Bad OBD2 port

[Nwagtmustang]

So I have been having issues with my procal 4. I would plug it into the port and would get power. But says ecu not found.. new it was not fuse since I got power. I unplugged the back connector and it looked good. I pushed the wires in to make sure. Did not work. Now this is a 21 mustang with 5k miles on it. Just bought it a few months ago. I was going nuts over this. Tried my other scanner and thdt did not work. I want install the power pack but wanted the tune uploaded first. I kept unplugging and pluggin in the procal. Out of frustration I pushed it in and held it there. I was applying some downward pressure and all of a sudden the scanner found the vin and so forth. Great. It was saving the stock tune and I let go of the plug and the scanner turned off. I put downward pressure on it again and it worked. So I took a trim tool and put it between the port and dash to apply downward pressure so it would save the tune. I'm not going to hold it there the whole time. This was a few days ago. So tonight I removed the port with the harness still plugged in. Did not realize how big it was. Anyway the scan tool would not see the ECU unless I put downward pressure on the connector itself.

I'm going to ford and have it replaced under warranty. I want to do some data logging. So any of you having OBD2 port problems apply downward pressure and see if thdt works. Maybe a loose solder or cracked solder joint inside the box. This was built during covid

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[ice445]

The OBD port is very flimsy on the interim cars with the fordpass modem. It's spliced into the modem feed and hung on a crappy plastic bracket that's not very well supported. I always feel like I'm gonna break it when I plug in something. On my car the modem doesn't even have a real place to be, it's just zip tied in place, lol. Straight jank. When I first saw it I thought I had some aftermarket tracker on my car, but nope, has an OEM ford part number and everything.

I only say this because I assume your car is similar, but maybe they finally engineered a real solution by the time your car was made.

 

[KingKona]

I'm going to ford and have it replaced under warranty.....

What are you going to tell them?

 

[Nwagtmustang]

What are you going to tell them?

I'm going to tell them that the ford procal and my other scanner can not connect unless I press down on the port. I am concerned because when I renew emissions, the tester might not read the port. While the car is still under warranty I want it fixed.. I will bring in both my scanners to shown them, just in case their scanner somehow manages to connect

 

[Nwagtmustang]

The OBD port is very flimsy on the interim cars with the fordpass modem. It's spliced into the modem feed and hung on a crappy plastic bracket that's not very well supported. I always feel like I'm gonna break it when I plug in something. On my car the modem doesn't even have a real place to be, it's just zip tied in place, lol. Straight jank. When I first saw it I thought I had some aftermarket tracker on my car, but nope, has an OEM ford part number and everything.

I only say this because I assume your car is similar, but maybe they finally engineered a real solution by the time your car was made.
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My port is bolted onto 2 metal studs. I think the tabs for the port are plastic. Not sure. It was dark out when I pulled out the port just to do some testing and never paid attention to theaterial being used to secure it

 

[KingKona]

I'm going to tell them that the ford procal and my other scanner can not connect unless I press down on the port. I am concerned because when I renew emissions, the tester might not read the port. While the car is still under warranty I want it fixed.. I will bring in both my scanners to shown them, just in case their scanner somehow manages to connect

Look;

You're not supposed to be touching that thing. Ford denies warranty claims over people tuning their car. They'll tell you they're not fixing anything. If you tell them you have scanners/tuners, they'll say (rightly) that YOU broke it by fucking with something you're not supposed to be touching.

Your smart move would be to take the car in for emissions testing, have it fail, and then take the car in so the OBDII port can be fixed.

Don't say a word, just tell them it doesn't pass emissions. Emissions is something that is completely covered under warranty. Let them figure out it's a problem with the port.

And put the car back to stock ASAP.

And you're in Portland. I'm guessing they have emissions testing there.

 

[Nwagtmustang]

Look;

You're not supposed to be touching that thing. Ford denies warranty claims over people tuning their car. They'll tell you they're not fixing anything. If you tell them you have scanners/tuners, they'll say (rightly) that YOU broke it by fucking with something you're not supposed to be touching.

Your smart move would be to take the car in for emissions testing, have it fail, and then take the car in so the OBDII port can be fixed.

Don't say a word, just tell them it doesn't pass emissions. Emissions is something that is completely covered under warranty. Let them figure out it's a problem with the port.

And put the car back to stock ASAP.

And you're in Portland. I'm guessing they have emissions testing there.

Itnias a Ford performance power pack. It is ford tune. They can only deny warranty if the if ofnthey can show my aftermarket part or tune caused the OBD2 port to not work. It's not like the engine blew up because of a faulty tune. That reminds me on my 2003 mustang I had a chip in it. Was not using premium fuel. Engine had cracked pistons. Dealership went to bat for me with Ford and got the engine replaced. Of course I never used the chip again. I'm only bringing the scanners to show it won't connect to the computer because of the bad port. If they can read the PCM they will see it's a Ford tune. Injustice bought the car used from Ford dealership. By the time injabe to get it emissions tested the warranty would have expired. So I want it fixed while it is still under warrsnty

 

[KingKona]

Itnias a Ford performance power pack. It is ford tune. They can only deny warranty if the if ofnthey can show my aftermarket part or tune caused the OBD2 port to not work. It's not like the engine blew up because of a faulty tune. That reminds me on my 2003 mustang I had a chip in it. Was not using premium fuel. Engine had cracked pistons. Dealership went to bat for me with Ford and got the engine replaced. Of course I never used the chip again. I'm only bringing the scanners to show it won't connect to the computer because of the bad port. If they can read the PCM they will see it's a Ford tune

Are you leaving out the really important fact that you found this issue while installing a Ford Performance Power Pack?

 

[Tucker80]

Are you leaving out the really important fact that you found this issue while installing a Ford Performance Power Pack?

I think the really important word here is "you". Unless the "you - OP" in this is a certified ASE tech the warranty for the Ford PP is gone as well. It's pretty clear that the entire installation has to be documented through an ASE certified shop.

I'd take KingKona's advice and tread lightly. Some shops may replace under warranty, but others could say that the individual installing broke the OBD port. It's really a roll of the dice.

 

[Nwagtmustang]

I went to the Ford dealership. Told them I installed the power pack and the ford procal would not read the OBD2 port unless downward pressure is applied. They got their scanner and verified the same issue. They ordered the part and when it comes in it will be swapped out under warranty. We are talking about a bad port here. Not a blown engine because of a bad tune. Even if I recert back to stock, and they read the computer, they can tell a tune was performed. It would look more suspicious of having a tune, than them finding a Ford tune. If I put on a new throttle body and a manifold bolt breaks that would be under warranty. A bad manifold bolt has nothing to do with a throttle body. A tune has nothing to do with a bad OBD2 port.

 

[Nwagtmustang]

Are you leaving out the really important fact that you found this issue while installing a Ford Performance Power Pack?

So if I have a check engine light on and to to AutoZone to scan the code. Their scanner can't connect does that mean ford would deny my warranty because an aftermarket scanner would not read the PCM or ECU? Ford tunes, lund tunes anything that has to do with changing the computer would not affect a warranty denial on an OBD2 port. If the port is bad, it's bad.

 

[Traffic22]

So if I have a check engine light on and to to AutoZone to scan the code. Their scanner can't connect does that mean ford would deny my warranty because an aftermarket scanner would not read the PCM or ECU? Ford tunes, lund tunes anything that has to do with changing the computer would not affect a warranty denial on an OBD2 port. If the port is bad, it's bad.

You’ll be fine. First, what was said above is correct, in that Ford wants the tune to be installed by an ASE mechanic in order to honor warranties. Could they deny your warranty claim, sure if they could prove you somehow did something wrong.

However, there is nothing prohibiting you from using an OBD scanner to check your car. Plus, from experience, I’ve found dealerships are not black and white with regards to modifications.

If you had screwed up the ECU somehow while installing the tune, or snapped off a wiring harness under he hood while installing your new intake, you’d probably be on your own.

Sounds like they’re already replacing it. Smart to get it handled sooner than later, you don’t want a hassle come emissions time.

 

[KingKona]

So if I have a check engine light on and to to AutoZone to scan the code. Their scanner can't connect does that mean ford would deny my warranty because an aftermarket scanner would not read the PCM or ECU? Ford tunes, lund tunes anything that has to do with changing the computer would not affect a warranty denial on an OBD2 port. If the port is bad, it's bad.

They can say you caused the damage. Especially since you took it apart and tried to fix it yourself.

I don't see why that's so difficult to understand.

 

[Traffic22]

They can say you caused the damage.

I don't see why that's so difficult to understand.

The key is they have to prove he caused the damage. I think we all know this really depends on the dealer and the type of damage.

 

[KingKona]

The key is they have to prove he caused the damage. I think we all know this really depends on the dealer and the type of damage.

If he goes in there talking about his scanners, and tuning the car, it will be assumed. And they'll look harder and deeper.

Whereas if he just keeps his damn mouth shut, he'll be fine.

You can lead a horse to water.....

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