sites. This is because the Carly adapters sold by external sites or people, are resold for higher prices and do not include a product warranty or our return policy.

Carly Tip: If your requested model is not listed, choose another model of your car brand with the same build year.

Like having your own mechanic!

The OBD2 port location can vary depending on your car model. However, it is usually found within reach of the driver, underneath the steering wheel. Scroll down to see where the OBD2 port is located in your car!  Additionally, you can also check the location of the OBD2 port in your car’s manual.

Let’s start with the first category!

There are 4 main data categories that the Carly OBD scanner can give you access to. Each category has many functions available for your car. However, before we dive in and explain these powerful features, it is important to note that the available functions depend on the model of your car. For example, for BMW all the functions are available, but for Mercedes, only some might be available.

Once you connect the Carly adapter to your car’s OBD2 port, you will be able to diagnose your own car from your phone! Basically, the Carly app will tell you if there are any problems or “fault codes” with an ECU, and how severe these faults are. Based on the number and severity of these fault codes (also called “error coded”), the Carly app will give your car an overall health score.

Usually, when your car needs repair or an oil change, a warning sign appears on your dashboard and you have to address these error codes immediately. However, with the Carly OBD scanner, you will be able to see errors months before they appear on your car’s dashboard. Therefore, you will aware of what part of your car need repair before it’s too late and it becomes a severe and expensive problem.

In the case that your car has error codes, the Carly app will tell you what they are related to and what they mean. However, with the maintenance feature, you can even save more money and do simple car repairs yourself!

Depending on your car model, the Carly app will give you possible options and a step-by-step guide of which maintenance fixes you can carry out on your car. For example, these can be undertaking a service reset (changing oil or brakes), registering the battery, and more!

The benefit of doing repairs yourself is that you can save a lot of time and money on basic car services. Once you have corrected all the error codes that the Carly OBD2 scanner detected, you can delete them in just one tap!

Moreover, the third category of possibilities is coding your car! This Carly feature lets you code particular ECUs and make your car unique. For example, you can customize the external lights, disable the automatic start-stop button, show the speedometer digitally, and much more! Again, the coding options available depend on your car model. Here you can see all the coding possibilities for your vehicle!

Last but not least, is the “Used car check” feature. If you’re buying a used car, it is easy to get tricked since sellers may alter the car’s mileage or hide important information from you. However, this is easy enough to avoid with the right tool, such as Carly!

When connecting the Carly adapter to an OBD2 port, you will be able to see valuable information about the car. For example, the Carly app will tell you whether the car’s mileage has been manipulated and by how many miles. Additionally, you can also detect serious mechanical problems, see the driving history of the vehicle, and more!

Now that you know what is an OBD port and how the Carly OBD reader works, the last question remains! Can you drive with the Carly adapter plugged to your OBD2 port? Absolutely! With the Carly Universal Adapter, you can plug it into your car and never worry again about unplugging it! Therefore, you can leave the Carly OBD reader plugged in your car even while you drive.

So, now that you know what an OBD port is and how to use it, answer this question for yourself: