Honda and Acura OBD Connector Locations
Help! My Check Engine Light Is On!
Whether you are using an auto code scanner in a business, or for your own personal use, there is one very important thing you need to know—where is the OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) connector?
If you are lucky, you might be able to find the OBD connector (also called a data link connector) without a lot of hunting, if you are familiar with the different places that most manufacturers hide them. I use the word "hide" because the manufacturers are not exactly forthcoming about such locations. They want you to come to them for any necessary service.
If you are smart, you can and should have some knowledge of why your check engine light is on before you seek outside assistance. An online or manual search of where that all important connector to plug in an auto code scanner, can be exhausting, and not always fruitful.
Where's My OBD Connector?
While there are websites that provide that information upon providing your auto's make, model, and year, they are sometimes difficult to find and wade through.
There are seventeen typical auto computer connector locations. They are:
- Behind an ashtray.
- Bottom dash, above the hood release.
- Dash on right, underneath.
- Driver side of dash, above hood release-left hand side of instrument panel.
- Front of center console, driver side.
- Front of center console, passenger side.
- In front of shifter.
- Inside a cavity, lower dash, but next to center console.
- Left edge of dash, left of hood release.
- Left driver side on dash.
- Lower edge of dash, next to transmission tunnel.
- Passenger side of the console.
- Steering wheel, underneath, center.
- Right driver side on dash.
- Under driver side of dash, and next to kick panel.
- Under the glove box on the passenger side of dash.
- Under the passenger dash.
Keep in mind that the exact location can vary, depending upon the year, make, and model. An example would be a manufacturer that locates the connector under the passenger side of the dash in 1996, doesn't mean that the next year it wouldn't be under an ashtray or somewhere else. Additionally, some connectors are located upside down, so some attention needs to be paid to this factor when trying to connect.
The key thing to remember, is that since 1996, all auto computer code connectors are found somewhere inside the front passenger compartment.
1999-2001 Acura Integra.
1996-2001 Integra OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
1996 | Under passenger dash | No |
1997 | Under passenger dash | No |
1998 | Under passenger dash | No |
1999 | Under passenger dash | No |
2000 | Under passenger dash | No |
2001 | Passenger side of console | Yes |
Honda NSX.
1996-2005 NSX OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
1996 | Under passenger dash | No |
1997 | Under passenger dash | No |
1998 | Under passenger dash | No |
1999 | Under passenger dash | No |
2000 | Under passenger dash | No |
2001 | Under passenger dash | No |
2002 | Under passenger dash | No |
2003 | Under passenger dash | No |
2004 | Under passenger dash | No |
2005 | Under glove box on passenger side dash | Yes |
Honda Acura NSX Tribute
2005 Acura RL.
1996-2009 RL OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
1996 | Passenger side in front of center console | No |
1997 | Passenger side in front of center console | No |
1998 | Behind ashtray | No |
1999 | In front of shifter, remove ashtray | Yes |
2000 | In front of shifter, remove ashtray | Yes |
2001 | In front of shifter, remove ashtray | Yes |
2002 | In front of shifter, remove ashtray | Yes |
2003 | Cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2004 | Cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2005 | Bottom dash, above hood release | No |
1998-99 Acura SLX
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1996-1999 SLX OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
1996 | Left edge of dash, left of hood release, facing down. | No |
1997 | Left edge of dash, left of hood release, facing down. | No |
1998 | Drive side dash, above hood release, behind cover. | Yes |
1999 | Left edge of dash, left of hood release, facing down. | No |
2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL
1996-2009 OBD TL Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
1996 | Above shifter, remove ashtray | No |
1997 | Behind ashtray, remove | No |
1998 | Behind ashtray, remove | No |
1999 | Behind ashtray, remove | No |
2000 | Above shifter | No |
2001 | Above shifter | No |
2002 | Above shifter | No |
2003 | Under driver side dash, behind right side | No |
2004 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2005 | Under left-hand side of instrument panel | No |
2006 | Under driver dash next to kick panel | No |
2007 | Under driver side dash next to kick panel | No |
2008 | Under driver side dash next to kick panel | No |
2009 | Under driver side dash next to kick panel | No |
1998-1999 Acura CL
1997-2003 CL OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
1997 | Center console behind ashtray | No |
1998 | Passenger side of console | No |
1999 | Behind ashtry | No |
2001 | Behind ashtry | No |
2002 | Behind ashtry | No |
2003 | Under driver side dash behind right side | No |
2001-2003 MDX.
2001-2003 MDX OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
2001 | Under dash at right, facing down | No |
2002 | Behind ashtray | No |
2003 | Under dash at right, facing down | No |
2004 | Under dash at right, facing down | No |
2005 | In cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2006 | In cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2007 | In cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2008 | In cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2009 | Lower edge of dash, next to transmission tunnel | No |
2004-2005 TSX
2004-2009 TSX OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
2004 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2005 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2006 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2007 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2008 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2009 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2005 RSX
2002-2006 RSX OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
2002 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2003 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2004 | In cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2005 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2006 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
2007 RDX
2007-2009 RDX OBD Connector Location
| Year | Location | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
2007 | In cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2008 | In cavity, lower dash, next to center console | No |
2009 | Under driver side dash, next to kick panel | No |
Under Cover?
Manufacturers of all vehicles since 1996, have played around with not only the placement of the computer code connectors, but also whether or not they are covered. Some of the manufacturer's will do both.
You'll find that if they are covered, it is with either a rubber or plastic cover, or even a hinged door. It will be necessary to remove, or open this, before you can connect your auto code scanner..
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
