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Where is the OBD port location in a 2008 Ford Explorer?
I want to hook up my Explorer to an OBD scan tool to run a quick diagnostic, but I’m struggling to find the port. I know it’s probably hidden in plain sight, but where is the OBD port located on a 2008 Ford Explorer?
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Jessica Gibson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re right, it can be tricky to find this port, but luckily it’s easy to spot once you know where it’s at! The OBD port location in a 2008
Ford Explorer
is to the left of the steering wheel, right above the hood latch release lever. It can be hard to spot the OBD port unless you open the driver’s car door and squat down.Once you’ve located the Onboard Diagnostics II (OBD-II) port, plug your OBD-II scan tool into it and power it on. For most scanners, this means turning on the car but not the engine. Then, press Scan on the tool and let it run its diagnostics.
The tool will quickly display a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC), which you can read to learn what’s going on with your Explorer. Write the codes down and then break down each character:
- First character: the vehicle part affected by the issue
- Second character: tells if the code is generic or issued by the manufacturer
- Third character: gives specific information about what area is affected
- Last character: reveals the exact problemSome scanners are more complex than others, so refer to the manual or search for the codes online. From there, you can do your own repairs or take your SUV to the Ford dealership or a trusted mechanic.
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- Gregory R.
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