I want to try running an engine diagnostics kit in my car but can't find the port it connects to in the car even though I've taken bits of console off here, there and everywhere

Does anyone know where the DLC port for these things would be on a 1998 escort 1.8 gti?

It's a bit annoying having gone to the trouble of getting hold of one of these things and can't try it cos I can't find where to connect it

 

prob near strut top/battery

 

No mate

They are inside the car not under the bonnet

I found a few odb database sites like this one: http://www.obdclearinghouse.com/inde...hicle&id=19587

The trouble is though that they all seem to be showing the same list produced by the US Environmental Protection Agency and thus for left-hand drive cars

We have cars in the UK too!

You would think it would just be 'mirrored' with left-hand drive cars, 'between the steering column and driver's door' you'd think would mean the same whatever country you're in ... unless I've been staring right at it and not seeing it, doesn't seem so

 

Turns out the information I read was incomplete

Where the info I read said petrol cars manufactured from 1996 onwards are obd2 compliant ... well it's true, but only in america

In the uk it's petrol cars from 2000/2001 onwards (2004 for diesels)

Kind of explains why I can't a port for it ... I live in the wrong country!

 

Some fords were obd2 earlier than this, but most still used the STAR system, even through a identical connector.
tabetha

 

I did actually find a port it can plug into but the software fails to communicate with the vehicle when plugged into it

It's on the casing over the ecu situated on the passenger door post

This casing has been taken off before

I would imagine there has to be a cable running from the port to somewhere, the ecu itself perhaps?

I guess it's possible something got disconnected when the casing was previously taken off and not re-connected, I'm on crutches due to an injured foot at the minute and as soon as I'm back on my feet I'm gonna check for that

 

The easy way to tell if it is still on the star system is by the number of wires going to connector, it will be either 4 or 5.
tabetha

 

Do you mean the little port that looks like a computer lead would plug into it? Pardon my ignorance but i know absolutely chuff all about diagnostics etc. I do know that there is a little port on the left hand side of the passenger footwell, just under the glovebox on my 98 Gti

 

think it could be a case that the its obd and your reader is obdII as this happened to me on a few cars where it has the obd port but my reader is the new obdII so won't read it

 

That's the conclusion I've come to taz so I think you're right

It looks like this is the kind of thing I need: http://aldlcable.com/

Just need to find one in the uk now

tabetha I'm not sure what you mean about the star system